Kjell W. Larsen

Sailor Kjell W. Larsen – Norwegian Merchant Navy

Early Life

Little is known about the early life of Kjell W. Larsen. Records of his family background, place of birth, and upbringing remain unclear.

Military Service

Kjell Larsen was among the many young Norwegian sailors who continued the fight after their country was invaded by Germany in April 1940. Thousands of Norwegian seamen sailed with the Norwegian merchant fleet—the Nortraship (Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission)—which was placed under Allied command.

These men played a vital role in keeping Britain supplied with food, fuel, and war materials. Service was dangerous: merchant vessels were frequent targets for German U-boats and aircraft in the Battle of the Atlantic. Many Norwegian sailors, often just teenagers like Kjell, faced hazardous voyages and uncertain fates far from home.

Although the precise details of Larsen’s service remain undocumented, his burial in Swansea reflects the strong wartime presence of Norwegian ships in South Wales ports, which were important hubs for Atlantic convoys.

Death

On 1^st February 1941, Kjell W. Larsen died at the age of just 18. The exact circumstances of his death remain unrecorded.

Burial

He was laid to rest in Danygraig Cemetery, Swansea, in a section dedicated to Norwegian burials. His grave is the first Norwegian military interment there in 1941, a poignant reminder of the close wartime ties between Norway and South Wales.

Legacy

South Wales Daily Post

Although little is known about Kjell W. Larsen’s life, his grave in Danygraig Cemetery stands as a quiet testament to the sacrifices made by Norwegian sailors during the Second World War. The South Wales Daily Post in January 1941 reported on two Norwegian seamen charged with stealing a wireless set in Swansea, one of whom—Konrad Larsen—was acquitted after appearing in court wearing a British naval uniform. It remains uncertain whether this Konrad was, in fact, Kjell Larsen, who died only weeks later. While the details of his service and final days remain unclear, his burial in Swansea symbolizes the enduring connection between Norway and South Wales and ensures that even at just 18 years old, his role in the wider story of Norway’s wartime struggle at sea is not forgotten.

Commemoration

Today, Kjell W. Larsen’s grave, along with those of other Norwegian servicemen in Danygraig Cemetery, is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Each year, remembrance services are held to honour the contributions of Norwegian sailors who lost their lives while serving alongside the Allies. These ceremonies, attended by local communities, veterans’ groups, and representatives from Norway, ensure that the sacrifices of men like Larsen continue to be remembered more than eight decades later. His resting place remains not only a marker of personal loss but also a symbol of the enduring bond between Swansea and Norway during one of history’s darkest chapters.