Encyclopedia Titanica

Gösta Leonard Pålsson

Gösta Leonard Pålsson
Photo © Lars-Inge Glad

Master Gösta Leonard Pålsson, 2, was born on 3 January 1910. He was travelling from Bjuv, Skåne, Sweden to Chicago, Illinois with his mother Mrs Nils Pålsson and siblings Torborg, Paul and Stina. They were rejoining his father, Nils Pålsson, who had emigrated to the United States a year or two earlier. The Pålsson's boarded the Titanic at Southampton. They all died in the sinking.

Research Articles

Alan Ruffman Titanica! (2011) The Final Identification of the Unknown Child
Identification of Body No. 4 in Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax

Newspaper Articles

Chicago American (21 April 1912) Loses Family By Wreck
Search archive online

Credits

Homer Thiel, USA
Lars-Inge Glad, Sweden

Comment and discuss

  1. Miranda Martin

    Miranda Martin

    I'm looking for photos of the Pålsson children. I know there is one of Stina and her parents, and one of Gösta, but are there any of Torborg and Paul, or others of the two youngest ones? Please answer me. Miranda
    : Reply

  2. Melinda Laura Varju

    Not that I know of and I've wondered this same thing.
    : Reply
  3. Miranda Martin

    Miranda Martin

    I think there could have been photos of the others because lots of families took photos before they left. For example, the Panula family took a photo of their three youngest children just before they left. Maybe the Pålssons did the same, but the photos were lost somehow. It would be interesting to know if Nils Pålsson had other children, or if there were any other descendants. Maybe they might have photos. Miranda
    : Reply

  4. Melinda Laura Varju

    Hi Miranda, You said the Panulas family took a photo of the three youngest children before they left. Can I see that picture? I love to see how these little children looked who so suddenly perished this terrible disaster. About the Palsson family, the picture says "Nils, Alma, with Stina before Nils left for Chicago." I think Stina is the oldest child/daughter, not Torborg. Why would the other children be excluded on the photo? Plus, when Nils left for Chicago, Gosta was the smallest child. This makes Stina older than Torborg. I bet there are pictures of those children somewhere, or at least were. So, can you show me that picture with the three youngest Panula children? Many thanks, Laura
    : Reply
  5. Miranda Martin

    Miranda Martin

    There wasn't a picture of all three Panula children but one photo of each. Sorry I don't know how to post a picture. Can you tell me? I don't understand why Stina should be older than Torborg. I have thought sometimes that the girl in the photo could be Torborg, and since the child looks about one year old, Paul wasn't born yet.
    : Reply

  6. Mark Baber

    I don't know how to post a picture. Can you tell me? Sure, Miranda. Below the space at the bottom of this page where you'd compose a new message, there's a button labeled "Insert Image/Document." Click on that button and follow the instructions on the pop-up page that will appear, and the image should appear in your message once it's posted.
    : Reply
  7. Miranda Martin

    Miranda Martin

    I think nearly every one has a picture of Eino Panula. I you don't, I will post it here. The photo is of Juha Panula.
    attachment
    : Reply
  8. Miranda Martin

    Miranda Martin

    In August Wennerström's biography, it says that "as the Titanic went down he met Alma Pålsson and her children. He tried to hold on to two of the children, but lost them when they came into the water." Which children did he hold onto? And why didn't he hold on tighter??? Miranda
    : Reply

  9. Hildur Panula-Heinonen

    It is very hard to hold on to a small screaming, probably kicking and squirming around child. Not to mention the water that is against you. I have located a mistake with one of the pics i sent up. The picture that was of Jaakko Panula, is not of him. It was off his cousin who has the exact same name--Jaakko Panula. My bad. I do have a few more pics of them and of the other children. I shall post them in a while. As for the child in the pic with Alma and Nils, i believe it is Stina, and Alma is pregnant in it with her next child. She looks a few months along.
    : Reply
  10. Miranda Martin

    Miranda Martin

    Thanks for answering, Hildur. Yes, I should've remembered that it is very hard to hold on to a child that doesn't want you to hold it. I'm still wondering why the other Pålsson children aren't in that photo...
    : Reply

  11. Hildur Panula-Heinonen

    Does anyone know if Nils knew his wife's body was found? I would imagine no, or else he would have maybe claimed it.
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  12. karen buckley

    Nils Palsson was my great great uncle. He remarried and his second wife was Tina. I believe they had a little girl, but other than that I have no more information.
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  13. Hildur Panula-Heinonen

    Karen, you say Nils remarried and had a daughter? Do you have any details? Like information on the marriage, wife and child?
    : Reply

  14. Hildur Panula-Heinonen

    I found this photo (not too clear) of Alma, holding Gosta, and in the foreground (seperate attached pic), Torborg and Paul.
    attachment
    : Reply
  15. Holly Peterson

    Holly Peterson

    Wow, great job Hildur! That's the first picture I've ever seen of the two elder Palsson children. Is this picture from a Titanic museum somewhere?
    : Reply

Showing 15 posts of 20 total. View all.

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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Master Gösta Leonard Pålsson
Age: 2 years 3 months and 12 days (Male)
Nationality: Swedish
Last Residence: in Bjuv, Skåne, Sweden
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 349909, £21 1s 6d
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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