Count Felix von Luckner
I was reading in my local newspaper about the New Zealand Naval Museum in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand. Whilst I have yet to visit it myself, however it is on my list of things to do, I came across the fact that the museum has many artifacts including a flag from a Count Felix von Luckner who was confined in a Prisoner of War camp on Motuihe Island, off Auckland, New Zealand and who later escaped from it.
I did not know much about this individual as the story hinted at in the newspaper article seemed very interesting.
As I look out over Motuihe Island in the Auckland Harbour on a daily basis I was interested on several counts I had not heard of this man, his exploits nor the prisoner war camp on the Island.
Anyway as is my style I love to share this information in the hope others find it just as interesting and exciting as I do. Perhaps many of you have heard of Count Felix von Luckner and can add to the discussion or this may be a great chance to revisit the subject.
Graf (Count) Felix von Luckner was born in Dresden, Germany, on the 9th of June 1881. He was a German nobleman, navy officer, author and noted sailor who earned the epithet Der Seeteufel (the Sea-Devil) and his crew that of Die Piraten des Kaisers (the Emperor's Pirates) for their exploits in the sailing commerce raider SMS Seeadler (Sea Eagle) between 1916-1917.
This is a picture of a young Felix von Luckner.
It was Felix von Luckner’s habit of successfully waging war without any casualties that made him a hero and a legend on both sides of the conflict. There was only one accidental death during his voyage.
He was the great-grandson of Nicolaus von Luckner, Marshal of France and commander-in-chief of the French Army of the Rhine, who had been elevated to count in the 18th century by the King of Denmark.
He was married twice, firstly to Petra (née Schultz) with whom he had a daughter, Inge-Maria, born in 1913, and secondly to Ingeborg (née Engeström).
He died in Malmö, Sweden, on 13th of April 1966.
In brief his life story is like something out of a fictional action story but it’s a real story of unparalleled courage, strength and adventure.
The next instalment will cover Felix von Luckner’s early life.
Regards
Sean
