Chief Engineer Karl Trygve Karlsen served in the Norwegian Merchant Navy during the Second World War. Born on 23rd October 1889, he was the son of Karl Johan Larsen. At the age of 28 years old on 20th October 1917, he married Ragna Rasmussen in Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway.
He drowned on 20th December 1941 aged 52 years old. His ship, the Isbjorn was in Belfast Lough at the time. From the end of February 1940, Isbjorn was part of UK-Norway convoy ON-16.
During 1941 after escaping from occupied Norway, Isbjorn saw use around the United Kingdom ports. It would later form part of Operation Neptune, bringing supplies to Normandy, France after D-Day. It arrived at Omaha Beach on 12th June 1944 and left again on 18th June 1944.
Karl Trygve Karlsen’s grave is in Glenalina Extension, Section T1, Row PR, Grave 309 of Belfast City Cemetery, Belfast. His name is on the Minnehallen Memorial, Stavern, Norway.