Prisoners of War Japan - warsailors.com
Norwegian Merchant Marine Prisoners of the Japanese
Page 3
(Vennligst kontakt meg hvis det er behov for oversettelse til norsk - adresse nederst på siden).
Listed on this page are men with a maritime title who were not connected to a ship at the time of arrest / internment. Judging from the dates of birth, some of these men were probably retired, possibly living in Shanghai, The Philippines etc., or visiting. Others may have worked for shipping companies, some may have been in the area temporarily, between jobs or in a hospital. Also included here are Norwegians employed on foreign ships.
Find a seaman by name in the:
Alphabetical List
Alphabetical List of Names unless otherwise noted they're all listed in the section "ship not known" |
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Aahjem, Erling S. Backer, Thor |
Carlsen, Leif Johan Dybdal, Per Einarsen, Knut Bjørn - see Foreign Ships |
Falnes, Sigvald Gulbransen, Ove T. Hagan, Olaf Olson |
Idsal, Thorleif Jacobsen, Olaf |
Karlsen, H. - Foreign Ships Larsen, Johan Amandus |
Marcussen, Peder Nikolai Nesbø, Nils M. |
O & P
Olsen, Anders Paulsen, Erling Magnus |
R & S
Rasmussen, Arthur J. Sandberg, Just |
T, W, Y & Z
No names starting with U or V Teigland, Ingebrigt A. M. Wansvik, Ole Ystebø, Johan - Foreign Ships Zinow, Ivar August Names starting with Aa are listed under the A's |
Merchant Mariners - Name of ship not known Location, where known, listed along with the date: |
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A | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Erling S. Aahjem Åheim |
Chief Engineer |
July 12-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Alfred Andreas Alden, Brooklyn |
Captain |
March 2-1942 Java? |
died Febr. 7-1945 | Java |
Alf Henry Andersen, Nøtterøy |
Donkeyman |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of the war | Peking |
Harald Aksel Edvin Andersen Oslo |
Stoker |
Jan. 2-1942 Shanghai |
died Jan. 9-1945 | Enuora Maru |
Harald Andersen Sem |
Boatswain |
May 6-1942 Philippines |
died Febr*. 15-1944 | Japan |
*In his "Nordmenn i fangenskap" ("Norwegians in imprisonment") Kristian Ottosen has the date of death as Dec. 15-1944. This would indicate that he might have been aboard Oryoku Maru when she was bombed on that date, but there's only one Harald Andersen listed in the roster which I've linked to below. He's commemorated on a memorial near Vallø church in Norway, which says he died on Dec. 15-1944 under transport to Japan, after having been taken prisoner on the Philippines. (Scroll down on the site for a list of others who are commemorated on this memorial - the text is in Norwegian). Also, he's included in the casualty list for Ranja at the Memorial for Seamen in Stavern, which might indicate that he had previously served on this ship and paid off shortly before she was sunk in March-1942 in order to join another ship (the birthdate is the same as date given by Kristian Ottosen), or, it's just a simple mix up, because Ranja did have an able seaman by this name.
"Nordmenn i fangenskap" says that Stoker Harald Aksel Edvin Andersen from Oslo (born in 1891) was transferred to Omori, Japan on the same day as he was arrested (Jan. 2-1942). If he died on Enuora Maru, he must have been sent to the Philippines at some point, though this would seem strange. Some of the survivors from Oryoku Maru had been moved to this ship at the end of Dec., but Enuora Maru was also bombed by American aircraft. Again, see link to roster below. |
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Egil Andreassen Fredrikstad |
Seaman |
May 6-1942 Philippines |
died Dec. 15-1944 | China Sea |
"Nordmenn i fangenskap" says Egil Andreassen was moved from Cabanatuan (Philippines) to the Bilibid prison, date for transfer not given, but it was probably in Oct.-1944. Egil Andreassen and Harald Andersen are both on the A-list of the rosters for this ship (downloadable from this external page), but not Harald A. E. Andersen. | ||||
Kristian Andreassen Tvedestrand |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Villy Andreassen Asker |
Seaman |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | " |
Birger Anfinsen Bergen |
Seaman |
Dec. 20-1943 Java |
" | Java |
Anton Eivind Arntsen | Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Klaus K. Ask Vindafjord |
Seaman | " | " | " |
*Ragnvald Augustin Fredrikstad |
Seaman | May 6-1942 | end of the war | Japan |
* I found Ragnvald Augustin on this master roster for Kyushu POW camps, saying he was at camp #17 Omuta. (The captain of Scotia is also included on this roster, along with other Norwegians). See also some more details about him under William Strachan |
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B | ||||
Thor Backer Oslo |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
died Febr. 2-1942 | Shanghai |
Kjell Bakken Flekkefjord |
1st Mate |
Dec. 20-1943 Java |
end of war | Singapore |
Odd Rein Bøe Berents Bergen |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Chinwangtao |
" | China |
It looks like his entire family was with him. | ||||
Oskar Leonard Berentsen Bergen |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Ola Bergren | " | " | " | " |
Alf Ørnulf Bremer Bønsdalen Eidsvoll |
2nd Mate |
Dec. 9-1941 Shanghai |
" | " |
C | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Leif Johan Carlsen Oslo |
Seaman |
June 15-1943 Philippines |
died Oct. 24-1944 | China Sea |
Kristen Christensen Nøtterøy |
Captain |
Dec. 7-1941 Thailand |
Aug. 29-1942 | Laurenço Marques |
May have been exchanged with Japanese prisoners, along with several other Norwegians at that time, and repatriated. (Previous captain of D/S Randi?) | ||||
Christoffer Christoffersen Bergen |
Engineer |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
died Febr. 26-1943 | Shanghai |
D | ||||
Per Dybdal Trondheim |
Seaman |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
end of the war | Hong Kong |
E | ||||
Ola Ekeland Tromøy |
Seaman |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Harald Ekeland Bærum |
2nd Mate | " | " | " |
There's also a housewife, Claudia Ekeland, 30 years old, listed as arrested in Shanghai on the same date, she may have been the wife of Harald (age 34). (Ola Ekeland was 24). | ||||
Martinius Eliassen | Engineer | " | " | " |
Sverre Elsæther Trondheim |
Stoker | " | " | " |
Rolf Engelsen | Captain | " | " | " |
A housewife, Lida Engelsen is also listed as arrested in Shanghai on the same date, not sure if she was Rolf's wife (10 years younger). | ||||
Odd Engelstad | Mate |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
" | Hong Kong |
Roy Engelstad | Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
A housewife, Lillemor Engelstad, about the same age, is listed as arrested in Shanghai on the same date. | ||||
F | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Sigvald Falnes Haugesund |
Chief Engineer |
Febr. 22-1942 Hong Kong |
" | Hong Kong |
Guri Hjeltnes, book 4 of "Handelsflåten i krig" gives the date Dec. 11-1941 for Sigvald Falnes (Hong Kong), and the release date Sept. 19-1945. "Sjøfolk i krig", Leif M. Bjørkelund (ref. My sources) gives his full name as Lars Sigvald and says he was the chief engineer on the Panamanian S/S Wawa having joined that ship on July 10-1941 (he had previously served on D/S Ada until June 21 that year). S/S Wawa was in Hong Kong when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Bjørkelund gives the date for his internment as Dec. 11-1941 until Sept. 19-1945, adding that he was in imprisonment with Hilmar Helgesen at some point (listed under H further down on this page). After his release he travelled from Hong Kong to Liverpool on S/S Empress of Australia on Oct. 27, arriving Norway on the Norwegian D/S Astrea in Nov.
Related external link: The Great Ocean Liners has more on Empress of Australia on this page, which says her last wartime voyage (Hong Kong-Liverpool) took place in Sept.-1945, so the date Oct. 27 given above might be incorrect(?). |
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Halfdan Hansen Fjelli Farsund |
1st Mate |
March 3-1942 Sourabaya |
" | Singapore |
Hans Christian Foyn Nøtterøy |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Mathias Foyn Nøtterøy |
Captain | " | died Apr. 12-1945 | " |
There are a number of Foyn children as well as a housewife arrested on the same date, so this appears to be an entire family. Mathias Foyn is listed as being born in 1861, perhaps the grandfather? | ||||
G | ||||
Ove T. Gulbransen Arendal |
Engineer | " | end of war | " |
Thoralf Gundersen | Captain |
May 17-1942 Philippines |
" | Philippines |
H | ||||
Olaf Olson Hagan Amli |
Steward |
May 17-1942 Shoonan |
died Oct. 24-1944 | " |
Ernst Leonard Halleland Etne |
Chief Engineer |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Christ Halvorsen Sandefjord |
Oiler |
Dec. 8-1941 |
" | China |
Erling Hansen Oslo |
Seaman |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
died Jan. 30-1943 | Shanghai |
Otto Hansen Jevnaker |
Ordinary Seaman | " | end of war | " |
Gustav Hedlund Oppegård |
3rd Mate |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
died March 20-1945 | Hong Kong |
Johan Heimdal Karmøy |
Seaman |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
No ship is mentioned in connection with Johan Heimdal, but I found him in the book "Sjøfolk i krig" ("Seamen at war") by Leif M. Bjørkelund which is largely based on interviews with seamen 50 years after the war. It states he had signed on the Panamanian S/S Morazan (Wallem & Co., Panama) at the beginning of June-1941 with the agreement that the crew was to take the ship to Singapore or Hong Kong. They would then get a free trip back to the U.S. as well as 2 months extra salary. But when they approached the coast of China they were taken as prize by a Japanese destroyer and taken to Woosung near the inlet to Shanghai. They were interned in Shanghai (date not mentioned), though not in a camp but in some sort of an apartment and were allowed to come and go fairly freely in that particular area as long as they had a valid pass. The Chinese who lived in the same street were very friendly, and shared their food with them when they were hungry. Johan and some others escaped at one point, but were caught and returned to internment, after a few days in jail without food and water. | ||||
Hilmar Helgesen Karmøy |
Mate |
Febr. 22-1942 Hong Kong |
" | China |
Finn Hilsen Oslo |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Alf Holthe | " | " | " | " |
There's also a housewife, Solveig Holthe listed for the same date, possibly his wife. | ||||
I | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Thorleif Idsal Stavanger |
Captain |
Dec. 20-1943 Java |
" | Singapore |
Sofus E. Isaksen | Engineer |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
J | ||||
Olaf Jacobsen | " |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
" | Hong Kong |
John Henry Jahnsen Shanghai |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
died Febr. 3-1944 | Shanghai |
His wife, Elisabeth Jahnsen was arresten in Shanghai on the same date (from Leningrad, 8 years younger). She survived the imprisonment. My Norwegian Guestbook has a message from their nephew. | ||||
Hilmar A. Jakobsen | Seaman |
Apr. 3-1942 Tannenfels |
June 19-1943 | Oslo |
This might be an error(?) The dates are the same as those given for Aust's Thallak Solheim. There's already a Hilmar Jakobsen listed under Aust, but he has a different birthdate. | ||||
John A. Jensen Arendal |
Engineer |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Hermann Johannessen Kristiansand |
Seaman | Dec. 8-1941 | died Sept. 1-1942 | Japan |
Johannes Martinius Johannessen Tønsberg |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Tsingtao |
died Oct. 15-1944 | Weihsien |
There's a housewife, Luba Johannesen (from China) listed as arrested in Tsingtao, she might have been the captain's wife. She survived the imprisonment at Weihsien. | ||||
Martin Kristian Johansen Borre |
Chief Engineer |
March 1-1942 Shanghai |
died Aug. 24-1943 | Shanghai |
Aksel Johnsen Gildeskål |
Boatswain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | " |
Audun Juel* Kvinnherad |
Steward | May 6-1942 | Oct. 10-1944 | Japanese camp |
Audun Juel is commemorated at the Stavern Memorial (external link), and is said to have died in an accident in Shoonan on Oct. 24-1944. His ship is given as Brimanger. Suspecting the reference to Brimanger in connection with his death must be an error (since Brimanger was nowhere near Shoonan on that date, as can be seen when following the link to my page about this ship), I looked him up in "Våre falne", a series of 4 books naming Norwegian WW II casualties, and found that he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and interned in Manila. He was freed by the Americans on Oct. 10-1944 and taken aboard a ship with almost 2000 other former prisoners who had volunteered for the American Army, but the ship was torpedoed en route to Shanghai on Oct. 24 and all but 9 of them perished. Although the details re. volunteering for the American Army don't quite fit (and may be an error), I suspected the ship in question could have been the Japanese Arisan Maru, which left Manila on Oct. 10-1944 with 1800 on board, torpedoed by an American submarine on Oct. 24, with only 9 survivors. Further investigations reveal that Audun Juel is indeed listed on the roster for this ship on this page (though his name is misspelt). It's possible he had served on Brimanger at some point. Here's the main page for the roster; several other Norwegians are also named. (All these links are external). | ||||
Jakob Karl August Jølle Farsund |
1st Engineer |
Febr. 15-1942 Singapore |
died Nov. 6-1943 | Singapore |
It looks like his entire family was taken; his wife and his child a little over a year old, and a child born in imprisonment on Sept. 30-1942. Children and mother appear to have survived the war - see my page Life in Imprisonment - Page 2 | ||||
Birger Jørgensen | Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
There's a housewife, Lally Jørgensen (10 years younger than the captain) and a child Rolf A. Jørgensen, 6 years old listed as arrested in Shanghai on the same date - don't know if there's a connection between the 3. | ||||
K | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Olav Meidel Klette Chingwangtao |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Chingwangtao |
end of war | China |
Kristian Knudsen | Seaman |
May 17-1942 Manila |
" | Philippines |
Ravnaas? | ||||
Olaf Blikom Knudsen | 2nd Mate | " | " | " |
Knut Knutsen | Mate |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
There's also a housewife, Elisabeth Knutsen arrested in Shanghai on the same date, same age as Knut Knutsen. | ||||
Jacob Haugland Kristensen Farsund |
1st Mate | " | " | " |
Alv Kulstad | Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | " |
A housewife and 2 children Kulstad are listed as arrested on the same date. No birthdate is given for the captain, but the housewife was born in 1900. Here's a Guestbook message from one of the children mentioned here. | ||||
Erling Kverne | Engineer |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
end of war | Hong Kong |
L | ||||
Johan Amandus Larsen Tromsø |
Engineer |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
died Oct. 14-1942 | Shanghai |
Ludvik Edvard Larsen Kristiansund |
Able Seaman |
Jan. 2-1942 Manila |
died June 2-1942 | Philippines |
Bjarne Petrus Leira Ålesund |
Seaman |
May 6-1942 Manila |
died, date unknown | " |
Trygve Lindeberg Lillesand |
Ordinary Seaman |
Dec. 8-1942 Kobe |
Aug. 29-1942 | Laurenço Marques |
This young man had previously worked on M/S Eli, but he payed off in Kobe, Japan in Nov.-1939 when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and was admitted to a hospital. He was being treated at a sanatorium in Nagano when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The following year he was told he had a chance of getting out of Japan on the Gripsholm, a Swedish passenger liner which had been chartered by the United States International Red Cross to be used as an exchange ship. (Gripsholm made her first repatriation voyage in May-1942 [from New York to Laurenço Marques] carrying Japanese diplomats one way and American internees back). When he missed that opportunity he was instead placed on the Japanese passenger ship Tatuta Maru, which transported several Norwegian diplomats (and others) to the neutral Laurenço Marques, also for exchange purposes, arriving Aug. 28-1942. From there he continued to Johannesburg. Related external links: |
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M | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Peder Nikolai Marcussen Risør |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Hermant Randulf Mathisen Harstad |
Seaman |
Febr. 17-1942 Singapore |
" | Singapore |
Harold Moss | Engineer |
May 6-1942 Manila |
" | Manila |
N | ||||
Nils M. Nesbø Ålesund |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
There's a housewife, Elisabeth Nesbø listed as arrested in Shanghai on the same date, about the same age as the captain. | ||||
Peder Nicolaisen Skien |
Engineer | " | " | " |
Gustav Nicolai Nielssen Porsgrunn |
Chief Engineer? | " | died Nov. 8-1943 | " |
This man was born 1875, so was probably retired, and living in Shanghai(?) | ||||
Andreas Emil Nilsen | Ship's Officer |
May 17-1945 Manila |
end of war | Philippines |
Finn Nilsen Tvedestrand |
Able Seaman |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Einar Nygaard Tønsberg |
2nd Mate | " | " | " |
O | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Anders Olsen | Engineer | " | " | " |
Andreas Olsen Hafslo |
" | " | " | " |
Anders K. Olsen, Haugesund | Mate |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
" | Hong Kong |
Fredrik Ola Olsen Yokohama |
Captain |
Apr. 1-1942 Yokohama |
" | Yokohama |
Probably retired (born 1870). | ||||
Ingvald Martin Olsen | Engineer |
May 17-1942 Philippines |
" | Philippines? |
Jacob E. Olsen | " |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Johan Arnt Olsen Haugesund |
Chief Engineer |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
" | Hong Kong |
Olaf Olsen Oslo* |
Steward | Jan. 1-1942 | died Oct. 24-1944 | China Sea |
*Please see my page about Vardefjell (scroll down on the page to the text below the crew list). | ||||
P | ||||
Erling Magnus Paulsen Steigen |
Boatswain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Ivar Pedersen | 2nd Mate | " | " | " |
Ivar Persen Borre |
1st Mate | Dec. 7-1941 | " | " |
Otto Normann Pettersen Vågan |
Seaman |
May 6-1942 Philippines |
died Dec. 15-1944 | China Sea |
Otto Normann Pettersen is listed at the Stavern Memorial for Seamen as a casualty of William Strachan. As far as I know nothing happened to this ship that could have caused his death (or that of his shipmate John Herman Berg who is also listed at the memorial) but the date of death Dec. 15-1944 coincides with the date given for Harald Andersen further up on this page. Andersen is listed on the roster for Oryoku Maru, which was bombed on this date - see the link to this roster under Egil Andreassen. In "Nordmenn i fangenskap" Kristian Ottosen gives the same information for Otto Pettersen as he does for Egil Andreassen: Arrested May 6-1942, transferred Cabanatuan, transferred Bilibid, died Dec. 15-1944. | ||||
R | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Arthur J. Rasmussen | 1st Mate |
Dec. 7-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Johannes Endresen Rossebø Haugesund |
Seaman | Bandung - no date | died 1942 | Java |
Sigvald Rønne | 3rd Mate |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
S | ||||
Just Sandberg Oslo |
Engineer |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
" | Hong Kong |
There are several Sandberg children and a housewife listed as arrested in Hong Kong on the same date, but not sure if they are the family of the above engineer (he was 22 years older than the housewife, perhaps her father?). | ||||
Haakon Sareussen Ibestad |
Captain |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
died Dec. 21-1944 | Hong Kong |
Probably retired and living in Hong Kong(?), born 1876. | ||||
? Schwartz | Chief Engineer | March 7-1942 | end of war | Singapore |
I'm wondering if the man listed as Schwartz could be Madrono's Czechoslovakian Bedrich Scharf? Ref. the text for Madrono on the page "Norwegian Victims of Thor". | ||||
Ferdinand Johan Semmelmann Oslo |
Captain |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
See also this Guestbook message from his granddaughter. | ||||
*Johan Skulstad Haugesund |
Seaman |
May 6-1942 Philippines |
" | Japan |
* I found Johan Skulstad on this master roster for Kyushu POW camps, saying he was at #17 Omuta. Ref. William Strachan | ||||
Torvald Snemyr Kristiansand |
Engineer |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Frithjof Solhaug | " |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
" | Hong Kong |
Guttorm Rudolf Stensen Frøya |
" |
Febr. 22-1942 |
" | " |
Gustav Abraham Svane Hong Kong |
Captain |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
escaped March 28-1942 | " |
Worked for Wallem & Co. and lived in Hong Kong. Left Hong Kong on a ship to Macao along with 6 other Norwegians, then on to Kanton. Was smuggled through the Japanese lines to the free China, and managed to get out of China via Chung King. | ||||
Aksel Steen Svendsen | Seaman |
May 6-1942 Philippines |
died, unsure date | Philippines |
Tormod Sæter | " |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | Shanghai |
Harry Paul Sæter Giske |
Able Seaman |
Dec. 7-1941 Shanghai |
" | " |
T | ||||
Name |
Title |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Ingebrigt A. M. Teigland Tysnes |
Captain | Dec. 7-1941 | Aug. 1-194? | Saigon |
Not sure of the date of release. Kristian Ottosen has given Aug. 1-1941. | ||||
Rohder Thorbjørnsen | Captain |
Dec. 25-1941 Hong Kong |
end of war | Hong Kong |
Fritz Eugen Thoresen Oslo |
" |
Dec. 9-1941 Amoy |
died Aug. 15-1944 | Shanghai |
Olaf Torgersen | " |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
end of war | " |
Otto Berg Torgersen Vestvågøy |
" | " | died March 8-1942 | " |
Reidar Torgersen | Seaman |
May 4-1942 Philippines |
end of war | Singapore |
W | ||||
Ole Wansvik | Engineer |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Shanghai |
Johan Otto Wiig Trondheim |
" | " | died Aug. 19-1942 | " |
Z | ||||
Ivar August Zinow Oslo |
Captain | " | end of war | " |
Norwegians who served on foreign ships: | ||||
Name |
Title & Ship |
Prisoner from |
Until |
Location when freed |
Knut Bjørn Einarsen Tvedestrand |
Captain S/S Munlock |
Dec. 8-1941 | end of the war | Yokohama |
Served on the English Munlock (scuttled at Hong Kong). Arrested and taken to a jail in Yokohama on Dec. 8-1941. Transferred on Dec. 29 to Sasaji outside Yokohama, imprisoned until the end of the war. Sent by air to the U.S.A. where he spent 6 months in hospital before being sent to Norway. (Munlock was raised and repaired by the Japanese, renamed Rizan Maru, torpedoed and sunk by the U.S. submarine Searaven on Sept. 21-1944 off the east coast of Sakhalin Island). | ||||
Albert Gerhard Heitmann Brooklyn, U.S.A. |
Stoker Virginia |
Dec. 8-1941 | died Aug. 26-1942 | Shanghai |
Ole Johannessen Tønsberg |
Captain S/S Anarlock |
Dec. 8-1941 | end of the war | Sasaji |
Served on the English ship S/S Anarlock. Arrested and taken to a jail in Yokohama on Dec. 8-1941. Transferred on Dec. 13 to Sasaji outside Yokohama, imprisoned until the end of the war, most of the time at Kamyoka prison, Yokohama. Freed by the Americans in Sept.-1945 and sent by air to the U.S.A. where he spent 6 months in hospital before being sent to Norway. | ||||
Carl Ferdinand Josefsen Shanghai |
Captain S/S Federlock |
Dec. 8-1941 | end of the war | Sasaji |
Had his home in Shanghai, served on board the English S/S Federlock. Arrested in Hokkaido on Dec. 8-1941, transferred on Jan. 26-1942 to Sasaji outside Yokohama, imprisoned until the end of the war. Sent by air to the U.S.A. where he spent 6 months in hospital before being sent to Norway. According to Charles Hocking (see My Sources) Federlock, built 1918, 6607 gt, was seized by the Japanese at Shanghai in Dec.-1941, renamed Fukuzan (Hukuzan) Maru, sunk by unknown causes on Aug. 4-1942, off Tamagawa, Honshu Island. Captain Josefsen died on Apr. 6-1946 - see the Commonwealth War Graves Comm. website. | ||||
Bernt Anker Olsen Sarpsborg |
2nd Mate S/S Kiangsu |
Dec. 8-1941 Shanghai |
" | Japan |
B. A. Olsen himself says they were in Hong Kong, attempted to leave for Shanghai during the night (Dec. 8) with several British civilians (English personnel from Taico Shipyard and their families) but were stopped by a Japanese warship and ordered to follow. Taken to Amyo Island on Dec. 16 and interned at Otte Memorial Hospital, Kulangsu (Catholic) along with crews from several other British ships, as well as crew from the Norwegian Dukat, where they stayed for almost 2 years. Transported to Shanghai in Sept.-1943, where the women were separated from the men and placed in a different camp, and civilian men were separated from the seamen, who were placed in a military camp outside Shanghai, where they stayed close to 2 years. Transported by train on May 9 (1944 or 1945?) to a camp in Peking, then to North Korea in June (arriving June 23), before being taken by ship to Hiroshima, on to Yokohama by train on June 30, arriving July 2. Moved from one camp to another until July 25, then came to Tokyo Camp No. 2 in the summer of 1945 until Aug. 28 - transferred to the American hospital ship Benevolence for medical treatment, then distributed to various American vessels. Taken to Okinawa on Sept. 3 by military aircraft, then by plane to Manila and boarded S/S Langfitt on Sept. 15 for Seattle (more details under Life in Imprisonment). The other Norwegians were eventually sent home while B. A. Olsen became a U.S. citizen.
NOTE: In my Guestbook there's a message saying the following: You question in your info if he (they) left Shangahi May of 1944 or 1945. The Shangahi camp at Woosung held about 1500 prisoners, military and civilian. Dec 42 Woosung was closed and all POWs moved to nearby Kiangwan. May of 1945 Kiangwan was closed down and almost all POWs taken by train to Fengtai, near Peking. A month later they were moved to Pusan in Korea, then sent across to Japan. The poster of this message runs the website North China Mariners |
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Oskar Eugen Simensen Halden |
Able Seaman Mascot |
Dec. 8-1941 | died May 10-1945 | Shanghai |
This man appears to be listed twice, the second time as Seaman Oscar Simonsen (same birthdate), arrested in Shanghai on Apr. 2-1942, released in Shanghai at the end of the war(?). | ||||
Anton Richard Smith Porsgrunn |
Captain S/S Viterlock |
see note below |
end of war? |
"? |
Married to a Russian lady. Served on the English S/S Viterlock and was in the west of Japan when the war started. Went to Shanghai and according to a report from the Norwegian consul in Kobe he evacuated aboard Kamakura Maru; the plan was possibly to go to England with S/S Narkunda. Apparently his wife stayed in Shanghai. There's conflicting information here, Captain Smith may have been arrested in Shanghai on Dec. 8-1941 and stayed in imprisonment until the end of the war.
Anarlock, Federlock, Munlock, Viterlock and Deslock were seized by the Japanese, as was the English S/S St. Quentin which also had a Norwegian captain. His name was Johan Sture, who with his wife evacuated from Shanghai on Kamakura Maru, and it's possible they continued to England on S/S Narkunda. |
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Andreas Hagerup Steen Bergen |
Captain S/S Deslock |
Dec. 8-1941 | died March 2-1945 | Sasaji |
Served on the English S/S Deslock. Arrested and taken to a jail in Yokohama on Dec. 8-1941. Transferred on Dec. 29 to Sasaji outside Yokohama. Deslock was renamed Uzan Maru by the Japanese, torpedoed and sunk by the American submarine Trout off Tokushima, Japan on May 2-1942. Captain Hagerup Steen is commemorated at Tower Hill, Panel 35, and also at the Stavern Memorial in Norway. | ||||
NOTE (Swedish ships): I've also come across reference to some Norwegians who were on board the Swedish ships Trolleholm (captured March 25-1941) and Sir Ernst Cassel when those ships were captured and sunk by Thor. The crews spent some time on the raider, and were later sent to the German camp Stalag XB. The Swedes were sent home after 3 months, but the following Norwegians stayed: 2nd Mate H. Hansen, Larvik -3rd Mate A. Andreassen, Fredrikstad - Stoker O. Amundsen, Bergen - Ordinary Seaman K. Olsen, Tønsberg -Stoker A. Kleivek, Kirkenes, - Stoker H. Karlsen, Jeløy and Oiler H. Paulsen, West Finnmark. Norwegian men on Trolleholm: Henry Mørch-Jacobsen, Kristiansand, Johan Ystebø, Lindås - Knut Winter Dahl, Horten and Rudolf Glad Jørgensen, Arendal (see also Nueva Andalucia). Taken on board Thor, later transferred to a tanker and taken to La Pallice, France, then to a place outside Bordeaux, before being moved to a camp near Bremen, possibly the same as above? All the Norwegians were sent home later on a German troop transport, via Sweden. | ||||
Also interned were: | ||||
Einar Krogseth Shanghai |
Captain Ohio |
Dec. 12-1942 | died May 8-1943 | Shanghai |
Fredrik A. Grunde Simonsen Grimstad |
cook Ohio |
Nov. 19-1941 | end of the war | Java |
Captain Krogseth's wife and young son were also interned in Shanghai. I have received an E-mail from his granddaughter, saying the family had lived in China for many years, and their son (her father) was born there. His granddaughter knows very little about him, and would appreciate more details, so if anyone can provide more information, please contact me via the e-mail address provided at the bottom of this page and I will pass it on to her. I'm really not sure about the ship here. There's an Ohio on this website (under Panamanian flag), but I've been told by Gordon Thompson who served on her that she had a different captain all through the war years, namely Captain Beckman. In fact, he believes that it was Captain Beckman who took her out of the shipyard in Hamburg where she was built and launched in 1939 as Le Harvre (follow the link to Ohio for details on this ship). Gordon says that when he joined her in Bombay, India, she had been shuttling between Surabaya, Batavia, Kalamantan, in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and he remembers there was a lot of crew who paid off in those ports just before the Japanese invaded, and many were interned. He has also told me that he has received an E-mail from a Norwegian man whose uncle was carpenter on the Ohio. He was interned in Indonesia, repatriated from Colombo, Ceylon on the S/S Dorchester to the UK. It's possible Captain Krogseth had served on Ohio at one time or another, or the ship's name may simply be an error(?). Related external links: |
Main source used: "Ingen Nåde - Historien om Nordmenn i japansk fangenskap", Kristian Ottosen (1996) and several misc. others for cross checking info.