Buhse, Gustav.
No Photo found yet. Also a large portion of his biography (after 1931) is still missing, so if you have any information and photos that you would be willing to share, please contact me on Captalbert1@aol.com
Born: at Den Helder on 22 May 1883. The town is located at the top of the province of Noord Holland in the Netherlands.
It seems that the grandfather Hermann Buhse left “Dinslaken” in German Prussia sometime in the 1850’s – 6o‘s and settled down in Den Helder as a horologist specializing in watches and clocks and related repairs. There were a number of children who all found employment in the area and one of them was the father of our captain. One uncle was appointed as German Consul for Den Helder and surrounding area in January 1897.
His father was Johan Bernhard Gustav Buhse and is noted in the archives as a watch maker. He was born on 27 December 1836 in “Dinslaken”, Prussia and then came with the family to the Netherlands. His wife was Henriette Ottilie Haape born on 28 September 1844 also in “Dinslaken” Prussia. They married on 26 November 1872 at Dinslaken. Both come back to Den Helder and join the family business. In 1882 the Council of the town of Obdam expresses in a newspaper article that Mr. Buhse had repaired the local clock tower in a very satisfactory way.
On 27 April 1875 Father, and thus the whole family, obtains Dutch Citizenship. Several children are born, all at Den Helder.
- Son Herman Friedrich born 01 September 1873; who also becomes a watch maker.
- Daughter Louise Bernardine born 15 March 1875; moves on 30 May 1900 back to Germany to Dortmund.
- Son Emiel born 11 December 1876; also becomes a watchmaker and moves to Amsterdam on 10 January 1903. (Name also spelled as Emil)
- Daughter Otellie born 1 January 1879; moves later to Den Bosch.
- Daughter: Bertha born 18 December 1880; marries (22 Aug. 1905 at Den Helder)) Marinus Gerardus Brederode who is listed as Merchant Navy deck officer (*). Her husband passes away on 19 July 1911 cause unknown. There is one daughter (Anna Petronella (Berty) Otiilie born in 1906. Bertha retrains as apothecary assistant. (*) Thus far it has not been possible to trace which company he worked for.
- Daughter: Anna Henriette born 22 May 1883 passes away on 25 June 1884.
- Son: Gustav
- Daughter: Johanna born 11 Sep. 1886
The home town of Den Helder had and has a large port which was and is the home of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Gustav had an uncle who was an engineer on the Navy ships. He had another uncle who was a tugboat captain and this might have been the reason he choose to go to sea. It is unknown which Nautical School he attended but as Den Helder did have one, it is not farfetched to assume that he went there. He would have been able to walk to school every day. School normally took 3 years to complete, followed by a one year apprentice ship but which company is unknown as it was not HAL. Once back he passes for his 3rd mate’s exam on 15 February 1906. As there is a large period between passing his exam and joining Holland America he might have returned to his old company and maybe did not like it.
Whatever happened, he joined Holland America on 14 November 1906 as a fourth officer and is assigned to the ss Statendam (I). Which was after the new flagship (the ss Nieuw Amsterdam) the most prominent ship in the fleet.
Somewhere around 1906/1907 his father starts a partnership with another watch maker Mr. Fehr and they open a shop in Rotterdam for new watches and repairs. He makes it into the newspapers in 1908 when his shop is burgled and the thieves make off with 44 golden ladies and gents watches. He is alerted by the noise and once entering the shop tries to shoot the disappearing thieves with his revolver but misses. The police later manages to apprehend some of those involved and also some of the watches. On 11 October 1911 the family officially moves from Den Helder to Rotterdam and that move includes Gustav, his brother Herman Friederich who has joined the family business and daughter Johanna.
In 1908 he is sent to Belfast to collect the new Flagship of the company the ss Rotterdam (IV) and after sailing the ship to Rotterdam remains with her until November.
He moved on 11 Oct. 1911 in Rotterdam to the Hoogstraat 317. His father, mother, son H.F and daughter Johanna move with him. Mother passes away on 13 March 1916 in Rotterdam. The father follows on 05 March 1917.
The shop of “Buhse & Fehr” survived in family ownership until 1968 when it is taken over by somebody else. The name of the firm still exists and is now located in Amsterdam and well known for clock and jewellry repairs. As they made their own watches and clocks the brand is well sought after by collectors, especially for the clocks made in the early years.
Gustav goes to sea and subsequently sails on a mixture of passenger ships and cargo ships. On 24 February 1910 he passes the exam for 2nd Officer and is at once promoted. In 1912 he obtains his First Mate ticket (captain’s license) and is promoted the following year. It will take another 10 years before he is promoted to Captain. Not strange, as one has to understand that in the early 20’s the company was not doing very well and several ships were regularly in layup. Six months after his last exam he marries Diewertje “Dina” van der Horst, born in Schagen (just south of Den Helder) and they settle down in Rotterdam.
There is no mention of children in any of the records but there seem to have been a dead born baby girl on 10 January 1921.
While Chief Officer on the ss Gorredijk (I) he is part of the peculiar episode in the company when the United State seized all the foreign ships in American ports in March 1918. This included all the Holland America Line ships except the ss Nieuw Amsterdam (I). The USA needs transport to bring its troops to Flanders Fields and under “the Right Angery” it takes all the non US tonnage available. As the Netherlands were neutral in this conflict, the officers and crew cannot sail the ships for the American Government and thus everybody is sent home with the ss Nieuw Amsterdam in April 1918. Buhse is not too much affected as shortly after he is back at sea on board the ss Andijk (I).
Then in 1924 he is promoted to captain and assigned to the ss Zijldijk. Following the company ”pecking order” routine he is assigned to one of the older ships first and is then given by seniority a newer and newer ship. In November 1925 he is appointed to the ss Vechtdijk which sails on the New York to the British Indies which is a yearlong assignment and he eventually returns in December 1926. After that he is given command of cargo ships on the North Atlantic which are not longer away then a month or two months.
By 1930 he has gained enough seniority to be appointed to the passenger ships and this happens in November when he gains command of the ss Edam (IV) this was a one of a class of four passengers – cargo ships built for the Europe – Cuba – Gulf of Mexico service. For this purpose he was transferred from the ss Binnendijk.
On the Binnendijk he had been involved in a cargo fire while docked in Philadelphia. This fire generated quite a bit of publicity as the statements of Captain and company differed very much of what was reported in the local American newspapers. The Americans advised that local fire crews had been battling the fire for 12 hours, that 25 hose handlers had been overcome by smoke, and that the damage was estimated to be around 1.250.000 Dutch guilders. The company version was that the ship’s crew had been successfully battling the fire until the local fire brigade arrived and then pumped so much water into the cargo hold that the ship went aground. The Board of Inquiry reviewed the occurrence with Captain Buhse present as a witness. Now it became apparent that the fire went from Hold II to Hold I and in order to stop the spreading of the fire, it had been thought best to pump hold II full of water. This caused the ship to list and then it touched bottom. The cause of the fire could not be established as there was supervision by a ships officer and the long shore gangs employed were all black people who according to the captain did not smoke in principle. Hence it was assumed that the cargo had started to smoulder and when the cargo hatches were opened self combustion occurred.
At the same time the depression started to bite and the company had to let go various officers and crew. While most Dutch company’s opted for the rotation model, everybody got the chance to do a few months a year, Holland America followed the American model and dismissed a large number and those who remained sailed full time. The selection process that was followed was a. seniority b. less seniority but having a family with children, c. married but no children d. not married. On his level Captain Buhse fell in category c. and was advised that he would be made redundant on 01 April 1932 when his “on standby” period lapsed. Together with the other Captains who were let go, he visited the Head Office in January 1932 for what we assume final arrangements. It is unknown how long the “standby money” was paid after his redundancy.
A family photo album indicates that by 1935 he was living in Bergen Noord Holland, in a house called “De Ark” not too far from Den Helder.
And then the story stops as it is unknown where he went from there. He was 45 years old so another job is more then likely. But Where and What ???
SO I AM HOPING THAT SOMEBODY CAN FILL IN THE GAPS.
In September 1953 there is an announcement in the local newspaper that his wife had passed away.
Sometime later in life he marries a Mrs. M.C Brandt as she is noted as his wife when it is announced that Captain Gustav Buhse had passed away on 24 July 1965.
In retirement the captain must have kept his love for the sea as there the photo in a family album that he made a model of a sailing ship which looks of very good quality and that is not easy to do as a one off,
Sources:
- All family information from contemporary newspapers via the Delpher website
- (a) Photos from the Albert Schoonderbeek Collection.
- (b) “Stamboek” and “Movement” ship and personnel information from the Hal Archives as held by the Municipal Archives of the City of Rotterdam
- (c) By Great Grand Daughter of thesister of the Captain Mrs. Sylvia Schuhr (Urenkelin seiner Schwester Louise Bernardine)
Sailing List: (b)
Date: Function: Ship: Wages and/or remarks.
14 Nov. 1906 4th. Officer Statendam 30,–
02 Jan. 1907 4th. Officer Rijndam 30,–
16 Mar. 1907 4th. Officer Noordam 30,–
27 Mar. 1908 3rd officer Soestdijk 40,–
15 May. 1908 Temporary dismissed
31 May 1908 3rd officer Rotterdam 40,– (joined in Belfast)
30 Nov. 1908 3rd officer Soestdijk 40,–
18 Jan. 1909 3rd officer Potsdam 40,–
15 Mar. 1909 3rd officer Rotterdam 40,–
24 Mar. 1909 3rd officer Statendam 40,–
The last three assignments were used to study for 2nd mates ticket.
12/13 May 1909 during lay up went for exam 2nd mate, did not pass.
17 May.1909 3rd officer Andijk 50,–
18 Oct. 1909 3rd officer Zaandijk 50,-
22 Dec. 1909 Temporary dismissed to go to school for 2nd mates ticket passed 24 February 1910
28 Feb. 1910 2nd officer Rijndam 60,–
12 Aug.1910 2nd Officer Zijldijk 60,–
Transferred in the States due to Capt. Lieuwen staying behind in Baltimore.(broken leg)
01 Sept. 1910 2nd Officer Rijndam 60,–
03 Oct. 1910 2nd officer Zijldijk 60,–
01 Jan. 1911 Due to wage review 100,–
20 Jun. 1911 2nd officer Gorredijk 100,–
12 Jan. 1912 Temporary dismissed to go to school for chief mates ticket Passed on 13 April 912
22 Apr. 1912 wage increase to 110,–
22 Apr. 1912 2nd officer Andijk 110,–
02 Aug. 1912 wage increase 115,–
28 Jan. 1913 Temporary ashore waiting for assignment.
28 Feb. 1914 Chief Officer Zijldijk 140,–
18 May.1914 wage increase to 150,-
17 Aug. 1914 Chief Officer Gorredijk 150,–
03 Nov.1914 wage increase 160,–
28 Jun. 1915 Wage increase 175,–
03 Mar. 1916 wage increase 190,–
04 Aug. 1916 Wage increase 200,–
12 Apr. 1918 Temporary ashore due to confiscation Gorredijk returns home on the N.A
27 Jul. 1918 Chief Officer Andijk 200,–
23 Dec. 1918 Chief Officer 200,– administration duties in Rotterdam
14 Jul. 1919 Chief Officer Soestdijk 300,–
29 Jul. 1919 Chief Officer Gorredijk 300,–
04 Aug. 1919 Chief Officer Noordam 300,–
01 Jan. 1920 Wages increased 330,–
03 May.1920 Chief Officer Schiedijk 330,–
01 Jan. 1920 wages increased 350,–
15 Oct. 1920 wage increased 370.—
04 Nov. 1920 Temporary ashore, with leave for 5 days
09 Nov. 1920 Chief Officer Rijndam 370,–
07 Apr. 1921 Temporary ashore with leave for 20 days
27 Apr. 1921 Chief Officer Zuiderdijk 370,–
03 May.1921 Temporary ashore leave for 6 days.
09 May. 1921 Chief Officer Waaldijk 370,–
15 Jun. 1921 Chief Officer Nieuw Amsterdam 370,–
01 Sep. 1921 Wages decreased to 354,–
05 Oct. 1921 Temporary ashore
15 Oct. 1921 Chief Officer Leerdam 338,–
16 Oct.1921 Wages decreased to 338,–
28 Mar. 1922 Wages increased to 360,–
20 May.1923 Temporary ashore
08 Aug. 1923 Chief Officer Leerdam 360,–
29 Jan. 1924 Act. Captain Zijldijk 560,– Assignment cancelled
29 Jan. 1924 Chief Officer Zijldijk 360,–
11 Feb. 1924 Act. Captain Zijldijk 560,–
08 Apr. 1924 Act. Captain Moerdijk 560,– at Hamburg
26 Apr. 1924 Act. Captain Ridderkerk 625,– Holland British Indies line
28 Sep. 1924 Temporary ashore by train from Antwerp.
06 Oct. 1924 Act. Captain Poeldijk 560,-
06 Jun. 1925 Temporary ashore
15 Jun.1925 Act. Captain Poeldijk 560,–
29 Oct. 1925 Temporary shore
12 Nov. 1925 Act. Captain Vechtdijk 560,–
02 Dec. 1925 Act. Captain Veendijk 560,–
09 Nov. 1926 Returned home with the NA leaving from NY 560,–
24 Nov. 1926 Temporary ashore 560,–
21 Dec. 1926 Act. Captain Poeldijk 560,–
01 Apr. 1927 Captain Poeldijk 580,– wage increase
30 Jun. 1927 to 30 July 1927 ill ashore at Santos due broken right leg.
29 Aug. 1927 Captain Ashore 580,– for further recuperation
07 Nov. 1927 Captain Kinderdijk 580,-
20 Mar. 1928 Captain Binnendijk 580,–
01 Jan. 1929 Wages increased 600,–
11 Feb. 1930 Captain Binnendijk 620,– increase
18 Sep. 1930 Temporary ashore 620,–
12 Nov. 1930 Captain Edam 620,– sailed 2 ¾ years in the last 3 years.
26 Aug. 1931 Captain Ashore 620,–
12 Nov. 1931 Wages decreased to 496,–
And put on 70% standby money
01 Apr. 1932 Dismissed and put on standby money.
Last Updated: 14 June 2021
May 8, 2021 at 6:09 pm
Gustav Buhse , ik noemde hem oom Gus, woonde vanaf 23-09-1926 aan de van Meerwijklaan 1 in Bergen Het huis heette de Ark en het was gebouwd in de stijl van de Amsterdamse school en ontworpen door architect J.F. Staal en gebouwd in 1918. Ik kwam daar tussen 1957 en 1965 en was altijd verbaasd over de hoeveelheid klokken en staande horloges in het huis, het tikte altijd . Het is me nu duidelijk hoe dat kwam , zijn familie waren horlogemakers. Het huis is in 1966 verkocht, mijn vader was een van de erfgenamen. Dina vd Horst was zijn tante.
Met vriendelijke groet Eef van der Horst
May 10, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Mijn dank voor uw reactie
Elk feit over kapitein Buhse is welkom want ik kan bijna niets vinden over zijn prive leven.
mvg
Capt. Albert
June 14, 2021 at 10:25 am
Hallo Kapitän Albert,
herzlichen Dank für Deinen tollen Blog. Ich habe mich sehr gefreut über das Leben meiner Vorfahren zu lesen.
Gustav war der Onkel meines Großvaters. Leider kann ich nicht viel zu Deiner Geschichte beitragen, ich könnte Dir allerdings ein Bild von Gustav aus den 50er Jahren vor seinem Haus de Ark schicken.
June 14, 2021 at 2:41 pm
Herzlichen Dank fur ihr Angebot.
I sende ihnen einen email from mein email adres.
Mit Freundlichen Gruss
Kapitan Albert
Capt. Albert
June 6, 2024 at 1:10 pm
Ik vind toevallig een.klok van gustav in de kringloopwinkel. Daardoor ben.ik.deze man gaan opzoeken.op internet. En vindt deze info.
Interessant.
Ik ben geboren in Rotterdam , zodoende de interesse over deze klokkenmaker.
Heeft u interesse?
Met vr gr Arthur