Charles Gesner van der Voort (1916-1991) worked in Shanghai for Holland-China Trading Company from just before WWII. After the outbreak of war, two of his colleagues went to England, to join Dutch forces, they became "Engelandvaarders" from the East. One of them was Karel Baggerman (1918-1982). He joined Princess Irene Brigade, was trained as one of the first Dutch commandos and participated in two major military operations in The Netherlands: Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Walcheren. <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort (1916-1991) worked in Shanghai for Holland-China Trading Company from just before WWII. After the outbreak of war, two of his colleagues went to England, to join Dutch forces, they became "Engelandvaarders" from the East. One of them was Karel Baggerman (1918-1982). He joined Princess Irene Brigade, was trained as one of the first Dutch commandos and participated in two major military operations in The Netherlands: Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Walcheren. <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort's (1916-1991) employer, Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC), was founded by several people, including Albert Hotz, through Hotz, s'Jacob & Co (Albertus Paulus Hermanus Hotz, born in Rotterdam in 1855, died in Italy in 1930). <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort (1916-1991) worked for Holland-China Trading Company in Shanghai, from 1939 to 1943.
Franciscus Hubertus Joseph Alphonsus Lafleur (1890 - 1946) was a colleague at the Hong Kong office and lived in Hong Kong with his wife Lily (1907-1982), son Ah Tong and daughter Ah Kan (Mary). The Japanese interned the family in Stanley Camp, Hong Kong. Unfortunately, Franciscus (probably people called him Frans) died soon after WWII. <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort (1916-1991) has been a member of NRCV (Nederlandse Reünisten Vereniging China (NRVC, Dutch Reunists Association China), as well as most of his former colleagues at Holland-China Trading Company.
NRVC evolved from Nederlandsch-Chineesche Vereeniging which was founded in 1923, by people who had an interest in China. Most of them had worked there, or studied Chinese and Chinese culture. Its magazine "China" had its editors' address at Leidsestraat 82-84 in Amsterdam, where Netherlands Harbour Works had its head office. <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort had started his career in Rotterdam, at Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC). In 1938, he went to Shanghai for the firm. The Japanese interned him, and most other Dutch nationals, from 1943-45. In camp, he met his wife Nancy and they married after the war. After a leave in The Netherlands, they returned to the Orient, where Charles continued to work for HCHC in Hong Kong. <Read more ...>
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Charles Gesner van der Voort had started his career in Rotterdam, at Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC). In 1938, he went to Shanghai for the firm. The Japanese interned him, and most other Dutch nationals, from 1943-45. In camp, he met his wife Nancy and they married after the war. After a leave in The Netherlands, they returned to the Orient, where Charles continued to work for HCHC in Hong Kong. <Read more ...>
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Even though HCHC was taken over by Internatio in 1948, people kept referring to the company as Holland-China Trading Company. This group photo was taken for the occasion of senior manager Philip Harding Klimanek (front row, sixth from the left) leaving the company. Charles Gesner van der Voort can be found front row, first from the left, his wife Nancy third from the left. Phil Beekmeijer and his wife Ans are third row, first and second from the left. <Read more ...>
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