Evert Eriksson

The U.S. Merchant Marine ribbon bars on Evert Eriksson's jacket show that he served on the Gripsholm during WWII.

Evert Eriksson was born in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1905. He obtained his Master's papers in 1930, prior to which he had rounded Cape Horn three times on a four masted sailing ship. Eriksson joined SAL in 1930 as a mate on the Kungsholm of 1928. In 1949 he became Chief Purser on the Stockholm, and in 1953 on the Kungsholm. He was most likely the only purser on an ocean liner who would also be able to take over and run the ship.

Eriksson was called The Singing Purser. He willingly entertained on board, and made a 78 rpm record singing the Kungsholm Song.

He married Ulla Gyllenstierna, a member of the Swedish nobility,who had served on the SAL ships. They had four daughters, one living in the US, the others in Sweden. Eriksson retired in 1967, remaining as popular as always. He passed away in 1978 and Ulla in 2003. (Thanks to Göran Claesson for this informatiion)

Pages showing items from the Dawe collection
Start page
Photos, people page1
Photos, people page2
Photos, people page3, the Lounges
Photos, people page4, the Lounges
Photos, people page5, the Dining Room
Photos, people page6, Officers
Photos, people page7, Off Duty
The Collision page1
The Collision page2
The Folk Dance Teams, page 2
The Gripsholm of 1925, Bridge Photos
The Stockholm of 1948, Photos
Chief Purser Hugo Bilén
Chief Purser Evert Eriksson
Cashier T Odenlund
Uniforms
SAL Souvenirs