COMMEMORATION OF THE GREATEST DISASTER IN
DUTCH MERCHANT NAVY HISTORY
Wednesday April 27th – 2011
PICTURES OF OUR VICTIMS
| 3. CREW AND THEIR SHIPS | |||||
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HMS Diamond |
ss Slamat |
HMS Wryneck |
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DIAMOND CREW
Lt. Commander Philip Alexis Cartwright |
SLAMAT CREW
Captain: Tjalling Luidinga |
WRYNECK CREW
Commander Robert Henry Douglas Lane |
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Samuel de Boo Purser (41)
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George Brand
Doctor (61)
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Gerardus Borsboom
Pantryman (31)
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David Bruggeman
Quartermaster(41)
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Martinus Diekerhof
1st Engineer (51)
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Hendrik Doornkamp
Sailor (24)
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Albertus Gramsma
3rd Engineer (37)
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Cornelis ten Have
2nd Engineer (45)
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Willem Jacob Klijn (46)
1st Officer
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Gijsbert van Langeveld (34)
4th Engineer
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Antonis Nicolaas Lokkerbol (32)
Steward (2nd class)
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Johannes Hendrikus Lindeman (46)
2nd Radio Officer
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Jacobus Antonis Meeuwsen (36)
Cook-Patissier
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Jan Nieweg
Sailor (33)
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Frederik Jan de Reus (29)
4th Engineer
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Cornelis Johannes Schraven (50)
Quartermaster
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Arie van der Sjouw (25)
3rd Cook
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Philippus Sluijter
Boatswain (41)
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Jan Marinus Weber
Barkeeper (42)
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Jan Pille (22)
Apprentice Officer
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| ALLIED SOLDIERS | |||||
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Dr Lennox Douglas (NZ)
Surgeon (39)
attached to the Slamat Crew
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Edwin Lewis Wealthy (31) (UK) Gunner Royal Army
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Walter Scott (UK)
Lieutenant (35)
attached to the Slamat Crew
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Dr John Watson (UK) Surgeon Lieutenant RNVR (27) HMS Diamond |
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| SOME SURVIVORS (all of them deceased!) | |||||
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Johannes Marinus Trijsburg
Assistent Purser (35) ss Slamat
( ? February 21st 2002)
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Jasper de Jong (?)
Sailor ss Slamat
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George Dexter(UK)
Allied Private (23) Royal Army ( ? July 13th 2014)
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| The pictures of the two destroyer Commanders are from ‘The Britannia Museum Trust’ | |||||
FEW OF THE MANY PICTURES OF THE COMMEMORATION
Wednesday April 27th – 2011
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Frans Luidinga interviewed by Radio Rijnmond
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Chairman, Ed van Lierde discussing the ceremony with the HMS Diamond crew
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Ed van Lierde discussing the ceremony with Commander HMS Diamond, Ian Clarke
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The coffee corner with arriving commemoration guests
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Coffee plus “petite four”
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Exposition HMS Diamond with a part of the crew
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Member of the Board, Kees Amsterdam talking with the Australian Military Attaché, Major Leichsenring
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Briefing of our Museum volunteers |
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Interview Chairman, Ed van Lierde by RTV-Rijnmond
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Eight members of the Ruys family (Royal Rotterdam Lloyd founders) walking to their seats for joining the ceremony
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Speech Chairman, Ed van Lierde
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Speech Commander HMS Diamond, Ian Clarke
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Speech Frans Luidinga about his Slamat book
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The very impressing video of the last living Slamat/Wryneck victim, George Dexter
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Speech by Rotterdam Mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb
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Het Slamat/Diamond/Wrynech monument unveiled by Anje ten Have (daughter Slamat victim) and Rotterdam Mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb
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The flower ceremony in front of the Slamat monument
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The end of the flower ceremony
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A British Royal Navy sailor is photographing the Slamat plague
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Die Maeze Sanghers giving their great performance
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HMS Diamond crew plus British Military Attaché, Captain Lambourn, Frans Luidinga and Ed van Lierde
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Commemoration dinner – Master of ceremonies, Nico Guns just finished his opening speech
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Commemoration dinner – ‘Dames Danzi’ in their musical setting
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Commemoration dinner
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Commemoration dinner – Words of gratitude by Chairman, Ed van Lierde
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The “beseeching hand” of the Slamat monument with the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd flag (Oudehorne – Friesland)
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Alexandria/Egypt – Flower wreath on the grave of Slamat-3rd Officer, G. van der Woude, laid by the Dutch War Graves Foundation on behalf of the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Museum
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Athens/Greece – Flower wreath with military honor on and aroud the grave of Slamat-Apprentice officer, J. Pille, laid by the Dutch War Graves Foundation on behalf of the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Museum
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Press reports after the Commemoration
A: Television
A-1 NOS Journaal
A-2: Radio TV Rijnmond
B: Newspapers
Schakel – 5 mei 2011
U-TUBE: “Slamat Song”, Source: Ton Kellner
please click text below for playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYmh-VypCRk
U-TUBE: “We’ll meet again”, Source: Ton Kellner
please click text below for playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q76RzjJsVcA
COMMEMORATION PROGRAMME – APRIL 27th 2011
MUSICAL SUPPORT DURING THE COMMEMORATION
CONTRIBUTION OF THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY TO OUR SLAMAT/DIAMOND/WRYNECK – COMMEMORATION.
The Dutch never returned thanks to the British for the rescue attempts of the Slamat crew and allied troops on board the Slamat by the HMS Diamond and HMS Wryneck crew members. On April 27, 2011 we made an end to this negligense and invited Commander Ian Clarke and seven crew members of the modern HMS Diamond to be part of the official ceremony.
HMS Diamond on “zig-zag” course Commander Ian Clark
During the Commemoration the ‘Coat of Arms’ of HMS Diamond (shown down below) was presented by PO Tanja Berry to the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Museum. A great reason and a good moment to present the Slamat model (scale: 1 – 1250) which will sail from now on with the modern HMS Diamond.
The old HMS DIAMOND The HMS WRYNECK
Captain Lambourn, British Defence Attaché to The Benelux (3rd from right)
Commander Ian Clarke Commanding Officer HMS Diamond (2nd from right)
Lt. Commander Allen (1st from right)
PO Morris
PO Berry
LS James
LET Barnes
LET Chadwick
LSC Meggeson
PARTICIPANTS TO THE COMMEMORATION CEREMONY
RELATIVES OF OUR VICTIMS (58)
VIPS (18)
– Mr. B.E. Ruys (Son of Willem Ruys B.zn. shot down by the Germans in World War II),
– Mrs. W.P. Barones van Pallandt-Ruys (Daughter of Willem Ruys B.zn.),
– Ir J.D. Ruys (Son of Willem Ruys B.zn.),
– Ir D.P. Ruys (Son of Ir J.D. Ruys),
– Drs L.A. Ruys en Mrs. C.L.M. Mertens (Son and Daughter-in-law of Ir L.P. Ruys, who lived in London during World
– Drs C.T. Ruys en Mrs. E.M.F. Ruys-de Gaay Fortman (Son and Daughter-in-law of Ir L.P. Ruys).
Coffee and ‘Petite four’
1. THE LOCATION OF THE COMMEMORATION
The Laurens Church at Rotterdam
The Laurens Church is situated in the city center of Rotterdam. The atmosphere, situation and flexibility makes this beautiful church a very suitable location. We have made a reservation for Wednesday April 27, 2011 but, dependent on the succes of the fund raising, the Slamat Commemoration will indeed take place on this important spot.
In May 2010 it was exactly 70 years since the inner city of Rotterdam was flattened by German air raids. After bombing, the Laurens Church was one of the few buildings left standing. One year later German Stuckas bombed the Slamat in the Mediterranean. She and most of her crew and allied soldiers did not survive! This makes the Laurens Church, in many respects a great and impressive place for this commemoration ………!
2. THE SLAMAT MONUMENT
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| The only existing Slamat monument is situated in Birmingham-England. The last living Slamat survivor, George Dexter initiated this monument. In spite of the fact that the SLAMAT drama still is the greatest disaster in Dutch Merchant Naval history, the Netherlands itself never had a SLAMAT monument. With a SLAMAT monument the Dutch could give the family members of the Slamat victims an important place for remembrance. Besides some exceptions the Dutch are not aware of what happened at sea in World War II, a SLAMAT monument itself and extensive publicity around the Slamat monument could change that (awareness of history and culture). With a SLAMAT monument located in the Netherlands the Dutch Government and the Dutch people could also honour the victims of HMS WRYNECK and HMS DIAMOND. (Crewmembers of both British destroyers paid with their lives in protecting the SLAMAT). The well known Dutch sculptor, Nicolas van Ronkenstein was so impressed by the SLAMAT story that he made this monument for free!! Picture above-right: Nicolas van Ronkenstein and Ed van Lierde talking about the monument in flooded Reuver. | |
3. THE SLAMAT SONG
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The association: ”DIE MAEZE SANGHERS” (80 men and 3 women) from Maassluis, The Netherlands are performing a repertoire of English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish and Dutch sea songs en shanties and will be accompanied by a small ship’s orchestra.
During the SLAMAT Commemoration (formal part) this seamen’s choir performed a song dedicated to the SLAMAT drama and their victims. Especially for this occasion this song is composed by them. Also in the formal part they sang the song: ”Roll out the Barrel”. The brave Royal British Navy crew members (from HMS WRYNECK and HMS DIAMOND) will be honoured in those two songs too. During the informal part the choir performed several ‘suitable’ songs from their repertoire.
PLEASE SEE AND HEAR U-TUBE-RECORDING SLAMAT SONG FAR ABOVE !
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Since the sailing ships of our founder, Mr. Willem Ruys, ships of the Rotterdam Lloyd were flying their so called; “streamer” on the first or second mast. The red streamer features the name of the ship and in fact its form was a long equilateral triangle. Measurements about: hight: 100 cm., lenght: 500 cm. Above shown streamer (a replica) will be shown during the SLAMAT Commemoration. The Company “Shipmate” at Vlaardingen-The Netherlands will also produce the flags of HMS Diamond and HMS Wryneck. Steamer and flags will of course play an important roll during the Commemoration. |
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Since the sailing ships of our founder, Mr. Willem Ruys, ships of the Rotterdam Lloyd were flying their so called; “streamer” on the first or second mast. The red streamer features the name of the ship and in fact its form was a long equilateral triangle. Measurements about: hight: 100 cm., lenght: 500 cm. Above shown streamer (a replica) will be shown during the SLAMAT Commemoration.
The Company “Shipmate” at Vlaardingen-The Netherlands will also produce the flags of HMS Diamond and HMS Wryneck. Steamer and flags will of course play an important roll during the Commemoration.
5. RENEWAL SLAMAT BOOK
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Frans Luidinga |
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At the SLAMAT Commemoration a revised edition of this book written by Frans Luidinga will be published. The intention right now is to edit a Dutch and an English version. As far as Frans Luidinga concerns the Slamat Commemoration of 2007 was a good reason to rewrite his Slamat book. Another subjects to be added are: Several pictures, an eye-witness report of the Slamat disaster, German archive records and a New Zealand contribution from Slamat surgeon, Lennox Douglas. At the Commemoration the first book (in Dutch language) was presented by Frans Luidinga to the organiser of the ‘Great Slamat Commemoration’, Ed van Lierde. |
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At December 2010 the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Museum Foundation commissioned a foreign artist to paint an oil-painting of the German air attack on the ss Slamat and HMS Diamond. Because real pictures of the disaster are not available our Museum thought it desirable to visualize the attack artisticly. One week before the commemoration the Oil-painting arrived from far abroad. See above to witness the surprising result of this secret mission.
10. THE OIL-PAINTING SUPPORT-PROJECT
Painter, Frans Romeijnsen sold an oil-painting from his ‘Paiting-support-project’ during the Slamat Commemoration. The buyer is a member of the Rotterdam Lloyd founders family-RUYS, he bought an oil-painting of the flagship ‘Willem Ruys’
The Bay of Nauplion in peace time – 1945