Weltevreden, Benjamin Christiaan

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Weltevreden, Benjamin Christiaan

Date of birth:: September 14th, 1898 (Maassluis, the Netherlands)
Date of death:: November 13th, 1954 (Maassluis, the Netherlands)
Nationality:: Dutch

Biography

Benjamin Christiaan Weltevreden was married to Neeltje van der Weijden (1899 - 1989). He was buried in the Algemene Begraafplaats in Maassluis (K a-12).
Captain Weltevreden left the port of Maassluis on April 16th, 1940 and only returned after the end of World War Two.
In addition to his WW2 decorations, Captain Weltevreden was awarded the Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau and made Honorary Citizen of the City of London.

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Kruis van Verdienste (KV)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Kapitein (Merchant Captain)
Unit:: m.s. Hudson (W 02), Ministry of Shipping
Awarded on:: January 13th, 1944

Recommendation:
For having been stationed as captain of the ocean-going tug Hudson in Freetown between June and November 1940 and repeatedly having rendered towing assistance in an eminent manner; for having displayed on July 16th, 1943 in Algiers daring initiative and skill under extremely hazardous conditions whilst quickly towing away a troopship, a hospitalship and a burning ammunition ship and consequently having prevented damage being inflicted to various other vessels.

Royal Decree No.2, dated January 13th, 1944.
Was in 1956, together with the "Eervolle Vermelding" replaced by a "Bronzen Leeuw".

Eervolle Vermelding (EV)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Kapitein (Merchant Captain)
Unit:: m.s. Hudson (W 02), Ministry of Shipping
Awarded on:: January 13th, 1944

Received with "Kruis van Verdienste".

Royal Decree No.2, dated January 13th, 1944.
Was in 1956, together with the "Kruis van Verdienste" replaced by a "Bronzen Leeuw".

Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Kapitein (Merchant Captain)
Unit:: m.s. Hudson (W 02), Ministry of Shipping
Awarded on:: January 13th, 1944

Awarded in 1956 to retroactive replace the "Kruis van Verdienste" with "Eervolle Vermelding".

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Kapitein (Merchant Captain)
Unit:: m.s. Hudson (W 02), Ministry of Shipping
Awarded on:: April 5th, 1944

Citation:
"When ammunition was being placed on board a vessel at Algiers Harbour an explosion took place and a ship loading petrol and oil at neighbouring berth, was set on fire and became a threat to the safety of the port.
Captain Weltevreden who was in charge of the tug "Hudson" displayed great courage and coolness. Under exeptionally dangerous cicumstances, he took the burning ship in tow. The tow parted on three separate occaisions but, although ammunition was exploding continually, Captain Weltevreden places his ship alongside the burning vessel and ultimately succeeded in getting her in tow again. The remouval of the vessel from the harbour undoubtedly saved the port from a very serious disaster."