Godfred Hansen was a first lieutenant in the Danish Navy when he was appointed deputy leader of the Gjøa expedition. He also filled the roles of navigator, astronomer, geologist and photographer.
In addition to his scientific work on board, Hansen taught the Netsilik Inuit crew member Manni to write and read a clock, and they also played various board games together.
Hansen showed several sides during the expedition; Amundsen, for example, was impressed by his ability to repair gloves and mittens, but when Hansen began to braid his long fair hair, the crew had less positive comments to make. In the spring of 1905, Hansen and Peder Ristvedt made a 1400-kilometre sledge journey along the east coast of Victoria Island, which Hansen later described in a chapter of the book about the Gjøa expedition 📜.
Hansen in Nome, Alaska after the journey through the Northwest Passage. Photo: Follo museum, MiA / National Library of Norway.
One of Hansen’s diaries and several observation books from the Gjøa expedition are available at the National Library of Norway 📜. After returning home, Hansen presented lectures about the expedition and also wrote the book “Den norske Gjøa-ekspedition : til den magnetiske nordpol og gennem Nordvestpassagen 1903-06” (“The Norwegian Gjøa expedition : to the magnetic North Pole and through the Northwest Passage 1903-06”) 📜. Hansen was an avid photographer and several of his photographs are today kept at the Arctic Institute in Copenhagen 📜.
In recognition of their achievements, Hansen and the other members were made Knights of the Order of St. Olav. Hansen then continued his life at sea. In the years 1909-12, he carried out several coastal surveys in the Danish West Indies. He then commanded DFDS’s mail ship between Iceland and Denmark, and during the First World War commanded several torpedo boats and served on the coastal defence ship Peder Skram. From 1919 to 1920, he led the Third Thule Expedition along the west coast of Greenland, which laid depots intended for – but never used by – Roald Amundsen’s Maud expedition 📜. One of Hansen’s reports from this trip is today kept in Norway’s National Library 📜.
Hansen continued his naval career on various ships until 1935. He died two years later.
The collections of the Royal library in Copenhagen 📜 and the National Museum in the same city 📜 include several photographs of Godfred Hansen.
Godfred Hansen in his later years. On the desk stands a signed photograph of Roald Amundsen. Photo: National Library of Norway.
Sources:
Amundsen, Roald, Nordvestpassagen : beretning om Gjøa-ekspeditionen 1903-1907 📜 Amundsen, Roald, Roald Amundsen’s “The North West Passage” : being the record of a voyage of exploration of the ship “Gjøa” 1903-1907. Vols. I and II 📜📜 Dansk Biografisk Leksikon: Godfred Hansen
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage, 1903-06. A tinted photograph of him hangs in Amundsen’s home.
The girls Nita and Camilla Carpendale went to Norway and Svartskog together with Amundsen in 1922 where they lived until 1924. The girls called Amundsen “Grandpa”.
Betty was one of the key women in Amundsen’s life. She was the nanny when he grew up, and when Amundsen moved to Svartskog, she joined him and moved into the gatehouse, which became “Betty’s house”.
Eivind Astrup became one of the world’s most experienced polar explorers of his time and a great role model for Roald Amundsen. He chose to end his life when only 24 years old.
Roald Amundsen had strong feelings for Kristine Elisabeth “Kiss” Bennett. She visited Uranienborg several times, but even though Amundsen transferred ownership of it to her, she never moved in.
The girls Nita and Camilla Carpendale went to Norway and Svartskog with Amundsen in 1922 and lived there until 1924. The girls called Amundsen “Grandpa”.
Sigrid Flood Castberg, often called “Sigg”, was one of the women Amundsen had a relationship with. But when Amundsen proposed, she was already married and wanted to wait, and when she was ready he wanted…
Håkon Hammer met Roald Amundsen in Seattle in 1921. He quickly became a collaborator and supporter, but was later named by Amundsen as one of the reasons for his personal bankruptcy.
Participated in the Maud expedition, but left the expedition in 1919, together with Peter Tessem. Both perished. What really happened to them is still unknown.
The Alaska Inupiaq called Elizabeth Magids “Queen of the Arctic”, Amundsen’s crew referred to her as “the mysterious lady”. Amundsen called her “Bess”. She went to live with Amundsen in Norway in 1928….
Participated as a research assistant on the Maud expedition, and as a meteorologist on the Norge expedition. Died on Umberto Nobile’s airship expedition in 1928.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of him decorates a window in Amundsen’s home.
Nobile was the airship engineer whom Amundsen criticized after the expedition in 1926. During the search for his wrecked expedition in 1928, Roald Amundsen disappeared.
Joined the Maud expedition after visiting the ship in Khabarovsk. Also participated in the Norge expedition, but was left out from the actual voyage across the Arctic Ocean.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of her hangs in Amundsen’s home.
One of the Netsilik Inuit Amundsen met during the expedition through the Northwest Passage 1903-06. A coloured picture of him decorates a door in Amundsen’s home.