Date of Arrival:September 18th, 1899 (Terschelling, the Netherlands)Date of Death:July 28th, 1976Nationality:Dutch (1815-present, Kingdom)
During the Beginning of the war untill March 1942, Willem Klein was Chief Officer on s.s. Pygmalion and s.s. Luna. Within this period his ships appeared separate an unprotected in a time that the German U-boats had their best rate of kill. The result was that following the in depth crew up to the 2nd Officer came under police escort and handcuffed, because they would not like to be considered"sitting ducks"!
Together with s.s. Vulcanus Willem Klein engage 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 conducts 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 Best boat (Convoy Commodore on-board Bonaire)
The Bonaire may take a maximum of 25 passengers, also in several of convoys they had the greatest on passengers. Between 26th August 1944 and 25th October1944 Willem Klein was acting Pro of the Bonaire and during this time in a meeting in addition to other Dutch merchant masters he met Princess Juliana in Liverpool.
After sailing together with the Bonaire he required convoy duties and different sails with s.s. Aruba, again as Chief Officer. Through the Second World War Willem Klein engage in 38 convoys.
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After the war served on the s.s. Euterpa since its own captain.
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