Five Brothers and a War

Bruynzeel

Apparently, as a means of diversifying and keeping people busy, Leendert’s salesforce sought to clean and refinish parquet floors.

This newspaper ad, seeking additional salespeople for Leendert, ran at least three times, on December 21, 1942, January 27 and February 3, 1943. As that this was mid-war, it is remarkable that there was a need to hire more people.

[translation]

The Bruynzeel City on Borneo Recently some gentlemen of the Bruynzeel Co. arrived in Sampit, Borneo to open and take over the timber operations in the forest. Within six months, 250 houses and sheds will be built—as well as retail properties, which require a workforce of 3,000. After a year, Sampit will certainly be a great city and the center of shipping. Bruynzeel owns two ships of 800 tons, which maintain a permanent wood and passenger link with the island of Java. On top of this, Bruynzeel is also planning electric lighting for the city and its environs, a water system, a cinema , etc.

van Pelt

This newspaper story ran on October 22, 1947, just about five weeks before Leendert’s death. Although it cannot be verified, it is entirely likely that Leen (and Rita) were among those discussed in the article.

Five Brothers and a War

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