Summary
Letter of employment reference for Jan Cornelis Roos, from Royal Interocean Lines, Hong Kong, 15 February, 1951.
Part of a collection relating to Jan Cornelis Roos (1912 - 1973), a Dutch merchant marine engineer who migrated to Australia during the early 1940s. Jan was born in 1912 in a village near Alkmaar in the Netherlands. He qualified as an electrical technician in 1934 but during the Depression work was difficult to secure, but found some employment in workshops and a shipyard as a fitter. He then obtained employment with KPM the Dutch navigation company and trained as a marine engineer. In 1937 he was awarded the National Medal for Charitable Assistance for rescuing a drowning woman. Jan continued to work for KPM on various ships and was based in Batavia (Jakarta) in the then Dutch East Indies and later in Australia during World War II. In 1941 he married Lillian May Furlong, an elocution teacher in Ballarat, had a daughter (and later a son) and finally settled in Elstenwick and then Upwey, having left the merchant navy in 1951. Jan died in 1971.
Physical Description
Two quarto sheets of buff-coloured paper joined together in their top left corners with a metal staple. Both sheets with navy blue printed letterhead and insignia, typewritten text and signatures in black ink.
Significance
Statement of Historical Significance:
This item is part of a collection relating to Jan Cornelis Roos (1912 - 1973), a Dutch merchant marine engineer who migrated to Australia during the early 1940s, having married Ballarat resident Lillian Furlong in 1941. In 1937 he was awarded the highest medal for civilian bravery in the Netherlands. The collection includes the medal along with documents tracing his education and training in the Netherlands, and his employment particularly with KPM (Dutch Royal Packet Navigation Co.) in the Dutch East Indies and then in Australia.This is a rare example of this medal in Australian collection, and the other material provides a comprehensive overview of the training and employment path of a merchant marine engineer from the 1930s to 1950s within one of Europe's largest shipping companies.The collection also makes interesting connections to broader themes such as Dutch colonialism and trade in the Asia-Pacific, Australia's links within this trade route and the resulting permanent migration of some of the merchant marine personnel.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Pam Roos, Ian Roos, 13 Nov 2014
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Addressed To
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Inscriptions
Letterhead, both sheets: 'ROYAL INTEROCEAN LINES / ...(extensive text) ...188/191 CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST / HONG KONG'. First sheet : 'TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN (underlined) / The underesigned, A. WITKAMP, manager of the Persdonnel / ....(extensive text) ROYAL INTEROCEAN LINES / Personnel Department / A. Witkamp (signature)'. Second sheet: 'TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN (underlined) / The underesigned, R.D.KOOLHAAS, Superintendent / Engineer ....(extensive text) ... ROYAL INTEROCEAN LINES / Engineering Department / R.D.Koolhaas, A.M.I.N.A. / Supintendent
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
209 mm (Width), 271 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Travel, Dutch Immigration, World War II, 1939-1945, Letterhead, Ships, Merchant Seamen, Merchant Navy, Shipping Lines, Employment