Emanuel Stempel worked as an oiler for the Koninklijke Nederlandse Stoomboot Maatschappij [a steamboat company]. On 9 May 1940, he sailed into the port of Dunkirk on the SS Bernice. A day later, the Netherlands was invaded. The ship left the French coast with 22 Dutch refugees on board. During the crossing to England, the SS Bernice was probably hit by a torpedo. In a matter of minutes, the ship sank. Eight passengers were rescued from the water by other ships. Emanuel Stempel died.
Addition of a visitor of the website
For a detailed account (in Dutch) see the the website of the Vereniging van oud KNSM-ers.