Capt. Jozias van Herk of a 1951 company photo.

Jozias van Herk was born on 14 January 1897 at Vlissingen (Flushing) in the South West of the Netthelands. His father was Cornelis van Herk, Hoofd ??? at the local shipbuilding and repair yard (Most likely the “De Schelde” yard in Flushing). His mother was Catharina Knijpe. In 1914 he lived at 146 Winkelmanstraat still at Flushing. He entered the Kweekschool voor de Zeevaart in Amsterdam on 9 Sep. 1914 to attend the 2 year course. His school ratings show that he was an average student but who did not like Geography and French very much.

The ss Sommelsdijk (II) had joined the HAL fleet in 1912 and was predominantly used for cargo service to New York

On 09 October 1916 he joins Holland America as a cadet on board the ss Sommelsdijk (II), sailing from Rotterdam to New York. Once home from the first voyage on 23 December 1916 he has to stay behind for military service. After being discharged he returns to HAL and completes his cadet year on 30 December 1919 with a very good sea going report. On 23 March 1920 he passes his exam for 3rd. officer and is dismissed on 25 March from the Academy. (a)

He then returned to HAL.

Gap in service information 1919 – 1940

The ss Leerdam (II) as built. She had 3 sisters, Edam, Maasdam and Spaarndam. They were upgraded B class builts with a large 3rd class accommodation to carry summer labourers from the Iberian Peninsula to Cuba. Prior to 1936 the ship had two funnels but the 2nd one was removed when the accommodation was changed.

In 1940 he is assigned to ss Leerdam (II)  but the personnel card reads: “27 Dec. 1940 was likely not able to make the voyage, as he still very weak is afraid has real fear to cross the water.” Hence he is disembarked from the ss Leerdam (II)  in London on 13 June 1940  after being diagnosed with shellshock. He returns to the ship on 13 November 1940  but is on 16 December 1940 admitted to a hospital in New York.  (b,c)

Lateron he returns and remains with the ship until 04 Feb. 1942 and is then granted a long leave, To join the next ship he travels overland by train from New York to San Francisco  and joins the ms Noordam (II) on  June 16.

Chief Officer Jozias van Herk. Seen here top left. To the right the Radio Officer (name unknown) and in the middle from top to bottom, 2nd officer D Bak, the ships doctor (name unknown) and 3rd officer A.M van Gemert. (Photo courtesy the family of the late captain A.M van Gemert

Here he remains until September 1945, when after leave he returns to the ss Leerdam (II). He is then temporary promoted to captain of the ship to cover a two month gap  in the scheduling of the more senior captains.

The ms Damsterdyk in Kiel now under the German name of “Mulhausen”. Two tugboats brought her to Rotterdam. She would return to service in 1949 as the ms Dalerdyk.

On 01 January 1946 he is sent to Germany to collect the hulk of the ms Damsterdyk. Officially  Captain Drost had been assigned.   The ms Damsterdyk was stuck in Rotterdam when the war broke out and was eventually taken by the occupier to Germany to serve as a target ship for the submarine service. She was found back, heavily damaged in Kiel after the capitulation of Nazi Germany.  On 27 December 1945 she is handed back to Holland America who then send a team, with two tugboats,  to collect her and have her towed to Rotterdam, where the tow arrives on 16 January at the Wilton Feijenoord shipyard.

Now being considered a Senior Chief Officer he is assigned to the ss Volendam (I) while waiting for a permanent command.  This appointment comes on 30 March 1948 when he is assigned as Master of the ss Averdyk. Holland America was in the process of buying 10 surplus Victory ships from the USA, the A class and the Averdyk was one of them.

The ss Averdyk. At the time when Captain van Herk was in command the ship was making voyages to New York and nearby ports and to the Gulf of Mexico.

In the coming years he rotates over the cargo fleet and serves on several of these A class ships. On 09 May 1953 the ss Arkeldyk arrives in Rotterdam. Then on 9 May a notice appears in the newspapers that Capt. Van Herk had passed away. He was buried in his home town of Voorburg on the 13th. of May 1952 at the age of 56.

(ED: I have not been able to ascertain yet what he cause of death was. Whether something happened on the 9th., or that he had gone home from Antwerp two days before,) (e)

Sailing List:

Date:                    Function:                            Ship:                                    Wages and                                                                                                                                     or remarks.

09 Oct. 1916     Cadet Officer                   Sommelsdijk

23 Dec. 1916    Ashore for military service

xx.xxx. 1919      Cadet Officer – completes sailing year on 30 Dec. 1919

23 Mar. 1920   Passes exam for 3rd. Mate.

GAP in records still to complete.

09 Mar. 1940   Until 11 March follows “Oerlikon” anti aircraft course.

11 Mar. 1940   Chief Officer                       Leerdam                         259,–

Stayed behind in London 13 June 1940 due to sickness (Shell shock)

13 Nov. 1940   Chief Officer                        Breedijk                          259,–         Joins at Glasgow.

04 Feb. 1942    On leave.                                Leerdam                                                Joins at New York.

23 Jun. 1942     Chief Officer                       Leerdam                         299,–      Until 20 April 1943 disembarks in New York and on leave.

20 Apr. 1943    Chief Officer                        Noordam                       299,–      Joins at San Francisco,

21 Mar. 1944    Chief Officer                       Noordam                      304,–       Until 24 August 1944, disembarks  for vacation.

23 Nov. 1944   Chief Officer                         Noordam                     304,–

11 Sep. 1945    Chief Officer                        Leerdam                        304,–       Until 10 Oct. 1945 (Arrived in Rotterdam on September 26)

01 Jan. 1946     Captain/ company representative to collect Damsterdyk  until  16 Feb. 1946

GAP.

11 Jun. 1946     Chief Officer                        Volendam                        484,– Until 03 Oct.

15 Oct. 1946     Chief Officer                        Volendam                      484.—   Until 31 Dec.

21 Jan. 1947       Chief Officer                      Volendam                           494,– Until 19 Mar.

22 Apr. 1947       Chief Officer                      Volendam                           494,– Until 08 May

09 May. 1947     Chief Officer                      Volendam                           494, — Until 20 July

23 Jul.1947          Chief Officer                      Volendam                           494,– Until 16 Oct.

30 Mar. 1948     Captain                                  Averdyk                                Until 11 Jan. 1949

GAP

01 Aug. 1949     Captain                         Aardyk                                            Until 28 Oct. 1950

20 Nov. 1950     Captain                        Diemerdyk                                     Until 06 Dec. 1950 Coastal relieve voyage

07 Dec. 1950      Captain                       Blommersdyk                               Until 27 Mar. 1951

26 Apr. 1951      Captain                       Aagtedyk                                         Until 01 May 1951 Coastal relieve voyage

23 May. 1951    Captain                       Almdyk                                              Until 16 Nov. 1951

26 Dec. 1951    Captain                        Eemdyk                                            Until 22 nd. March 1952

3 Mar.1952     Captain                           Arkeldyk                                          Until 01 may 1952

GAP

26 Aug. 1952      Captain                     Almdyk                                              Scheduled until 11 May 1953 in Rotterdam but passes away on the 9th.

Sources:

(a) Comportementen Boek. Kweekschool voor de Zeevaart Amsterdam, as held by the City Archives of Amsterdam.

(b) Dutch Government 2nd worldwar Personell cards.

(c) M. Laurens van der Laan.

(d) Photos from Capt. Albert collection

(e) Delpher news papers.