Captain Kok. This photo was taken on 25 October 1930 when he brought the new Damsterdyk to Vancouver (a)

Captain Gerard Cornelis Kok was born on 07 October 1888 in The Hague (or s’Gravenhage as it was called in those days) I do not know where he went to school yet, but he joined Holland America in 1902 as a cadet and remained with the company for his whole career. He retired from the company in 1932 and passed away in 1935. In those days captains normally retired between 55 and 60, so we have to assume that he was unable to continue his career for some reason hence his retirement when 44 years old.

More information about his early days and later years is very much welcome.

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

15 Jul.    1902       Cadet                                    Statendam                          10,–

22 Oct.  1902       Cadet                                    Noordam                             10,–

05 Aug. 1903       Temporary dismissed for exam passed 18 Dec. 1903

02 Jan.  1904       4th. Officer                           Amsteldijk                          30,–

28 Sep. 1904       4th. Officer                           Rijndam                               30,–

17 Mar. 1905      Temporary dismissed for National Service.

23 Oct. 1905        4th. Officer                           Sloterdijk                             30,–

10 Nov. 1905       4th. Officer                           Noordam                             30,–

19 Jan.  1906       Act. 3rd officer                   Noordam                             40,–

31 Oct.  1906       Temporary dismissed for exam.

20 Feb. 1907       Did not pass exam.

22 Feb. 1907       3rd officer                            Sloterdijk                             40,–

07 Apr.  1907       Temporary dismissed for National service

31 May. 1907      3rd. officer                           Rijndam                               40,–

24 Jul.    1907       3rd. officer                           Amsteldijk                          40,–

12 Dec. 1907       Temporary dismissed for exam.

12 Mar. 1908      Did not pass Exam.

17 Mar. 1908       3rd. officer                           Potsdam                              50,–

24 Apr.  1908       Temporary dismissed for exam

13 May 1908       Passed Exam for 2nd mate

15 May 1908       2nd officer                            Soestdijk                             60,–

14 apr.  1909       2nd officer                            Nieuw Amsterdam          70,–

16 Oct.  1909       act. Chief officer               Zandijk                                 90,–

19 Dec. 1909       2nd officer                            Potsdam                              70,–

07 mar. 1910       2nd officer                            Statendam                          70,–

18 may  1910       Temproary dimissed for study for First Mate license. Passed on 16 July 1910

20 jul.    1910       2nd officer                            Rotterdam                          70,–

01 jan    1911       due to wage review                                                        130,–

09 jan.   1911       2nd officer                            Nieuw Amsterdam          130,–

11 feb.1911         Act.chief officer                                Zaandijk                  130,–

29 mar. 1911       wages incrased to 140,– continues contract as chief officer

23 Apr.  1912       wages increased to                                                         150,–

30 jun    1912       Temporary dismissed due to illness                         (nose operation and light pneumonia)

23 Aug. 1912       Chief Officer                      Sloterdijk                             150,–

26 mar. 1913       Temporary ashore waiting for assignment to the Potsdam

09 apr.  1913       wages increased to                                                         175,–

09 apr.  1913       Chief Officer                      Potsdam                              175,–

23 jan.   1914       Wages increased                                                              190,–

30 jul.    1914       Temporary ashore for national service

24 aug.  1914       Chief Officer                      Rotterdam                          190,–

05 feb.  1915       Wages increased to                                                        200,–

12 mar. 1915       Captain                                 Eemdijk                             250,–

The ss Eemdijk was sunk on 23 sep. 1915 in location 55o47’N – 033o50’E. Per ss Framkas to Yarmouth and from there on 28 sep. with the ss Mecklenburg to flushing. Arrived on  28 sep. in Rotterdam.

20 Oct.  1915       Captain                                 Waaldijk                               250,–

01 Aug. 1918       Wage increase                  to                                            300,–

Temporary ashore, came home with the ss Rotterdam.

04 jul.    1919       Captain                            Sommelsdijk                      625,–    with the ss Rotterdam to NY

01 jan.   1920       wage increase                                                               650,–

15 Oct.  1920       Wage increase                                                              675,– on Sommelsdijk until 21 oct.20

01 nov. 1920       Returns home with the ss Nieuw Amsterdam (as passenger)

02 nov. 1920       Temporray ashore

15 dec. 1920       Captain                                 Stadsdijk                              675,–

18 jan.   1921       Captain                                 Veendijk                           675,–    at New York

xx March 1921    Captain                                 Sommelsdijk                      675,–    at Sabang

16 oct.   1921       wage decreased to                                                         610,–

31 jan.  1922       Captain                                 Dinteldijk                             610,-                      at Glasgow

15 feb.  1922       Temporary ashore

21 feb. 1922       Captain                                 Veendijk                              610,–    with the ss Rijndam to NY

09 sep.  1922       wage decrease to                                                            585,–

04 dec.  1922       Captain                                 Bilderdijk                             585,–

28 jan.   1923       Captain                                 Beemstereijk                  585,–

27 mar. 1923       Captain                                 Grootendijk                       585,–

07 may.1923       Captain                                 Veendijk                              585,–

24 nov. 1924       With the ss Roterdam as passenger home from New York.

10 dec.  1924       Temporary ashore

21 jan.   1925      Captain                                 Ijseldijk                               585,–

17  jul.    1925       Captain                                 Grootendijk                       585,–

03 may.  1926       Captain                                 Blommersdijk                    585,–

13 sep. 1926       Captain                                 Bilderdijk                             585,-

19 jan.   1927      Ttemporary ashore

31 jan.   1927       Captain                                 Bilderdijk                             585,–        At antwep

01 apr.  1927       wage increase                                                                   605,–

04 jun.  1927       Temporary ashore

05 jul.    1927       With the ss Veendam as passenger to New York destination ss Vechtdijk

20 jul.  1927       Captain                                 Vechtdijk                             605,–    at New York

31 dec. 1927       With the ss  Rijndam to Rotterdam as passenger  from New York

11 jan.   1928       Captain                                 ashore with leave            605,–

05 feb.  1928       Captain                                 Vechtdijk                             605,–    with the train to Port Said

11 jan.   1929       Captain                                 Gaasterdjk                          605,–

Wages increased to                                                        625,–                    per 1 jan 1921

26 Oct.  1929       Captain                                 Kinderdijk                           625,–

01 jan.   1930       Wages incrased to                                                            645,–

07 mar. 1930       Temporary ashore                                                           645,–

09 apr. 1930       Captain                                 Dinteldijk                             645,–

03 Aug. 1930       Temporary shore                                                             645,–

25 aug.  1930      Captain                                 Damsterdijk                       645,–

23 apr. 1931        Temporary ashore                                                           645,–

01 jul.   1931      Captain                                 Drechtdijk                           645,–

22 Oct.  1931       Temporary shore                                                             645,-

12 nov. 1931       Wage reduced to                                                             516,–

And put on 100% standby money

01 jan.   1932       dismissed and put on standby money

27 jun.  1935       Deceased.

(a) Photo Maritime Museum Vancouver via Mr. D van der Horst.