Launch a Memory Clifden

Nannie Harsman

My mother loved the sea. But being the daughter of a sailor she was also aware of the dangers. Her father, my grandfather was an engineer on board of the KNSM ships, the Royal Dutch Steamship Company. His career was finished when his boat, the S.S. Van Rensselaer, hit a naval mine in the harbour of IJmuiden at the beginning of the second world war. Fortunately the crew survived. I have never known my grandfather, but in his memory my mother has always been member of the Dutch rescue organization