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A postcard home to Mum

Imagine that you are on a long journey. Would you send a postcard to someone?

On 25 February 1915, Richard Arnesen sent a postcard to his mother Olga in Tønsberg. He was 17 and a sailor. His postcard shows a picture of the crew on his ship. We know from his descendants that the little boy on the left in the photo is Richard.

Richard wrote:

Fam. Olga Arnesen, Hertug Guthorms gade 18, Tønsberg, Norway

Copenhagen 25-2-15

Dear Mum I am writing to you and sending you a photograph of the crew

I have a good life and am well and I hope the same for you

I do not have time to write any more because we are about to leave

so now I have to go

Love Richard

Child labour

Richard was just one of many young sailors at the time. After 1850 and well into the 20th century, it was common to go to sea before the age of 18, especially for those from the shipping towns along the Oslofjord. Tønsberg, where Richard grew up, is one of those towns. On board, young sailors were at the bottom of the hierarchy. They often worked as cooks, cabin boys, deckhands or apprentices.

Could you imagine going to sea?

Chosen by Petter, History student (27)

On loan from private collection

Museum24:Portal - 2025.01.29
Grunnstilsett-versjon: 2