“Survivor, is the story of my life at sea and how I survived World War II.”

About Willem Punt

Early life and going to sea

Willem was born in 1921 in IJmuiden, the Netherlands. At the time this book was written, he was still alive and actively involved in recording his life story. He reached the exceptional age of 100.
At just 15 years old, Willem went to sea. There was no longer enough money for him to continue his education, and he hoped that working at sea would offer him a better future. He travelled the world as a Stoker’s Boy, a position that can be described as an assistant to the engine room crew.
“My job was to keep the rooms clean, take care of their food, and do the washing up. As a Stoker’s Boy, you were expected to know nothing, because you held the lowest possible rank and were often treated accordingly.”

War and imprisonment

Willem was on Java when the Japanese forces invaded. He was imprisoned as a civilian internee in Struiswijk prison and later deported as a prisoner of war (POW).
He was transported aboard the Japanese hellship Junyo Maru to Padang (Emmahaven) and ended up in the labour camps where the Pakan Baroe (Pakanbaru) Railway was constructed — a project intended to transport coal in support of the Japanese war effort.
Memory and historical verification
During the war, Willem survived several harrowing and life-threatening events. Well into old age, he retained an exceptionally sharp memory, recalling people, places, and details with remarkable accuracy.

Throughout the writing process, Willem actively contributed to the book. He corrected dates, crossed out inaccuracies, and adjusted numbers whenever something did not align with his recollections. When I showed him archival film footage of Batavia, he recognised specific neighbourhoods and locations. While looking through photographs, he often smiled as memories of people and places resurfaced.
The illustration of the Junyo Maru on the back of the book was originally drawn to help me understand the ship’s layout. Within minutes of seeing it, Willem had already added corrections. His precision and involvement made it possible to document this story as accurately and responsibly as possible.

Life after the war

After the war, Willem married Wilhelmina. Together they travelled to Curaçao, where they had two children: a daughter and a son. Willem worked as a navigator in deep-sea shipping and later joined Shell’s nautical service. He was stationed in Curaçao for many years.
Willem lived a full and eventful life. He passed away on 15 August 2021, just months after the death of his wife, at the age of 100. He is still deeply missed by his family.