1935 - The Journey to South Africa
The remaining four siblings, Selma, Mary, Rosa, and Martin left Norway in either late March or April 1935. They sailed to South Africa on a Norwegian vessel disembarking at Port Elizabeth on 24th April 1935.In chatting to Dawn she mentioned that her late Mom, Selma had told her the name of the ship; the Balduin. Some internet searches later the details of the D/S Balduin were revealed.
According to Lloyd's Register of Ships, the D/S Balduin was built in 1921 at the Akers Mek. Verksted, shipyard in Oslo.
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| D/S Balduin |
The ship was owned by A/S Bonheur and managed by Fred Olsen & Co., Oslo. Her gross tonnage was 1,164.
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| 1935-36 Lloyds Register showing D/S Balduin's entry |
Interestingly D/S Balduin was used during the Normandy landings in 1944 arriving at Gold Beachhead on 15 June ( https://www.krigsseilerregisteret.no/en/artikkel/801201/ ). 51 Norwegian merchant ships and 10 Norwegian naval vessels participated in the Invasion in Normandy. Three British gunners on Norwegian merchant ships and 34 Norwegian sailors were killed during the invasion.
Other details of D/S Balduin's wartime services may be found at https://www.warsailors.com/singleships/balduin.html
The ship was sold in 1953 to Johan Amundsen & Søn A/S, Haugesund, and renamed Karen. She was sold again in December 1967 in Greece and renamed Cretan Wind. She was finally broken up in August 1969.
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| Balduin after she was renamed Karen in 1953 |
