On Thursday, October 7th 1943, Tobias received a message from Schrader that they were to report the following day at Holland Spoor railwaystation in The Hague. On Friday, October 8th, Tobias and Rein first traveled to a house at Populierstraat 19 in The Hague, and from there took a tram to Holland Spoor station. At the meeting point, they met a few other men who were to make the crossing. Using a truck from the Food Supply Service, where Schrader worked, they were all taken to Oud-Beijerland, where the ship Nooit Volmaakt of Kees Koole was already ready. In the hold of this ship, a small boat that had been brought from Leidschendam was stored. In Leidschendam, the boats that were to make the crossing were made more or less seaworthy at the Van Ravesteijn shipyard by the brothers Jo and Piet Meijer.
Zoon Anton Koole met een model van de 'Nooit Volmaakt'.
Son Anton Koole jr. with a model of the 'Never Perfect'
Son Anton Koole jr. with a model of the 'Never Perfect'
In the book “London Calls Amsterdam” (Londen roept Amsterdam) by Eddy de Roever, it is stated that the group sailed from Oud-Beijerland to Schiedam, took another passenger on board there, and that several more men joined them in the Spui. Given the map above, this seems illogical. It appears more likely that they sailed from Schiedam via the Maas and the Oude Maas to Oud-Beijerland, and then continued via the Spui to the Haringvliet. Near the Haringvliet, the small boat was unloaded, and the final passengers boarded there.
It is also possible that the small boat was towed behind the Nooit Volmaakt and detached near the Haringvliet.
Schrader also decided that it was time to leave for England, and thus the following traveling party was formed:
Ir. Anton Schrader, later OSS agent, BK & Silver Star
Tobias Biallosterski, later BBO/SOE agent, RMWO, BK & MBE
Rein Bangma, later BBO/SOE agent, BL, BK & VHK
Jan de Bloois, later BI/SIS agent, BL & VHK
M.C.W. Arenthals, BK
J.H. Brunings, BK & MC
Jules Goossens, BK
J.C. Jansen
Mr. Folkert de Koning, BK
P.P.R. Kruis
Jacob Snijder
Jacob van Grondelle, BK
It is also possible that the small boat was towed behind the Nooit Volmaakt and detached near the Haringvliet.
Schrader also decided that it was time to leave for England, and thus the following traveling party was formed:
Ir. Anton Schrader, later OSS agent, BK & Silver Star
Tobias Biallosterski, later BBO/SOE agent, RMWO, BK & MBE
Rein Bangma, later BBO/SOE agent, BL, BK & VHK
Jan de Bloois, later BI/SIS agent, BL & VHK
M.C.W. Arenthals, BK
J.H. Brunings, BK & MC
Jules Goossens, BK
J.C. Jansen
Mr. Folkert de Koning, BK
P.P.R. Kruis
Jacob Snijder
Jacob van Grondelle, BK
Near the Haringvliet, the open boat was made even more seaworthy by pulling a large sail over it. After that, they waited until the moon was lower in the sky. Around half past eleven they set off and sailed into the Haringvliet. After passing Dirksland, an aircraft was illuminated by searchlights. Just beyond the Hellevoetsluis lock, the group saw two patrol ships, and near the Kwade Hoek a patrol boat passed about 400 meters away without discovering them. After passing the Balkegat, they set course for Harwich.
That night, they saw an aircraft on fire crash into the North Sea. No attempt was made to see whether help could be offered, as a large area of the sea was illuminated by burning gasoline floating on the water. Moreover, the boat was already overcrowded and they would not have been able to take people on board. There was also a high risk that German patrol boats were in the area.
Around half past seven, disaster struck: the engine stalled. For several hours they drifted helplessly, without steering, while Jacob Snijder, who had a technical background, worked on the engine. Around half past eleven in the morning, he managed to get the engine running again, and although only at half power, they were able to continue sailing toward the northwest.
That Saturday, October 9th 1943, around half past four in the afternoon, they passed a buoy and saw the silhouettes of several ships in the distance. The question was whether they were friend or foe. If they were German ships, the adventure would be over and the consequences unimaginable. One ship broke away from the convoy and steamed toward the small boat. Fortunately, it turned out to be an English destroyer, and they could breathe a sigh of relief. The destroyer Campbell signaled with lights, turned, and stopped beside the tiny boat. Amid shouts of joy, the Engelandvaarders came alongside, after which the occupants were hauled aboard by sailors. The boat itself was also hoisted aboard and secured.
Meanwhile, the group was treated by the English crew to food, drinks, and English cigarettes. The twelve men could look back on a successful escape and enjoyed their newly won freedom. On Sunday, 10 October, the Engelandvaarders arrived in Harwich.
That night, they saw an aircraft on fire crash into the North Sea. No attempt was made to see whether help could be offered, as a large area of the sea was illuminated by burning gasoline floating on the water. Moreover, the boat was already overcrowded and they would not have been able to take people on board. There was also a high risk that German patrol boats were in the area.
Around half past seven, disaster struck: the engine stalled. For several hours they drifted helplessly, without steering, while Jacob Snijder, who had a technical background, worked on the engine. Around half past eleven in the morning, he managed to get the engine running again, and although only at half power, they were able to continue sailing toward the northwest.
That Saturday, October 9th 1943, around half past four in the afternoon, they passed a buoy and saw the silhouettes of several ships in the distance. The question was whether they were friend or foe. If they were German ships, the adventure would be over and the consequences unimaginable. One ship broke away from the convoy and steamed toward the small boat. Fortunately, it turned out to be an English destroyer, and they could breathe a sigh of relief. The destroyer Campbell signaled with lights, turned, and stopped beside the tiny boat. Amid shouts of joy, the Engelandvaarders came alongside, after which the occupants were hauled aboard by sailors. The boat itself was also hoisted aboard and secured.
Meanwhile, the group was treated by the English crew to food, drinks, and English cigarettes. The twelve men could look back on a successful escape and enjoyed their newly won freedom. On Sunday, 10 October, the Engelandvaarders arrived in Harwich.
From there, they were taken by train to London, where everyone was subjected to extensive and lengthy interrogations at the Royal Victoria Patriotic School. In England, they wanted to be certain that no spies were entering the country by this route. Hundreds of refugees who had escaped the Nazi regime were arriving and seeking refuge in England, and it was very easy for the Gestapo to infiltrate spies among these groups. For this reason, everyone, from the highest to the lowest, was interrogated at the RVPS. The Dutch were questioned by the Police Intelligence Service under the leadership of the renowned Oresto Pinto.
WEGGUM.COM
Schiedam
Oud Beijerland
Spui
Haringvliet
ESCAPE OUT OF HOLLAND 1943.
HMS Campbell.
The weather on 9 October 1943
A sunny and cool-to-mildly warm day (maximum 18.1 °C) with almost seven hours of sunshine. The sky was cloudless, and there was a light wind (2 Beaufort).
A sunny and cool-to-mildly warm day (maximum 18.1 °C) with almost seven hours of sunshine. The sky was cloudless, and there was a light wind (2 Beaufort).