HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-04-29, Page 45Page 16
Canadian soldiers sparked the flame
By David Emslie
While it might seem a chore
these days to travel just across
town with a family of 10, in 1950
a large Dutch family decided to
travel across the ocean to
Canada.
On April 3, 1950, the family of
Albert and Jacobmina Siert-
sema left Holland to immigrate
to Canada. Making the trip with
them were their eight children;
Teresa, 17, Murray, 16, Hebo,
15, Greta, 14, John, 12, Siebolt,
10, Tim, 7 and Betty, 5.
This was not the first trip for
Mr. Siertsema as he had been
in Canada around the years
1926-28, living here as a single
person. Although he knew
Jacobmina prior to his first
Canada crossing, it wasn't until
his return to Holland that they
became a couple and got
married.
The first hint that the Siert-
semas might be returning to
Canada came about when
World War II was still being
fought.
Acting as an interpreter and
story teller for his mother
Jacobmina, Murray explained,
"During the war years he met
Canadian soldiers and he got
excited about going back to
Canada."
Murray assisted his mother
in getting her point across in
English, as well as adding some
memories of his own
throughout their interview with
the News -Record.
Although Mr. Siertsema
began to feel the urge to return
to Canada during the war, they
didn't get permission until 1950.
Murray noted that prior to 1950
they couldn't go because, "the
family was too big, and the kids
were too small." -
However, by 1950 at least two
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of the children were old enough
to help their parents get thing!
going in the new country, and
the trip was taken.
Originally from northern
Holland, from the Province of
Groninghen, the Siertsemas
left Holland in early April to
make the ocean crossing on the
SS Volendam. Murray explain.
ed that while the Volendam was
a good, large ship, the voya e
was a rough one, and fam y
members were seasick all the
way.
The Volendam holds other
memories for the Siertsemas as
the late Albert made the cross.
ing on that boat five times over
the years. Mrs. Siertsema also
returned to Holland three
times, once on the Volendam
and twice by plane.
The large family landed in
this country in Halifax on April
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