Harald Skoog

Who was Master Harald Skoog?

Master Harald Skoog was a young American passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on August 22, 1906, in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Harald was just 5 (five) years old when he tragically lost his life in one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. As a third-class passenger, Harald’s story represents the countless children whose lives were cut short on that fateful night of April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

A Child of Swedish Immigrants

Harald Skoog was born into a family with strong Swedish roots. His parents, Wilhelm Johansson Skoog and Anna Bernhardina Karlsson, were both Swedish immigrants hailing from Skaraborg. They had embarked on their American dream shortly after their marriage in 1898, settling in the mining town of Iron Mountain, Michigan.

Siblings and Family Life

Young Harald was not alone in his family’s journey. He was blessed with three siblings:

Karl Thorsten (born 1900)
Mabel (born 1902)
Margit Elizabeth (born 1910)

The Skoog family’s life in America seemed to be one of promise and opportunity. The 1910 census paints a picture of their life in Mountain City, Michigan, where Wilhelm worked as a miner at the Pewabic Mine, applying his skills as an engineer.

The Fateful Journey

A Brief Return to Sweden

In a twist of fate that would ultimately seal their destiny, the Skoog family made a decision to return to Sweden around November 1911. However, their stay in their ancestral homeland was short-lived. Regretting the move, they soon made plans to return to America, the land that had become their home.

Boarding the Titanic

The Skoog family’s return journey to America would lead them to the decks of the RMS Titanic. Their travels took them through Stockholm, Göteborg, and Hull before they finally boarded the ship at Southampton on April 10, 1912.

Titanic Ticket Details:

Class: 3rd Class
Ticket Number: 347088
Price: £27, 18s (27 pounds, 18 shillings)

Accompanying the Skoog family on this voyage were two relatives, Elin Pettersson and Jenny Henriksson, whom they had persuaded to join them in their American adventure.

The Tragedy

What happened to Harald Skoog on the night of April 14-15, 1912?

In the early hours of April 15, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began its descent into the icy Atlantic waters, the fate of young Harald Skoog was sealed. Along with his entire family, Harald was lost in the sinking. The bodies of the Skoog family, including 5-year-old Harald, were never recovered from the vast ocean.

Legacy

Though Harald Skoog’s life was tragically short, his story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in the Titanic disaster. It highlights the dreams of immigrant families seeking a better life, only to have those dreams shattered by an unimaginable tragedy.

Harald’s story, intertwined with those of his family members, continues to be told over a century later, ensuring that the memory of this young boy and the thousands of others who perished that night lives on. In the annals of Titanic history, Master Harald Skoog remains forever 5 (five) years old, a symbol of innocence lost to the sea.