Hello,
my father Wilhelm Erich ter Meulen (*1935) worked for VNS from 29.09.1951 - 18.04.1955.
Does probably somebody remember him and has a few stories to tell (good or bad
) or some pictures of him to share?
And do any of these ships still exist and where (tried to find out, but information is a bit inconsistent)?
Boschfontein:
• As Fougen MK: 29.09.1951 – 19.01.1952, 21.01.1952 – 15.05.1952, 16.05.1952 – 11.09.1952
• Here he remembers being stuck in Mombasa, as they had less than 25 passengers, so they were considered as fright ship instead of a passenger ship. That’s why they had to wait for 6 weeks or longer to let the passenger ships pass.
Oranjefontein:
• as „Fougen MK“: 03.11.1952 – 26.11.1953, 30.01.1953 – 07.04.1953, 22.04.1953 – 10.07.1953, 13.07.1953 – 28.07.1953
• as „Hemmer“: 29.07.1953 – 02.10.1953, 02.10.1953 – 24.12.1953
Jagersfontein:
• as „Hemmer“: 22.01.1954 – 16.04.1954, 16.04.1954 – 17.07.1954
• as „Poetser“: 12.07.1954 – 01.10.1954, 01.10.1954 – 25.12.1954
• as ?: 09.04.1956 – 05.06.1956 (last trip with VNS)
Peperkust:
• as „G’man“ (olieman): 30.12.1954 – 19.01.1955
Bloemfontein:
• as „G’man“ (olieman): 22.01.1955 – 08.02.1955
Beninkust:
• as „G’man“ (olieman): 10.02.1955 – 18.04.1955
I'm putting a little book about his "ship life" together for his 80th birthday next week as a surprise and would like to get some "meat" to the data.
Thanks
Ingo