Johansen joined the expedition in Ostend in August 1897, at the same time as Engebregt Knudsen and after three of the original crew, including the Norwegians Ole Gulliksen and Jørgen Johansen, had left the expedition.
Johansen’s expedition could have been over as early as December, when the expedition was in the harbour in Punta Arenas, Chile. He had joined five of the Belgian crew members for a night on the town, and when a dinghy was sent to pick them up the following morning, several of the party were in no mood to return to Belgica. Three were subsequently dismissed, but Johansen was still wanted on board, even if, according to Amundsen’s diary, he had to be persuaded to remain 📜.
On January 22, 1898, just after the expedition had passed Austin Rocks in the Bransfield Strait and was headed for the Antarctic Peninsula, Carl August Wiencke was washed overboard. Johansen was involved in the rescue attempts and described in his report on the tragedy how close he came to succeeding. As Wiencke was alongside the ship, “I grabbed his left wrist and the mate and Danco held me.” But as the ship heeled over in the waves, it “threw itself over to port so that I could not hold him, though the mate told me that I must do what I could, but I was then so tired in the arm that I had to let go.” Johansen’s five-sided report on the incident is now kept in the National Library of Norway 📜.
Johansen was versatile and had several skills: with his accordion he was one of several who could contribute musically on board, and when needed he was a proficient penguin hunter.
When Frederick Cook, Georges Lecointe and Amundsen went out in July 1898 for what they claimed as “The first sledge expedition on the Antarctic pack ice,” their return was barred by a lead that had opened up in the ice. Johansen went out with Adam Tollefsen and Jean van Mirlo to help identify a safe path back to the ship, prompting Amundsen to recall in his diary: “It is a pleasure to see these three men work their way forward … it is good to have such people on board.” 📜
Photo: Follo Museum, MiA / National Library of Norway.
One of several who struggled physically through the overwintering, Johansen suffered with swollen legs and an irregular heart rhythm. But through spring the condition of most people improved, and Johansen was involved in the work of freeing Belgica from the ice. Together with Lecointe, Amundsen and Melaerts, this included the laying of explosives to blast room for the ship to manoeuvre, so that it could then force its way through the last of the ice that barred the way home.
In 1900, the year after his return from Antarctica, Johansen was married to Hilda Jeanette Martinsdatter Stensrud, with whom he had six children and settled in Moss. It was in this period that Johansen adopted the surname Kallevig.
In November 1913, Roald Amundsen received a letter from a parish priest named Halvorsen, who had written on behalf of Johansen as he lay dying: “He is touchingly affectionate about you. With enthusiasm he has told me many tales about the Belgica trip, and in all of them you are his hero.” In his reply a short time later, Amundsen sent his good wishes and 200 kroner for Johansen and his family. The letter was kept in the family, along with the tollekniv (traditional sheath knife) that had been Amundsen’s Christmas gift to Johansen during the Belgica expedition.
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.