The story of a Dutch freighter during the Second World War
Pictures Tjilatjap evacuation
“The captain of an Australian warship stood at the head of a long line of cars, buses and trucks. They were lined up for demolition at the port of Tjilatjap, Java at the time of the evacuation of 11th and 22nd Squadron personnel [7th Bomb Group] to Australia. Acid was poured into vehicle engines and their gas tanks were set on fire. The train in the background [? photo probably cropped for book and train no longer visible] also was destroyed before the troops departed.†“Some 11th and 22nd Squadron personnel awaited boarding the Dutch ship “Abbekerk†at Tjilatjap.†(Source: Pictorial History of the 7th Bombardment Group/Wing 1918-1995 (1998 7th BG Historical Foundation) from Wilbur W. Mayhew on page 86. (Credits to Wilbur W. Mayhew and Robert Smith)
Troops aboard Abbekerk on the shelterdeck (Source: page 239 of James D. Rorrison’s book, ‘Nor the Years Contemn: Air War on the Australian Front 1941-1942′ (Palomar Publications 1992) and Col. Ritchie B. Gooch.)
Very interesting to see pics an read the stories of the Indonesian campaign, especially the Naval engagements near Java in early 1942. Similar problems today with poor communication or near total lack there of . Add to that of language differences to dramatically slow things up. Today we have near instantaneous interpretation.
Adriaan W Kik, who's memoirs are the inspiration and base of this website
Lest we forget
The Netherlands started the war with 640 seagoing ships. From these 351 ships were lost during the war. Of the 12000 Dutch and 6500 other nationalities that manned those ships, 3600 were killed.
Killed while serving on Abbekerk:
Herbertus Boender, ass. engineer, March 10, 1940 (accident in London)
Geert Frederik van der Laan, 1st Mate, August 24, 1942 (when Abbekerk sunk).
Still under repair …
The site is still not fully repaired after a hack attempt. Some parts, including few of the Dutch translations and menu’s,still do not work yet. This will be fixt later this year.
Apologies for the inconvenience, Peter.
Very interesting to see pics an read the stories of the Indonesian campaign, especially the Naval engagements near Java in early 1942. Similar problems today with poor communication or near total lack there of . Add to that of language differences to dramatically slow things up. Today we have near instantaneous interpretation.