During the heavy storm in the night
from Saturday to Sunday February 1st
On Sunday the
District Commissioner of Rotterdam called upon the aid of the Scouts on the
radio. Several groups and individual scouts responded to this appeal.
Aiding Troops
went to the Isles of IJsselmonde and Voorne en Putten to help
reinforcing the dikes. A service to collect clothing, bedclothes and so on was
organized. Help was given to refugees in the Ahoy- and Riviéra-halls
and aiding troops went to Voorne and Putten to save humans if possible.
A small piece of
the journal of group 30 “Jonker Frans
van Brederode”:
18.30 hrs.
For the second
time we left for a farm in the polder. Darkness is dangerous and annoying, for barriers
are only visible from a short distance. People were afraid to descend in the
dangling boat, saved 3 humans and a dog.
To small house
From February 1st
to 4th this group was active in het submerged area and more than 100
humans were rescued from isolated houses, farms and dikes.
On Wednesday
February 4th at 7.45 hrs. the clipper “Rambonnet”
with the “Merwede” as tugboat left from the
headquarters at the Haringvliet in |
Goodbye at leaving headquarters |
|
The “Rambonnet” at Sommelsdijk-harbour |
On arrival instructions came to go to Middelharnis. No one there had eaten properly since
Saturday, it was obvious what had to be done there. 6 Butane gas cookers with
accessories were organized to feed hundreds of civilians and soldiers. They
ate at the council board in the boardroom of the town hall, where the
headquarters of the aiding services was stationed. 500 Soldiers were stationed here, working in a day
and night shift closing the dikes along the Haringvliet. |
|
On Thursday February 5th at 11.50 hrs. the “Avontuur”, belonging to the Hakkert
family, arrived at the |
The third Scouting Aid Ship “Adriana” left on Friday
February 6th from |
The “Rambonnet”, the “Adriana” and the “Avontuur”
at Numansdorp-harbour |
On Saturday February 7th the “Rambonnet” got the orders to go to Ooltgensplaat
and the crew has delivered hot meals for approximately 500 civilians and
dozens of soldiers ( |
De “Adriana” at Numansdorp-harbour |
|
The ”Adriana” left for The crew of the aiding ship was welcomed by the
Mayor, who asked them to stay till Saturday. The decision was made to divide
the crew in different shifts: kitchen crew, cleaning crew, 2 man forage, 3
man distributing clothing and a crew that could do different jobs. The local
community highly appreciated the efforts of the “Avontuur”.
|
Sunday February 8th, Sommelsdijk.
The kitchen worked at full speed. In the “Polderhuis”
a central soup kitchen was installed that could be operated by the local
society. In Kortgene a short church
service was held aboard the “Avontuur”, whereupon
the preparing of meals and the delivering of coffee, soup etc. was continued.
Monday February 9th. The central soup
kitchen was handed over to the Mayor of Sommelsdijk,
followed at 9.25 hrs. by the departure of the “Rambonnet”
to |
Tuesday February 10th. at 13.10 hrs. the
tugboat “Rembrandt” arrived in Kortgene, with a
relay team and new supplies from At 15.30 hrs. the ”Rembrandt” left for |
Clothing distribution at “C&A” |
Of course the crew also had to eat |
Wednesday and Thursday. Everything went smoothly,
everyone was getting used to the job. The pea soup was praised all over,
everybody was applauding the equipment and the products which were delivered.
Friday February 13th. The usual chores
again. During the morning the clothing supplies were transferred tot a
representative of the council. In the evening the Mayor thanked everyone for
their services during a official farewell speech. |
Saturday February 14th. At 7.10 hrs. the
“Shamrock” tugged the ”Avontuur” and left Kortgene quietly for the return to |
The
museum is always interested in "old" Dutch scouting stuff.
Are you considering removing your old stuff, please contact us.