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Ocean Liner History and Stories from the Sea, Past and Present. With an In Depth focus on Holland America Line

Brandenburg, Henricus J. biography pending

Capt. Brandenburg Henricus J. small

Name:  Henricus J. Brandenburg.

Born:  24 June 1921 at Hoek van Holland.

early years, family and education still unknown.

IF THERE IS ANYBOYD OUT THERE WHO CAN HELP TO FILL THE BLANKS. PLEAE CONTAT ME ON Captalbert1@aol.com

In Dutch, english, German or whatever, I will respond.

What I know sofar:

Sailed for six months as sailor o.g. on the ss Randwijk of Erhardt en Dekker during WW II the idea was to jump ship in Sweden. Did not succeed.

Then to Maritime academy and back to sea on the Stadt Dordrecht of the Halcyon Line also sailing to Sweden. This time he managed to jump ship in the port of Lulea.  While trying for 18 months to get to England he worked locally.  Lumberjack, an house servant and spend some time at the maritime academy in Gothenburg on request of the Dutch Government who needed signal men and radio officers.  Made his first attempt to England in December 44 by means of a Liberator plane, which slid of the run way, broke the nose wheel, then smashed the  gun window in the nose and all the snow came in. All crew escaped via the bomb hatches.

Jan. 1945 he managed to get to England and from there per Queen Mary to NY. Assigned to the Japara of the Rotterdam Lloyd. He had sometime during his period in Holland followed a course with the company so he felt sort of at home. The plan was after his leave in Jan. 1946 to join that company as 4th. Officer. He was then asked to join as 4th. Officer with HAL.

Training at the maritime academy in Rotterdam.

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

01 Feb. 1946       4th. Officer                         Sloterdyk                            at NY.

GAP

20 May. 1952     Chief Officer                      Aalsdyk.

GAP

01 Jan. 1955       Chief Officer                     Aagtedyk (joined 06 Jan. at Amsterdam)

GAP

23 Mar. 1957      Chief Officer                      Westerdam                        until 21 apr. 1958

GAP

14 Jul.    1958     Captain.                              Abbedyk.

GAP

15 may 1970 Appointed Harbour Master of the port of Rotterdam.

Last update: 22 November 2023

2 Comments

  1. Do you have this picture? I am the daughter in law of Captain Brandenburg and would love to have this picture!

    • thank you for your note, I will contact you from my hobby page Captalbert1@aol.com. Please check you spam / junk mail, incase it goes there.

      In the meantime I have uploaded what I know about him, and that is not much…yet. Maybe you can help

      best regards

      Capt. Albert

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