Sigurd Wathne

Sigurd Wathne – Footballer and Wartime Engineer

Early Life and Football Career

Sigurd Wathne

Sigurd Wathne was born on 12^th February 1898 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He went on to become a talented goalkeeper for the Norwegian football club SK Brann and later represented the Norwegian national team.

Wathne was capped 14 times for Norway, including playing at the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games. At the tournament, Norway defeated Great Britain 3–1 in the first round before losing to Czechoslovakia 4–0 in the quarter-finals. That same Olympics produced one of football’s most unusual moments: the final between Belgium and Czechoslovakia was abandoned when the Czech team walked off the pitch in the 40th minute in protest at the refereeing, leaving Belgium to claim the gold medal.

Military Service

During the Second World War, Wathne served as 1^st Engineer in the Norwegian Navy. He was posted aboard the merchant vessel D/S Risøy, a 823 GRT cargo ship built in 1918 by Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd., Selby.

The Loss of D/S Risøy

D/S Risøy

In March 1942, the Risøy, under Captain Eldor Nordhus, sailed in convoy from Southampton to Swansea carrying 450 tons of scrap iron. The ship departed Southampton on 21^st March. The convoy was escorted by a destroyer and three armed trawlers.

The convoy was attacked off Portland, where a tanker was hit and damaged. Later, north of Trevose Head, three enemy aircraft attacked at low altitude. Convoy ships opened fire, hitting one plane, which crashed near an escort trawler, while the others broke off but returned twice more within the half-hour.

During the attack, Risøy was struck by a bomb in No. 3 hold, which blew the hatches off. The crew searched for 1^st Engineer Sigurd Wathne, but he was missing. Forced to abandon ship, they took to the port lifeboat and were rescued by the escort trawler HMS Ruby. Although the trawler attempted to save Risøy, the ship sank stern-first before this could be done.

Sigurd Wathne grave
Danygraig Cemetery, St. Thomas, Swansea

It was later discovered that Wathne had been blown overboard during the explosion. He was rescued by the British vessel S/S Dunrange and taken to a hospital in Swansea, where he died on 26^th March 1942.

Aftermath

The survivors of Risøy were transferred to another vessel and landed at Swansea on 21^st March 1942. An official inquiry into the sinking was held in Swansea on 1^st April 1942, attended by Captain Nordhus, the first and second mates, the second engineer, Able Seaman Gård (helmsman), and Ordinary Seaman Devold (lookout).

Legacy

Sigurd Wathne’s life combined two great callings: football and service at sea. A celebrated goalkeeper for Norway, remembered for his role in the 1920 Olympics, he also gave his life in wartime service as an engineer aboard the Risøy. His story embodies both the sporting spirit of interwar Norway and the sacrifices made by its seafarers during the Second World War.

Also remembered are sailors Ingemann L. Seehus, who died on 26^th March 1942, and Hans O. H. Olsen, who died on 1^st  January 1943. Both men served with the Norwegian Merchant Navy.