Brands, Rens

Rends Brands was born on 16 November 1897 in  Anna Paulowna, a small town in the Dutch Province of North Holland about 82 km. north of Amsterdam. He was 1 of 4 childeren, with an older sister and brother and one younger sister.  His fathers occupation was Grain Farmer and his name was Gerrit Brands (Born 13 Sept. 1862 at Blokker), his mother was Maartje Stapel (Born 25 Dec. 1865 at Sijbekarspel). (a)

He obtained his maritime education at the school at Den Helder, no doubt chosen as it was the closest to where he lived. He finished this school as number 3 out of 6 of his year.

He joined Holland America Line on 17 August 1914 as cadet officer and was placed on board the ss Zijldijk but after 14 days he was transferred to the ss Gorredijk (I). Three months later he is transferred again and now to the ss Rotterdam (III). Here he remained until 15 March 1915 and after having been ashore for a month, due to illness, he finishes his apprentiship on board the ss Noordam (I).

(ED: Most cadets had only one or two ships during their apprentice year, so having 4 is quite unusual but no doubt it was good for the experience.)

In September 1915 he returned to school to study for his 3rd mate exam and passed the exam in February 1916. Then he returned to Holland America, joined the ss Poeldijk (I) as 4th. officer, and six months later he was promoted to 3rd officer on the same ship. The ss Poeldijk with Rens Brands on board sailed to Buenos Aires (Voy 06) and made two to New York (voy. 08 and 09). The unusual thing with the latter two voyages was, for the route went north of Scotland, with the ship stopping at Kirkwall for the compulsory British contraband inspection.

The next ship was the ss Schiedijk (I) which together with her sister the ss IJseldijk had been built in Rotterdam (with exemption of the Dutch Government to overcome steel shortages during the war) to create more capacity to bring grain from the USA to the Netherlands. The ship was delivered by the yard on 06 February 1917 and Rens Brands must have been sent to the shipyard on 14 February to help with the transfer to  the company docks.

In 1919 he obtained his 2nd mate’s license and was then assigned to the ss Westerdijk, a cargo ship that had  just returned to service after having been laid up in New York during the latter part of the war. The ship had been seized by the US Government for war service but was never used.

Then militairy service interfered. For this there are still some question marks still to answer. Normally he would have been called up for the Royal Netherlands Navys Reserve as many of the HAL officers were. Or he could have received dispensation if another brother would have gone into service, often the oldest one. But Rens was the oldest one and thus he joined the land army for 14 days. Either he was given dispensation then, or the army did not know what to do with a sailor. (ED: Both options did happen in situations like this, so it is still TBA to find out what really happened)

The ss Vechtdijk. seen here loading on 03 August 1920 in the Rijnhaven, after its first arrival in Rotterdam. (c)

Then came the  ss Vechtdijk in August 1920.. Again a new ship for the company and he joined when it had just arrived from Hamburg in Rotterdam. This ship was part of a new service Holland America was setting up,  the British Indies Line, in conjunction with the new company VNS (United Shipping) in which HAL participated. The ship made 4 month long roundtrips between Rotterdam and Bombay  and back, with occasionally the voyage starting in Hamburg as part of the VNS service.  He remained with this ship for 2 years and made 2 voyages to the Far East, one to Vancouver in the north Pacific service, and a return voyage to New York. Then after two voyages on the ss Warazawa ( The company feeder ferry to the Baltic for collecting emigrants) he went to school again and obtained his first Mate’s license in October 1922.

Sometime between 1920 and 1923, maybe during his militairy time, he married Margaretha Johanna Nelly Graaff (born: ???, passed away on 17 feb. 1961 at Baarn). Eventually there were 2 daughters: Nelly Mary (born 02 Dec. 1924) and Else Nora (born 28 June 1927)

ED: IF THERE IS ANY FAMILY OR OTHERS WHO KNEW THE CAPTAIN AND HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR PHOTOS TO SHARE, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT CaptAlbert1@aol.com. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE BIOGRAPHY AS COMPREHENSIVE AS POSSIBLE SO ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED. 

GAP to be filled in.

In the 1920’s the company did not expand very much as the North Atlantic emigrant days were over and also the boom time on the north Atlantic with carrying grains to war torn Europe had stopped as well. Hence promotion came to a grinding halt.  But now he was a Sr. 2nd officer and thus assignements on the passengerships became more and more regular.

From September 1926 to  1932 he mainly sailed on the passengerships. Culmimnating in  1929 with the asignment as 2nd officer for the ss Statendam (III) the new flagship of the company.

He joined on 01 February 1929 while the ship was still at the ship yard of Wilton -Feijenoord in Rotterdam. He was on board for the trialtrips and then made the maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York starting on 11 april.  He remained with the ship until May 1932. mainly sailing on the North Atlantic but also  making several short cruises from New York in January of each year.   At the time of the year there were not that many travellers on the North Atlantic. Mainly due to the winter storms.

After 1929 the depression started to grip and by 1930 the company had to lay off officers and crew and send ships into lay-up. The companies system was: to fire first those who were not married in each rank. Then those who were married but did not have children. If possible those with children were kept but could be demoted from rank if needed. This happened also with captains and senior officers ,and thus Rens Brands lost his position on the flagship as it was taken over by a more Sr. 2nd Officer or a Chief officer who had to step down in rank.  Thus for a year he is assigned to B-class cargo ships.

By 1933 he is back on the passengerships and will remain there until he gets his own command in 1946.

In October 1936 he is promoted to Acting Chief Officer on the ss Maasdam (III). Promotion was now moving again, as more and more ships were coming out of lay-up. The Maasdam had been rebuilt after lay up in 1935, whereby one funnel had been removed and the passenger accommodation vastly changed.

The ship sailed on 1 month voyages from Rotterdam to New York and nearby ports such as Philadelphia.

GAP in scheduling.

By 1939 he had advanced in seniority high enough to be assigned to the flagship of the company, the ss Nieuw Amsterdam (II) which had come into service in 1938.

Staff Captain Rens Brands took over from Folkert Dobbenga who had been promoted to captain of the ss Spaarndam in 1939. Brands would spent he whole war away at sea and most of this period as Staff Captain on board the ss Nieuw Amsterdam (II)

The ship had been handed over by the British M.O.W.T by the Dutch Government to be used as a troopship, “east of Cape Town”. E.G it was not allowed to sail, under the charter agreement, in the North Atlantic due to the danger of German U-boots.  He sailed with the ship from New York to Singapore and Sydney where it was converted into a troopship for 8800 troops.

As staff captain on board he was responsible for the running of the deck department and the coordination of the ship to support the troops on board and their commanders. This was a delicate balancing act as often the troop commanders, tended to think that they could order “those civlians” around, while the opposite was the case. However doing that  would result in painful issues with shoreside management. It is generally reported in the voyage reports of the troop commanding officers, that they liked to sail on the Nieuw Amsterdam and if they could wriggle it have their regiments transport with the ship. The perk of getting 3 hot meals a day, was something not to be sneered at as our troopships often offered only 2. Apart from keeping the soldiers happy, it also kept boredom in check as standing in line, was an activity, and soldiers normally did not mind standing in line, where it let to getting more to eat.

Thus tact and forsight was needed. And also being open to unusual requests. One of them being games on board to keep the troops occupied between meal times and sleeping.  One of those games was boxing. With over 8000 men on board, the ship was full of talents and thus also there would be a few pugalists.  

 

He remained with the ship until  20th. of April 1943 as Staff Captain and was then temporary promoted to captain of the ship while it was docked in San fransisco. (22 March – 19 April). Commodore Barendse took a short vacation while between sailing. Once he was back Staff Captain Brands was relieved in San Franscisco.

Leave followed in combination with a train journey from SFO to New York as he had been promoted to Captain of the ss Leerdam (II). The leerdam was a sistership of the ss Maasam (III), and in service on the North Atlantic. Sailing in convoy from New York / Halifax to Liverpool and lateron making long voyages to Australia. Carrying general cargo but also large amounts of ammunition and bombs.

During the war family was living in Rotterdam-Schieboek (Beukenlaan 70) He had an allotment sent of fl. 250,– to his family via his brother in law, D.G Graaff a notary public in Amsterdam. This money ended up with the family via the “Zeemanspot” system of Captain Filippo. (See his biography also on this site)

While staff captain on the Nieuw Amsterdam (II), during a trooping transport in June/ July 1941 he hds on board the exiled king George II of Greece who was on his way to Durban. From him he received the greek decoration: “Officer in the order of the Phoenix”.

GAP to be filled in

After  being captain on the ss Leerdam (II)  he returned to the ss Nieuw Amsterdam and was then sent on leave. Then he travelled with the Nieuw Amsterdam, now as passenger (with C/O Abelsakmap and 2/0 Bak), to New York to collect the ss Weltevreden. This was a cargo ship allocated by the Dutch Government to the Rotterdam Lloyd but that company did not have a crew available to sail the ship to Rotterdam, hence Holland America stepped in, as they had crew coming out ofnti

After retirement he settled own in the town of Baarn in de center of the Netherlands. He passed away on  08 october 1974.

Sailing List:  (b)

Date:                    Function:                       Ship:            Wages and/or remarks.

03 Aug. 1914      Cadet Officer          Zijldijk                                  20,–

17 Aug. 1914      Cadet Officer         Gorredijk                            20,–

28 Nov. 1914      Cadet Officer          Rotterdam                         20,–      Transferred in New York

15 Mar. 1915      Temporary ashore due to illness

29 Apr.  1915      Cadet Officer         Noordam                            20,–

25 Sep. 1915      Temporary dismissed to go to school for 3^rd mates license Passed 04 Feb. 1916

29 Feb. 1916      4^th. Officer                 Poeldijk                               30,–

22 Aug. 1916      Wage increase         Poeldijk                               40,–

25 Oct. 1916       Wage increase         Poeldijk                               60,–

25 Oct. 1916      3^rd Officer                   Poeldijk                               60,–

05 Jan. 1917      Temporary dismissed due to illness

14 Feb. 1917      3^rd Officer                     Schiedijk                             60,–

12 Sep.  1917      Wage increase                                                             70,–

01 Jul.    1918      Wage increase                                                              80,–

05 May.1919      3^rd Officer                        Rotterdam                        80,– Administration duty in Rotterdam

19 Jun. 1919      On standby money for study

10 Sep. 1919       Passed 2^nd mates license

11 Sep. 1919       3^rd Officer                       Rotterdam                         80,–               Administration  duty in Rotterdam

25 Sep. 1919      3^rd Officer                          Westerdijk                        130,–

20 Dec. 1919      Temporary ashore

20 Jan. 1920       In military service

01 Jan. 1920       Wage increase                                                                   140,–         Back dated

14 Jul. 1920         3^rd Officer                           Ashore                                  140,–

01 Jan. 1920       Wage increase                                                                    185,–      Back dated.

04 Aug. 1920      3^rd Officer                           Vechtdijk                              185,–

15 Oct. 1920      Wage increase                                                                       190,–

23 Dec. 1920      2^nd Officer                        Vechtdijk                                   240,–

01 Sep. 1921      Wage decrease                                                                         228,–

16 Oct. 1921       Wage decrease                                                                        216,–

01 Apr. 1922      2^nd Officer                          Warszawa                                 210,–

11 May.1922      Temporary ashore to g to school for 1^st mates license. Passed 04 Oct. 1922

05 Oct. 1922       2^nd Officer                         Ashore                                        210,–

30 Oct. 1922       2^nd Officer                          Poeldijk                                      210,–

05 Apr. 1923      2^nd Officer                          Ashore

10 Sep. 1923      In military service

23 Sep. 1923       Temporary ashore

11 Aug. 1924      2^nd Officer                          Veendam                                   210,–

24 Nov. 1924      Temporary ashore

29 Dec. 1924      2^nd Officer                          Veendam                                   210,–

09 Apr. 1925      2^nd Officer                          Beemsterdijk                           210,–

05 May.1925      Act. Chief Officer              Blijdendijk                              285,–

15 Jun.  1925      2^nd Officer                          Rijndam                                     210,–

09 Nov. 1925      2^nd Officer                          Bilderdijk                                  210,–

22 Jan. 1926      Act. Chief Officer              Bilderdijk                                 285,–

30 Mar. 1926      2^nd Officer                          Ashore                                        210,–

16 Jun.  1926      2^nd Officer                          Rijndam                                      210,–

06 Aug. 1926      Act. Chief Officer              Schiedijk                                  285,–

06 Sep. 1926       2^nd Officer                          Veendam                                   210,–

01Apr. 1927        2^nd Officer                          Veendam                                   220,– (Wage increase)

12 Apr. 1927      Act. Chief Officer              Veendam                                 285,–

18 Oct. 1927       2^nd officer                           Veendam                                   220,–

26 Nov. 1928      2^nd Officer                          Rijndam                                      220,–

01 Jan. 1929       Act. Chief Officer              Rijndam                                    285,–

01 Feb. 1929      2^nd Officer                          Statendam                                220,– Newbuilding

01 Jan. 1929       Wage increase                                                                          230,–

01 Jan. 1930       2^nd Officer                          Statendam                                235,–

On 1 Apr. 8 years/10months and 2 days as 2^nd Officer

02 Jul. 1930         until to 29 July  then ashore                                            235,–

20 Jul. 1930         2^nd Officer                          Statendam                               235,–

11 Apr. 1930       Temporary ashore                                                                  235,–

04 May. 1931     2^nd Officer                          Statendam                                235,–  Has the Sperry gyro certificate

16 Nov. 1931      Wage decreased                                                                     235,–

10 Apr. 1932       Temporary  ashore                                               70%       208,–

10 May. 1932     2^nd Officer                          Burgerdijk                70%       208,–

31 May. 1932     Temporary ashore                                                  70%       208,–

25 Jun. 1932      2^nd Officer                           Binnendijk                                208,–

29 Jun.  1932      2^nd Officer                           Beemsterdijk                         208,–

xx.Oct. 1931       Obtained Master License

23 Oct. 1932       2^nd officer                           Beemsterdijk                          208,–                   Leave cancelled

24 Feb. 1933       Temporary ashore                                                                  208,–                   Due to illness

17 Mar. 1933      Temporary ashore                                          70%              208,–

13 Apr. 1933       2nd Officer                         Volendam                                 208,–

28 Jun. 1933       Wage reduced with 5% in acc, with circulaire no 929 dated 27 June 1933

28 Dec. 1933      Wage reduced with 5% in acc, with circulaire no 929 dated 27 June 1933

12 Apr. 1934       Temporary ashore                                                                  187.20      Regular leave

20 Apr. 1934       2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                  187,20

01 Oct. 1934       Wage decreased                                                                      181,–

24 Nov. 1934      Temporary ashore                                                                   181,-         Regular leave

19 Dec. 1934      2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                   181,–

27 Dec. 1935      Act. Chief Officer              Maasdam                                 208,–

16 Oct. 1936       Temporary ashore                                                                   208,–   Regular leave

26 Oct. 1936       Act. Chief Officer              Maasdam                                 208,–

26 Mar. 1937      Temporary Ashore                                                                 208,– Regular leave

07 May. 1937     Chief Officer                      Dinteldijk                                   208,–

01 Oct. 1937       According to new regulation                                           242,50

GAP (new HR system at HAL and subsequent records not available)

20 Sep. 1939       Staff Captain                     Nieuw Amsterdam

When the Nieuw Amsterdam was laid up in New York he was assigned to the New York Office

10 May.1940      Staff Captain                      Nieuw Amsterdam                306.50

12 Sep.1940        Staff Captain                     Nieuw Amsterdam                 306.50   Until 22 Mar 1943 at SFO

22 Mar. 1943        Captain                               Nieuw Amsterdam until 19 April 1943 while ship is alongside in San Fransisco.

20 Apr.1943        Regular promoted to Captain

05 Aug. 1943      Captain                               Leerdam                                            450.50   Until 07 Jul. 1945. Then work in London office. Returns to the Netherlands on 29 July 1945 with the ss Batavier II.

21 Jul. 1945          Captain                                on leave   until 14 Sep.1945

18 sep.. 1945        Staff Captain                      Nieuw Amsterdam                   Return to Rotterdam

GAP.

19 Oct. 1946       Captain                               ss Weltevreden.   (as pick up crew for Rotterdam llloyd)

14 Nov. 1946      Captain                               Amsteldyk                                      First Captain of the Ship   Until 14 October 148

GAP

10 Jun. 1949       Captain                               Andyk

08 Oct. 1950       Captain                               Schiedyk

25 Jul. 1951         Captain                               Sommelsdyk

16 Feb. 1952       Captain                               Westerdam

Until 30 December 1953

30 Jan.1954        Captain                               Diemerdyk                  One voyage

27 Aug. 1954      Captain                               Noordam                      One voyage

08 Oct. 1954       Captain                               Westerdam                  Relieved on 22 Dec. 1956 in Antwerp.

Retired from company at the mandatory age of 60 years. Then returned for fill in voyages.

14 May. 1957     Captain                               Ryndam                          One voyage

18 May.1957      Captain                               Westerdam                   One voyage

19 Jul.1957          Captain                               Maasdam                      One voyage

21 Sep. 1957       Captain                               Noordam                       One voyage

04 Jan. 1958       Captain                               Westerdam                   One voyage

03 Nov. 1958      Fully retired at the age of 62.

Sources:

(a) Geneology Website: Wie is Wie.

(b) HR records Holland America Line (Stamboek & Mouvemement boeken) as held by the Municipel Archives of the city of Rotterdam.