Date of birth:

September 18th, 1899 (Terschelling, the Netherlands)

Date of death:

July 28th, 1976

Nationality:

Dutch

ID number 202039.

During the beginning of the war untill March 1942, Willem Klein was Chief Officer on s.s. Pygmalion and s.s. Luna. During this period his ships sailed independent an unprotected in a time that the German U-boats had their highest rate of kill. The result was that once the complete crew up to the 2nd Officer came on board under police escort and handcuffed, because they would not like to be regarded as "sitting ducks" !
With s.s. Vulcanus Willem Klein took part as Chief Officer with convoys SC-72, WN-258, FS-754, ON-86, OS-26, SC-87, ON-110, KS-532, WAT-17, GAT-1, TAG-18, GN-18, SC-111, SC-112, WN-376, EN-188, HM-111 and WN-395. After short runs with s.s. Theseus and s.s. Curacao, Klein participated asChief Officer on s.s. Bonaire in convoys ans independent runs WN-451, EN-279, ONS-18, Sydney CB-Montreal INDEPENDENT, Montreal-Gaspe INDEPENDENT, QS-68A, SC-145, Bristol-Penarth INDEPENDENT, Penarth-Swansea INDEPENDENT, Swansea-Milford Haven INDEPENDENT, ONS-25, ONS-27, HF-99, FH-105 and SC-154.
In Convoy SC-154 the Bonaire was the leading vessel (Convoy Commodore on board Bonaire)
The Bonaire could carry a maximum of 25 passengers, and in many convoys they had the maximum on passengers. Between 26th August 1944 and 25th October1944 Willem Klein was acting Master of the Bonaire and during that time in a meeting with other Dutch merchant navy masters he met Princess Juliana in Liverpool.
After sailing with the Bonaire he took convoy duties and independent sails with s.s. Aruba, again as Chief Officer. He took with this ship part in ON-273, HX-339, BTC-111, Avonmouth-Liverpool INDEPENDENT, TAM-125, ATM-126, TBC-131, Milford Haven-Liverpool INDEPENDENT, Liverpool-Milford Haven INDEPENDENT, BTC-147, TAM-162, ATM-160 and TBC-165. During the Second World War Willem Klein took part in 38 convoys.

Career WW2:
21st Septemer 1939 – 20th December 1939: 1e stuurman, s.s. Pygmalion;
20th December 1939 – 15th January 1940: hospital;
15th January 1940 – 10th January 1942: 1e stuurman, s.s. Luna;
10th January 1942 – 22nd March 1943: 1e stuurman, s.s. Vulcanus;
22nd March 1943 – 8th June 1943: leave;
8th June 1943 – 7th July 1943: 1e stuurman, s.s. Theseus;
8th July 1943 – 21st July 1943: 1e stuurman, s.s. Curacao;
28th July 1943 – 1st November 1944: 1e stuurman, s.s. Bonaire (between 6th April and 25th October as Captain);
1st November 1944 – 28th June 1945: 1e stuurman, s.s. Aruba;
29th June 1945 – 2nd August 1945: leave;
dates uncertain: 1e stuurman s.s. Bonaire:
8th October 1945 – 10th October 1945: 1e stuurman, s.s. Venus.
After the war served on the s.s. Euterpa as its captain.

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

• Photo 1: Marthan Klein
• - Certificate OHK