Korporaal Hendrik Roelof DROST, SV

Korporaal Hendrik Roelof DROST

Known as Henk.

He qualified as an architect in the Netherlands, but due to the poor economy was unable to find employment. He made the decision to move to South Africa and seek employment there. He left his then fiance, Suze, behind, planning to bring her out to South Africa once he had established himself here.

He arrived in Cape Town, South Africa from the Netherlands in 1935 with friends Wim FRANKEN and Frans SCHRAUWEN. He moved to Johannesburg shortly thereafter and started working as an Architect there.

Hendrik and Suzanna were married by proxy. At the day of their marriage, he was at the Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa and his wife, Suzanna, was at the Court in Den Haag, Netherlands. The bridegroom representing Hendrik in Den Haag was Willie Monkhorst. Hendrik and Suzanna said their vows at the same time in front of marriage officers. Suzanna then left for South Africa as Mrs. S. DROST-HERRIE.

They had 2 young children under 5 years old when he was conscripted into the Dutch Army.

Hendrik served in the South African Medical Corps during World War II when he was called up to serve in the Netherlands forces in 1942. He was part of 7th contingent of Dutch citizens to leave South Africa on the Abosso on 8 October 1942 from Cape Town to serve in Dutch Military during World War II. They never reached Liverpool, England as the ship was torpedoed by the German u-boat U-575 on the night of 29 October 1942. The ship and all but around 30 were lost 700km from Azores.

After the loss of the m.s.Abosso and almost all its passengers, the news of his presumed drowning took many years to reach his family in the Netherlands and in South Africa.

A monument was erected in the grounds of the Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa in remembrance of the Dutch citizens from South Africa who died serving in the Netherlands forces. Hendrik's name is amongst the names listed on the monument.

http://www.erelijst.nl/hendrik-roelof--drost#comment-9865 Ere lijst met Hendrik Roelof DROST

http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/person/63034.html for crew list for ships hit by u-boats, in particular, Hendrik Roelof DROST

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2319.html

About 700 miles northwest of the Azoros, on route from Cape Town to Liverpool, on 29 OCT 1942 the motor passenger ship, Abosso, was sunk at 23h05 by the german u-boat U-575 (Captained by Gunther HEYDEMANN) in position 48.30N, 28.50W - Grid BD3761. (Mid-way between Liverpool and the Gulf of St. Lawrence). On board was 393 souls. 362 Souls died and 31 survived.

http://uboat.net/boats/u575.htm for information on the u-boat U-575 that torpedoed the Abosso.

http://uboat.net/men/heydemann.htm for information on the u-boat U-575's Commander, G. Heydemann.

http://www.frank-smulders.nl/ for information and genealogy of the Smulders and Drost and related families

Lucas Bruijn's e-mail: m.troia@hetnet.nl . He has information on the sinking of the Abosso as well as those who were on board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bideford_(L43) The ship that aided in the rescue of the survivors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Abosso

https://oorlogsgravenstichting.nl/persoon/36279/hendrik-roelof-drost#

https://www.willemvanouthoornstraat.nl/ Straat waar Hendrik se ouers woon in MAART 1942.

http://drost.ws/

Tower Hill Memorial https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_named_on_the_Tower_Hill...

Find a Grave memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/261468113/hendrik-roelof-drost

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