Mr Wessel Adrianus van der Brugge

Mr Wessel Adrianus van der Brugge, 42, was born in Holland.

He signed-on to the Titanic on 6 April and was on board on 10 April. His monthly wages were £6. He gave his local address as the Sailors' Home, Southampton. His previous ship was the Tamar.

Van der Brugge died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Wessel Adrianus had two brothers and a sister, Cornelia van der Brugge, who became concerned about his whereabouts. In October 1911 she wrote a letter to the foreign ministery of Holland, asking where her brother might be? She was told, he was on his way to South-America. In May 1912, Cornelia received news from the consul-general of Holland in London, that her brother was on an English ship bound for Santos, Brazil.

On 16 August "The Royal Mail Steam Packet Co." told the consul that Wessel appeared in Southampton on 23 March 1912. In the end, on 31 August, Cornelia was told by the police that her brother died in the sinking of the Titanic. She could not believe it and wrote a letter to the consul in London on 1 September, whether this was true. The consul replied, and he confirmed the news to her by a notice of the Board of Trade from 23 July 1912, which asked to whom the estate of Van der Brugge (£1 4s) should go to. In October 1912 his siblings received the money. On Van der Brugges "Account of Wages and Effects of a Deceased Seaman" from 7 May 1912 only his outstanding wages of £1 4s are listed. Unlike his English colleagues, who received a half month's salary as bonus..

Notes
On the sign-on list his age is given as 39.

Documents
Particulars of Engagement, 1912 - PRO London BT 100/259

Sources
United States Senate, Washington 1912. n° 806, Crew List

References
Edward P. De Groot (1996, 1998) Titanic. De Alk B.V.

Acknowledgements
Günter Bäbler, Switzerland
Hermann Söldner, Germany
Bill Wormstedt, USA