Mr Charles Edward Dahl

Mr Charles Edward Dahl, 45, was born Karl Edwart Dahl in Grense-Jakobselv, Sør-Varanger, Finnmarkens, Norway on 22 July 1866, one of eight children born to Nordmand Ellef Andersen Dahl (a fisherman and trader) and Marcelie Charlotte Mikaelssen.

Karl emigrated to Adelaide, Australia in 1892 to work as a joiner, where he anglicised his name to Charles Edward Dahl. He later lived in Oceania, Australia.

In 1912 he Dahl decided to return to Norway but upon arrival in London he changed his mind and booked passage on the Titanic, which he boarded at Southampton as a third class passenger (ticket number 7598, £8 1s). His destination was Fingal, North Dakota, where his mother, Charlotte, and a few siblings lived.

On the night of the sinking Karl claimed that the impact threw him out of his bunk. After investigations he changed into warmer clothing and headed to the aft well-deck and from there to the boat deck where he stood in prayer lead by Father Byles. Dahl was rescued in lifeboat 15 after being allowed to climb down the falls. He claimed that the people in the already crowded boat tried to throw him overboard.

Karl was sent to St Vincent’s hospital after his arrival in New York for recuperation. After visiting his family in North Dakota and Minnesota he didn’t return to Australia but travelled extensively for two years. He did return to Tromsø, Norway in 1914 where he had an illegitimate son to Kristine Helgesen. Dahl was married to another lady, Hansine Kristine Pedersen, in 1916 and the couple moved to Oceania, Australia.

Charles Edward Dahl (previously Karl Edwart Dahl) died on 13 February 1933 while visiting Tromsø. He is buried there.

References
Contract Ticket List, White Star Line 1912 (National Archives, New York; NRAN-21-SDNYCIVCAS-55[279])
List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer At Port Of Arrival (Date: 18th-19th June 1912, Ship: Carpathia) - National Archives, NWCTB 85 T715 Vol 4183
Per Kristian Sebak (1998) Titanic: 31 Norske Skjebner, Genesis Publishers

Acknowledgements
Per Kristian Sebak, Norway

Contributors
Cameron Bell, Northern Ireland