The story of a Dutch freighter during the Second World War
3 May 1942. Abbekerk is still waiting for orders to leave Colombo. Meanwhile in England the corvette HMS Wallflower is getting a big overhaul after two years of intense convoy service. Her equipment is also modernised and that will prove...
14 May 1942. Abbekerk finally leaves Colombo setting course for the Persian Gulf. Because they unloaded some of the wheat cargo she is not as deep in the water any more. Without a problem 17 knots cruising speed is met...
22 May 1942. In the sweltering heat of the Persian Gulf Abbekerk slowly sails up the river Shatt-al-Arab (Arvand Rood). This large river finds its origin in the coming together of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates and forms the divide...
28 May 1942. In Abadan finally the locomotives are unloaded. Third mate Visser looks at it with mixed feelings. First we unloaded the wooden beams and sleepers, and again inevitable some hit the locomotives while hauled out. Then we docked...
Adriaan W Kik, who's memoirs are the inspiration and base of this website
Peter
