Stories: A.W. Kik’s memoires

December 1941, Durban

PK: Although Adriaan Kik speaks of Capetown, I cant find any evidence Abbekerk was there at that time. The whole convoy went to Durban and I guess he was confused with a previous voyage when Abbekerk was in Capetown. In ...

January 1942, Singapore

At long last we arrived in Singapore where there were already a few ships. This arrival I can remember quite well. When I stepped on deck to go and have a look at the steering machine at the stern, I ...

February 1942, Oosthaven

While we were still there, there was a very large number of bombers that flew over at high altitude, this time in the opposite direction, away from Singapore. We wondered about their target but luckily we heard no whistling all ...

– February 1942, Tjilatjap

After arriving there we found the harbour brimful of ships. Large freighters, a couple of small passenger ships and a number of Navy vessels of differing nationalities. This time no anchorage a long way from the action but right on ...

March 1942, Fremantle

None of the hundreds of refugees in the holds of our ship had any idea that when they put down their tired heads at night they were only inches away from the ammunition we carried. We still had a grenade ...

March 1942, Bunbury

After the cargo was unloaded at last (thank heaven's!!) we were directed to Bunbury. Where on earth was Bunbury? Even the most travelled on board had never heard of it and shrugged their shoulders. It turned out that it was ...

April 1942, Abadan

In the meantime the loading had not stopped either. Slowly but surely the ship was filled with timber, with our heartfelt approval because it improved our ability to stay afloat. I think we spent a fortnight loading after we were ...

June 1942, Trinidad

After Bunbury and Abadan (where I spent one evening ashore) then to Durban (no shore leave at all) and now to Trinidad. Join the Navy and see the world you would think. The weeks became months with always the same ...

1 Response

  1. Jaap van der Boon says:

    Geweldig! Mijn vader was artillerist aan boord van de Abbekerk, Cornelis van der Boon (1917) inmiddels al 32 jaar overleden. Wel wat verhalen van hem gehoord, maar dit is veel meer gedetailleerd.

    Groet,
    Jaap van der Boon
    Noordwijk

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