David van Gelder, son of Benjamin van Gelder and Saartje Leman, married 12 August 1924 in Avereest Jetje Salomons, a daughter of Meijer Salomons and Tallechien Lezer. The couple lived in Dedemsvaart, where David had his butcher shop and where their three children were born: Benjamin (Bennie), Tallientje Saartje (Tallie) and Johanna (Annie).
David van Gelder was called up in September 1942 for forced labor in the Jewish labor camp Conrad near Staphorst. However, on 3 October 1942 all forced labourers, among them also David van Gelder, were sent to Westerbork. From there, he was put on transport to Auschwitz on 23 October 1942.
This transport with 988 deportees, stopped at Kozel, which is located about 80 km west from Auschwitz. There 170 boys and men between 15 and 50 years were forcedly leave the train to be employed as forced labourers in the surrounding satellite camps of Auschwitz. Those who remained in the train, were transported onwards to Auschwitz to be killed there.
It is very likely that David van Gelder belonged to the group of 170 men, who had to leave the train at Kozel. It is not known where and when exactly he has lost his life but after the war, the Dutch authorities had a death certificate for David van Gelder made in the municipality of Avereest in which his place and date of death was established on 31 March 1944 in Mid Europe.
Together with David van Gelder, his wife Jetje Salomons and his two daughters arrived in Westerbork and on 23 October 1943 deported to Auschwitz. After the stop in Kozel, they were transported onwards to Auschwitz and on arrival there on 26 October 1942, Jetje Salomons, Tallientje Saartje and Johanna van Gelder were immediately killed.
David’s son Benjamin however was already taken to Westerbork on 18 August 1942 and one week later, on 24 August deported to Auschwitz. Also of Benjamin van Gelder is not known the exact date of his death; it was therefore that on order of the Ministry of Justice a certificate of death was made oud in the Municipality of Avereest in which his date of death was established as on 30 September 1942.
Sources among others: De Joodse Gemeenschap van Avereest, pages 41-47 by Peter Makaske, published by Servo publishers; website wiewaseie.nl/certificate of death nr. 10 for David van Gelder, made out 18 January 1950 in the municipality of Avereest; website wiewaswie.nl/deaths of Jetje Salomons, Benjamin and Tallientje Saartje van Gelder; the file cabinet of the Jewish Council, registration cards of David van Gelder, Jetje van Gelder-Salomons, Benjamin, Tallientje Saartje and Johanna van Gelder and the Wikipedia listing of Jew transports from the Netherlands.