LONG CAREER ENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23040, 18 May 1938, Page 19

LONG CAREER ENDS

SIR EDUARD JOHANSEN DISTINGUISHED SERVICES HIGH HONOURS BESTOWED [bt telegraph OWN correspondent] WHAXGAREI, Tuesday The death occurred at Whangarei this morning of Sir Erluard Valdemar Johansen, aped 85, who for the past 12 months had resided with his son, Mr. Hugh Valdemar Johansen. Sir Eduard was a former resident of Devonport. Born in Copenhagen in 1853, Sir Eduard was educated for the Navy at a time when Denmark was cruelly suffering for the Imperialist ambitions of Prussia. His father bore arms in the defence of his country during the war between Prussia and Denmark in 1864. Sir Eduard was associated with the one-time celebrated fiasco of the fullrigged man-of-war, Dan mark, which was built in England at the time of the Prusso-Danish War, and was held by Britain until after the cessation of hostilities. Sir Eduard sailed in her as a midshipman on her fateful maiden voyage. She was a huge top-heavy vessel, carrying 700 men, a gigantic machine of war in those days, and her short, chequered career was dogged by ill-for-tune. Celebrated Warship Fiasco When the vessel fired a broadside her lifeboats were blown from their davits, water flooded 'the cabins and washed tons of soaked rye, used for bread-making, into every corner of the ship, and no sooner did she enter the Atlantic than she spraug a leak, a gale caught her top-heavy sails and she narrowly escaped capsizing. She put back to Queenstown a partial wreck, and when, after being patched up, her crew returned her to Copenhagen, she was promptly condemned and sold for a mere song to the Chinese. During the Austro-Prussian War Sir Eduard had bestowed on him the Order of Franz Josef, and was created a count by the Austrian Emperor. The Order of Dennebrog was bestowed by King Christian IX., of Denmark, and this was confirmed by Queen Victoria giving the title of "Sir" in England.

A Danish frigate, on which Sir Eduarc! was serving as a midshipman in 1868, piU into Cadiz Harbour. The Don Carlos rebellion was in full progress, and the revolutionaries held the greater part of the town. Sir Eduard spent an exciting week on shore dodging bullets in the streets, and escaped back to his ship while some of his Danish companions were taken prisoners by the revolutionaries. Danish Consul In Auckland Sir Eduard served in the Navy and the merchant service for 11 years," holding captain's certificates in both services. He abandoned the sea for the consular service and t«ok a post in Liverpool for four years as secretary to the Danish Consul. There he married. Deceased came to New Zealand in 1882, entering the firm of Messrs. Brown, Barrett and Company, as accountant. He remained with the firm for 14 years, jnd then entered business on his own account in Auckland and Christ-church. He was appointed Danish Consul in Auckland in 1886, and Chief Consul for New Zealand in 1894. Resigning from the Consular Service about 15 years ago, Sir Eduard lived in Wellington and Levin before coming to Whangarei last year. Sir Eduard was onfe of the foundation members of the Auckland Masonic Club. Deceased is survived by three sons, Mr. Johansen. of Whangarei; Mr. F. Johansen, of Wellington; and a third son living in Sydney.