Snelleman, Cornelis Marinus.
Captain C. Snelleman DSC on 30 Oct. 1961 when the company decided to photograph all the captains.(a)
Captain Cornelis Marinus Snelleman was born on 2 September 1910 in Rotterdam. His father Marinus Snelleman was a shoe repair man in the same city.
Cornelis went to the Maritime Academy in Rotterdam on the 3 year course, which meant that his previous education had no or little mathematics included in the curriculum.
He Joined Holland America on 27 July 1927 as cadet on the ss Grootendyk.
Sometime after he married Antonia “Toni” Pieternella de Graaf and by the 2nd World War he lived at the Prins Hendriklaan 139, Vlaardingen-Ambacht. (Near Rotterdam) Eventually there were three childeren, Cornelis, Anthony and Marina.
The two sons also went to sea, one as engineer and the other one as Deck Officer. The son did not stay until captains rank.(c)
Here we see all three men in uniform. To the left Engineer Cor (Cornelius) already in service of HAL and to the right son Ton (Anthony) just entered the Maritime School in Vlissingen. (Photo taken by Mrs. Snelleman 04 Oct. 1953) (c))
On 27 April 1937 he received a pair of Binoculars from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Society (KNMI) for the way he presented his meteorological Observations.
This is supposedly the last photo of the ss Pennland. Taken when se was sinking. It was taken from one of the lifeboats, 2nd Officer Snelleman was in command of one of them. (c)
As second officer on the ss Pennland he sailed in the Mediterranean during the 2nd world war. On 15 April 1941, he volunteered to command a rescue team to board an abandoned vessel. Despite the ship being on fire and having had several direct bomb hits, he managed to save three wounded seamen trapped below decks. For this act of heroism he received the Cross of Merit from Queen Wilhelmina and from the British Government the DSC.
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.
He was at sea for the duration of the war and sent each month an allotment home of Dfl. 160,– (plus premium of Dfl. 1.35 a day). This was not send directly to the Netherlands as the occupation did not allow this. It was offset again the pay outs of the “Zeemanspot” The Dutch illegal payment system ran by Captain Abraham Filippo of the ss Veendam (II), which ship got stuck in port when invasion started.
On 27 July 1942 the Dutch “Cross of Merit with clasp” is presented to him at the New York Office in September 1943. However the official presentation came on 03 April 1946 when he was presented to Queen Wilhelmina at her palace in The Hague.
On 05 Jan. 1943 he is temporary placed ashore.
Obtained his first mate certificate on 03 April 1944 in London.
Sometime during the war he also received the Dutch “Bronze Lion” medal. This is the highest Dutch order for: “Deeds of extreme bravery and leadership in battle favouring the Netherlands”. It was created in 1944 and sofar (202) only issued 1214 times.
From L to R: Dutch Cross of Merit with clasp, Dutch “Bronzen Leeuw” War cross with 3 bars, DSC (c)
(Note: I am still tracing the citation as his name is not on the (incomplete) Dutch Register)
In 1961, after 34 years at sea, he transferred to the ss Nieuw Amsterdam (II).
Captain Snelleman is seen here shaking the hand of ex President Eisenhouwer, during a Cancer society – fund Raising Ball – on the ss Nieuw Amsterdam while docked in New York.
.On 31 oct 1964 he received the silver medal of the Royal Dutch Meteorological Society (KNMI) from HRH Prinses Margriet of The Netherlands for keeping metrological records.
In May 1965 he is mentioned in the newspaper when he gives a lecture for a travel agency and the Dutch Department store chain V&B in Maastricht. Apart from his lecture a company movie “Course to America” was shown.
1967 spends his holidays in his caravan in Kootwijk on the Veluwe. (Center of the Netherlands, where a large National Park is located)
On 24 Jan. 1970 He celebrates 40 years with company.
In his later years he lived in Vlaardingen with his wife Toni after having raised three children.
Must have retired shortly after as he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 02, 1970.
Passed away 18 November 1980 age 70
Sailing list:
Date: Function: Ship: Wages and/or remarks.
27 Jul. 1927 Cadet Officer Grootendijk 52,–
01 Jan. 1928 Cadet Officer Ashore 52,–
12 Jan. 1928 in service for the VNS (HBIL) as cadet officer
25 May. 1928 Cadet Officer Breedijk 52,– Dutch Indies
09 Nov. 1928 Cadet Officer Rijndam 52,– at New York
22 Nov. 1928 ashore to study
17 May. 1929 Passed exam for 3rd Officer
18 May. 1929 4th. Officer Ashore 100,–
24 May. 1929 4th. Officer Vechtdijk 100,–
01 Jan. 1930 Wage increase 115,–
02 Oct. 1930 Temporary ashore 115,–
18 Oct. 1930 4th. Officer Leerdam 115,–
03 Nov. 1930 4th. Officer Kinderdijk 115,–
15 Nov. 1930 4th. Officer Edam 115,–
08 Apr. 1931 Dismissed due to being surplus to requirements
06 Oct. 1933 4th. Officer Damsterdijk 105,– minus 5% temp. contract
28 Dec. 1933 Wage decrease 105,– see Circ. 929 dated 27 -6-1933
02 Feb. 1934 Dismissed due being surplus to requirements
07 Feb. 1934 Act. 3rd officer Leerdam 121.50 temp contract
24 Mar. 1934 Temporary ashore without wages
Dismissed due to the lay up of the Leerdam
29 Apr. 1934 4th. Officer Breedijk 94.50
03 May. 1934 4th. Officer Dinteldijk 94.50
25 Aug. 1934 Act. 3rd. Officer Dinteldijk 121,50
01 Oct. 1934 Wage decrease 118,–
03 Apr. 1934 Temporary ashore at 70% 188,– ill, pleurisy.
03 Jul. 1935 Tempoary ashore without wages
08 Jul. 1935 Act. 3rd Officer Edam 118,–
10 Jul. 1935 Wage increase to 121. 75
12 Jul. 1935 Act. 3rd. Officer Maasdam 121,75
23 Dec. 1935 In military service for 35 days. HM wachtschip Den Helder. Sea service.
24 Jan. 1936 Act. 3rd Officer Rotterdam 121,75
10 Feb. 1936 Act. 3rd Officer Burgerdijk 121.75
12 Aug. 1936 Wage increase to 125.50
29 Nov. 1936 Act. 3rd Officer Spaarndam 125,50
07 Dec. 1936 Act. 3rd. Officer Volendam 125,50
16 Dec. 1936 Act. 3rd. Officer Blommersdijk 125,50
07 Jan. 1937 Act. 3rd Officer Breedijk 125,50
15 Jan. 1937 Temporary ashore 125,50
16 Jan. 1937 Act. 3rd Officer Spaarndam 125,50
24 Jan. 1937 Temporary ashore 125,50
01 Feb. 1937 Act. 3rd Officer Boschdijk 125,50
10 Feb. 1937 Temporary ashore 125,50
14 Feb. 1937 Act. 2nd Officer Bilderdijk 166,– 2nd officer for one voyage.
04 Apr. 1937 set back to 3rd officer and temporary ashore for study for 2nd Mates license.
11 May. 1937 Passed exam for 2nd mate
13 May. 1937 2nd Officer Rotterdam 166,–
18 Sep. 1937 2nd Officer Veendam 166,– at New York back to home sick.
29 Sep. 1937 Temporary ashore with a lung infection,
01 Oct. 1937 According to new regulation 185,–
End of public company records as the company when to a new administration system and these records are held by the Dutch pension fund who does not allow access for research.
GAP: (we only have found the sea mans book from 1944 onwards)
16 Jun. 1939 2nd.Officer Volendam 203,42 until 28 Jan 1940
09 Feb. 1940 2nd. Officer Volendam 203.42
xx Apr. 1940 2nd. officer Pennland
Sailed from Antwerp, arrived in New York, then to Kingston Jamaica arrived 02 Dec. 1940.
03 Sep.1941 2nd. Officer Delftdyk
04 Sep.1942 2nd. Officer Delftdyk Arrived at NY. Departed 09 June 1942
01 Jan. 1943 2nd. Officer Delftdyk Arrived at New York
25 Mar. 1943 2nd. Officer Edam
11 April 1943 2nd. Officer Edam Arrived at New York. Departed on 31 May 1943.
14 Jun. 1943 2nd. Officer Edam Signed off due to sickness
15 Sep. 1943 2nd. Officer Fort Orange Travelled to Portland (Maine) to join the ship.
01 Oct. 1943 2nd Officer Fort Orange Departed from Boston.
04 Nov. 1943 2nd. Officer Signed off at Manchester for study purposes.
03 Apr.1944 Passed exam for First Mate in London.
15 Apr. 1944 Promoted to Chief Officer.
11 May 1944 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman Upon arrival London of the ship. (until 13 March 1945)
GAP
10 Sep.1944 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman Arrival London.
15 Nov. 1944 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman Departed New York
09 Dec. 1944 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman Departed New York.
04 May.1945 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman At New York
26 May. 1945 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman Arrived Montreal
13 Jun. 1945 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman Departed Rotterdam
23 Jun. 1945 Chief Officer Philips Wouwerman Arrival Rotterdam
GAP
25 Jun. 1946 Chief Officer Edam Until 29 Aug. arrival at Rotterdam
12 Sep. 1946 Chief Officer Sommelsdyk Until 24 Sep. NY
13 Nov. 1946 Chief Officer Amsteldyk Until 01 Jan. 1947
17 Jan. 1947 Chief Officer Amsteldyk Until 08 Jul. 1947
01 Aug. 1947 Chief Officer Edam Until 14 Aug. 1947 at Philadelphia
Reason for being in the USA for this period as of yet unknown
05 Sep. 1947 Chief Officer Arnedyk Until 27 Jul. 1948
16 Aug. 1948 Chief Officer Delftdyk Until 03 Dec. 1948
18 Jan. 1949 Chief Officer Axeldyk Until 13 Mar. 1948
24 Mar.1949 Chief Officer Volendam Until 29 Nov. 1949
19 Jan. 1950 Chief officer Westerdam Until 13 Mar. 1950
03 Apr. 1950 Chief Officer Volendam Until 29 Sep. 1950
27 Nov. 1950 Chief Officer Almdyk Until 05 Dec. 1950
22 Dec. 1950 Captain Blijdendyk Until 26 May 1951
27 May.1951 Captain Blommersdyk Until 30 July 1951
21 Sep. 1951 Captain Abbedyk Until 17 Sep. 1952
13 Oct. 1952 Captain Arnedyk Until 24 Oct. 1952 New York
25 Oct. 1952 Captain Schiedyk Until 28 Aug. 1953 New York
29 Aug. 1953 Staff Capt. Maasdam Until 07 Sep. 1953
12 Oct. 1953 Captain Averdyk Until 29 Apr. 1954
28 May. 1954 Captain Aardyk Until 02 Apr. 1955
18 May. 1955 Captain Arnedyk Until 12 Sep. 1955 at London
14 Sep. 1955 Captain Westerdam (Fill in voyage) Until 10 Oct. 1955
06 Nov. 1955 Captain Alblasserdyk Until 05 Jan. 1956
27 Jan. 1956) Staff Captain Ryndam Until 08 Feb. 1956 at New York
09 Feb. 1956 Captain Axeldyk Until 019 Sep. 1956
12 Dec.1946 Captain Noordam (Fill in voyage) Until 07 Jan. 1957
13 Jan. 1957 Captain Diemerdyk Until 02 May 1957
18 jun. 1957 Captain Dinteldyk Until 08 Sep. 1957
26 Sep. 1957 Captain Kloosterdyk Until 06 Nov. 1957
25 Nov. 1956 Captain Dongedyk Until 06 May. 1959
15 Jun. 1959 Captain Diemerdyk Until 08 Oct. 1959
06 Dec. 1959 Captain Noordam Until 14 Aug. 1961
11 Nov. 1960 Passed exam as Radar Navigator.
22 Aug.1961 Captain Nieuw Amsterdam Until Retirement
24 Jan. 1970 40 years with company.
Must have retired shortly after as he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 02, 1970.
References:
a. Company archives. Photos & sailing List until 1937, as held by the Municipal Archives of the City of Rotterdam.
b. Author’s archives.
c. Mr. Peter Zeer.,Mrs. Mieke Snelleman, Marina Zeer-Snelleman (Family information)
d. Laurens van der Laan. (photos)
Last Updated: 21 Jan. 2025
December 17, 2019 at 8:41 pm
One of them a boy, joined HALl lateron as press officer in the 1970’s and 80’s.
This is not correct. They never have been press officers.
December 18, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Thank you for reading my blog.
I do not know what your relation is to the family, but when I was 3rd officer for the new building of the Noordam in 1983/1984 I was in frequent contact with Aad Snelleman who ran “Samenspel” and the press side in Holland. When dealing with “the English side” of things he frequently referred to himself as Press Officer. That is where the phrase is coming from. It might be very well possible that that was not the official title but that is what I heard and thus used.
Best regards
Capt. Albert
November 3, 2022 at 12:26 pm
For good order’s sake: Aad Snelleman was not related to Captain Snelleman, as he told me.
Laurens van der Laan, NASM/HAL historian
October 21, 2020 at 4:17 am
Ik schrif een roman over mijn tijd bij de HAL toen ik in 1966/ 1967 op de Nieuw Amsterdam heb gevaren. Kunt u, en bent u bereid om me met een paar vragen te helpen?
October 22, 2020 at 5:50 pm
Geen probleem.
Stuur de vragen svp naar Captalbert1@aol.com en ik zal mijn best doen.
mvg
Albert Schoonderbeek
December 7, 2022 at 2:41 am
If memory serves, I was 3 years old in 1963. On the New Amsterdam. I was watching a Mickey mouse cartoon about him having trouble in some sort of clock factory. Over my objections. My father pulled me out of the theater and brought me up to the captain and introduced me. The captain was kind enough to sound off the foghorn. At least that’s my recollection
December 7, 2022 at 2:38 pm
In 1965 I was five years old and a passenger on the ship. I remember sitting in the theater watching Mickey Mouse having trouble in some sort of clock factory. My father came in took me out over my objection and introduced me to Capt. Snellerman. If I recall correctly he sounded the foghorn. I have a picture of the encounter. I will share it if you like. Best wishes for the holidays.
October 20, 2024 at 10:19 am
Kapitein Snelleman heeft de zijn laatste jaren in Nijverdal gewoond.
Hij was mijn oom .
November 12, 2024 at 9:45 pm
I am so glad this information was here as I recently found a hand written note from Captain Cornelis Snelleman to my grandparents. They had been passengers on the S.S. Nieuw Amsterdam in March 1962.