Who was Mr Alfred Ossian Gustafsson?

Mr Alfred Ossian Gustafsson was a 19 (nineteen) year-old Finnish general labourer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in the Åland Islands, Gustafsson had emigrated to the United States as a child before returning to his homeland for a visit, only to meet his untimely demise on his journey back to America.

Early Life and Family

Alfred Ossian Gustafsson was born on May 12, 1892, in Karlby, Kökar, located in the Åland Islands, Finland. He was the son of Gustaf Albert Adolf Gustafsson (born 1864) and Olivia Angelina Karlström (born 1862), who had married on March 25, 1886. Alfred had two known siblings:

• Johan (born 1890)
• Amanda (born 1903)

Tragically, it is believed that Alfred’s mother passed away while he was still young, leaving the family without a maternal figure.

Immigration to America

In 1898, when Alfred was approximately 6 (six) years old, he and his family embarked on a life-changing journey across the Atlantic. They settled in Waukegan, Illinois, where his father found employment in the local steel mills. This move would shape Alfred’s early life and provide the backdrop for his formative years in America.

Return to Finland and Fateful Journey

Why did Alfred return to Finland?

In late 1911 or early 1912, Alfred, then 19 (nineteen) years old, made the decision to return to his native Kökar. This journey was intended to be a visit, possibly to reconnect with his roots or spend time with relatives still living in the Åland Islands.

The Journey to England

Unlike most Finnish passengers who typically traveled to England via Hangö, Alfred took a different route. He journeyed from Gothenburg, Sweden, aboard the Calypso. This unusual travel path led to Alfred being mistakenly recorded as Swedish on several passenger lists, a detail that would later cause confusion in historical records.

Boarding the Titanic

Alfred Gustafsson boarded the RMS Titanic in Southampton as a third-class passenger. His ticket details were as follows:

The Tragic Sinking

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink. As a third-class passenger, Alfred’s chances of survival were significantly reduced. Tragically, Alfred Ossian Gustafsson did not survive the disaster. He was just 19 (nineteen) years old at the time of his death.

What happened to Alfred’s body?

Alfred’s body, if recovered from the icy Atlantic waters, was never identified. This lack of closure has left his story as one of the many poignant individual tragedies within the larger disaster of the Titanic.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

Following the loss of his son, Alfred’s father remained in Waukegan, Illinois. He lived there for nearly three decades after the Titanic disaster, passing away on October 12, 1939. The loss of young Alfred must have cast a long shadow over the family’s life in America.

Alfred Ossian Gustafsson’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many individual tragedies that made up the Titanic disaster. A young man returning from a visit to his homeland, full of promise and potential, whose life was cut short by one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. His tale, like many others, continues to resonate over a century later, reminding us of the human cost of the Titanic’s sinking.