KARLSSON
ERIK, RUBEN
Karlsson,Erik Ruben, Mollyhawk, was born
in Finström, Åland, on 18.12.1904, and died there on 6.6.1992.
He made his first voyage in 1923 in the
barque MONTROSA and subsequently sailed in the 4- masted barque POMMERN.
He obtained his Master Mariner's
certificate in Mariehamn in 1932.
Ruben Karlsson rounded Cape Horn seven
times :
- in the POMMERN westwards and eastwards
in 1924and also in 1925, and in the same ship eastwards in 1926.
- Then in the ARCHIBALD RUSSELL eastwards
in 1931 and in the HERZOGIN CECILIE eastwards in 1932.
He served as 2nd Mate of the ARCHIBALD RUSSELL
and HERZOGIN CECILIE, s s BOMARSUND, s s KASTELHOLM and NAXOS.
He was Chief Mate of the s s DAGNY and ADVANCE,
and Master of the s s HAVNIA and ANEBERG.
After many years at sea, Ruben Karlsson
took up a post ashored in an Åland Government office, where he remained until
his retirement in 1969.
During Word War II, Ruben Karlsson spent
four years interned in England.