Henry Diesen
Encyclopedia
Henry Edward Diesen was a Norwegian
naval officer.
He was born in Trondhjem
as a son of telegrapher Edward Diesen (1852–1909) and Johanne Christophine Stenersen (1855–1936). He was a first cousin of Emil Diesen
and Andreas Melchior Seip Diesen, and a first cousin once removed of Andreas’s son Ernst Diesen
.
He was a naval officer from 1903, graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy
in 1905 and was promoted to Premier Lieutenant in 1906. He worked in the merchant fleet from 1906 to 1908 and 1909 to 1911. From 1912 to 1913 he studied at the Berlin Institute of Technology. He served in the neutral Royal Norwegian Navy
during World War I
, and was promoted to Captain in 1917. His last service on a ship was as second-in-command of HNoMS Tordenskjold
in 1929.
He lived in Borre
near Karljohansvern
. Here he edited the newspaper Hortens Avis
from 1919 to 1920 and was a member of the executive committee of Borre municipal council from 1920 to 1923. Since November 1907 he was married to Caroline Elisabeth Fretheim (1886–1968).
From 1930 to 1936 Diesen was the second-in-command at the Navy Mining School. He was promoted to Commander in 1936. In 1937 he was appointed as chief of the Third Naval Defence District (Northern Norway), and in 1938 he became Commanding Admiral in Norway. He was also promoted to Rear Admiral. In 1940 Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany
. Diesen embarked the ship HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen
with which he fled the country. The vessel left Norway on 10 June, arrived at Tórshavn
, in the Faroe Islands
, on 13 June and later sailed to the United Kingdom
where she was made war ready. From now the Royal Norwegian Navy was used in the Allied warfare. He left his position as Commanding Admiral in 1941, and served in the United States until 1944. From 1945 to 1947 he was the chief of Marinekommando Vestlandet.
He was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1939. He died in January 1953 in Borre.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
naval officer.
He was born in Trondhjem
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as a son of telegrapher Edward Diesen (1852–1909) and Johanne Christophine Stenersen (1855–1936). He was a first cousin of Emil Diesen
Emil Diesen
Emil Diesen was a Norwegian writer.His largest work was Norsk industri- og næringshaandbok, a registry of several branches of Norwegian industry and business. It was released in several volumes between 1917 and 1921...
and Andreas Melchior Seip Diesen, and a first cousin once removed of Andreas’s son Ernst Diesen
Ernst Diesen
Ernst Diesen was a Norwegian revue and film actor and theatre director. He was born in Kristiania, and was married to Kari Diesen. He worked for the revue theatre Chat Noir from 1934 to 1942, and then for the Edderkoppen Theatre. He acted in several films, including the comedy films Bør Børson Jr...
.
He was a naval officer from 1903, graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy
Norwegian Naval Academy
- External links :*...
in 1905 and was promoted to Premier Lieutenant in 1906. He worked in the merchant fleet from 1906 to 1908 and 1909 to 1911. From 1912 to 1913 he studied at the Berlin Institute of Technology. He served in the neutral Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and was promoted to Captain in 1917. His last service on a ship was as second-in-command of HNoMS Tordenskjold
HNoMS Tordenskjold
HNoMS Tordenskjold, known locally as Panserskipet Tordenskjold, was a Norwegian coastal defence ship. She, her sister-ship , and the slightly newer were built as a part as the general rearmament in the time leading up to the events in 1905...
in 1929.
He lived in Borre
Borre, Norway
Borre is a village in the municipality of Horten, Vestfold county, Norway. The village of Borre had provided the name of the former Borre municipality .-History:...
near Karljohansvern
Karljohansvern
Karjohansvern in Horten was the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1819 to 1963.It was first called Hortens verft, and later Marinens Hovedværft until King Oscar I named it Carljohansværn værft in 1854...
. Here he edited the newspaper Hortens Avis
Hortens Avis
Hortens Avis is a former Norwegian newspaper, based in Horten. It was established in 1874 as Jarlsbergeren, and assumed the name Hortens Avis in 1875. From 1880 Hortens Avis was an organ for the Liberal Party. The newspaper has also called itself Jarlsberg Tidende and Hortens Blad. Among its...
from 1919 to 1920 and was a member of the executive committee of Borre municipal council from 1920 to 1923. Since November 1907 he was married to Caroline Elisabeth Fretheim (1886–1968).
From 1930 to 1936 Diesen was the second-in-command at the Navy Mining School. He was promoted to Commander in 1936. In 1937 he was appointed as chief of the Third Naval Defence District (Northern Norway), and in 1938 he became Commanding Admiral in Norway. He was also promoted to Rear Admiral. In 1940 Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
. Diesen embarked the ship HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen
HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen OPV
HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen was the first ship in the Norwegian armed forces to be built specially to perform coast guard and fishery protection duties in the Arctic...
with which he fled the country. The vessel left Norway on 10 June, arrived at Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
, in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
, on 13 June and later sailed to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where she was made war ready. From now the Royal Norwegian Navy was used in the Allied warfare. He left his position as Commanding Admiral in 1941, and served in the United States until 1944. From 1945 to 1947 he was the chief of Marinekommando Vestlandet.
He was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1939. He died in January 1953 in Borre.