Johan Martin Holten

Who was Johan Martin Holten?

Johan Martin Holten was a young Norwegian seaman who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic at the age of 18 (eighteen). Born on April 1, 1894, in Kristiansund, Norway, Holten was a promising maritime officer embarking on a journey to further his career when he boarded the ill-fated ship as a third-class passenger.

Early Life and Family

Johan Martin Holten came from a modest Norwegian family, born to Tron Kristoffersen, a carpenter, and Ellen Marie Holten (née Hansdatter). Growing up in Kristiansund, young Johan was part of a large family:

Carl Edvard (Nielsen), born 1864
Oluf Christopher Tronsen, born February 14, 1867
Anna Johanna Tronsdatter, born December 23, 1869
Hans Thomas Christophersen, born July 27, 1872
Anton Jonas, born May 17, 1875

In 1900, at the age of 16 (sixteen), Johan was working as an errand boy while living with his family at 6 Øvregade, Kristiansund. This early exposure to work likely instilled in him the strong work ethic that would later drive his maritime career.

Education and Maritime Career

Johan’s passion for the sea manifested early in his life. His journey in the maritime world unfolded as follows:

Went to sea at a young age
Attended the Petty Officer’s School and Depot in Horten near Christiania (now Oslo)
Graduated from the Petty Officer’s School in 1908
Recently completed navigation school in Kristiansund, receiving his certificate

This educational background set the stage for Johan’s promising career in the maritime industry. At the time of his fateful Titanic journey, he was en route to New York to join the S.S. Edda as a second officer, a significant step up in his career.

Marriage and Personal Life

On October 16, 1910, Johan married Berta Gunhilde Auensen in Christiansund. Berta, born on October 2, 1883, was the daughter of Gustav Auensen and Mathilde Martinsen-Krog. The couple initially lived in Christiansund before settling in Bergen. Their marriage was young and childless at the time of Johan’s death.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Johan on the Titanic?

Johan boarded the Titanic with a clear purpose - to advance his maritime career. He was traveling to New York to take up a position as second officer on the S.S. Edda, owned by the Norwegian firm K. S. Nordgren of Bergen.

Titanic Voyage Details

Embarked from: Southampton
Class: Third Class
Ticket number: 4001
Ticket cost: £22 10s 6d
Traveling companions: Albert Andersen and Henry Olsen

To finance this journey and his recent studies, Johan had borrowed 500 Norwegian Kroner, which Berta was working to repay through her old job as a maid.

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

Tragically, Johan Martin Holten, along with his traveling companions, lost his life in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. His body was never recovered from the icy Atlantic waters.

Financial Compensation

The disaster’s aftermath brought financial challenges for Johan’s widow and mother:

Date	Recipient	Amount	Source
January 24, 1913	Berta Holten	1362.75 NKr (£75)	Mansion House Fund
February 12, 1913	Johan’s mother	545 NKr	Mansion House Fund
July 8, 1916	Berta Holten	1764 NKr ($525)	Damage claims
January 12, 1917	Berta Holten	324 NKr ($90)	Additional payment
January 12, 1917	Johan’s mother	162 NKr ($35)	Additional payment

The Tragic Fate of Berta Holten

Berta Holten’s life after Johan’s death was marked by hardship and ultimately ended in tragedy. She never remarried and lived with family in Horten. On August 5, 1962, exactly 50 years and 4 months after the Titanic disaster, Berta met a horrific end. She was found dead in her apartment, having been strangled by a neighbor, a shocking parallel to her husband’s untimely death.

Johan Martin Holten’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. His ambition and the promise of a bright future in maritime service make his loss all the more tragic, leaving us to wonder about the potential unfulfilled and the dreams unrealized in the cold waters of the North Atlantic.