Helgi Hallvarðsson (12 June 1931 – 15 March 2008) was an Icelandic commander in the

Icelandic Coast Guard The Icelandic Coast Guard (, or simply ) is the Icelandic defence service responsible for search and rescue, maritime safety and security surveillance, national defense, and law enforcement. The Coast Guard maintains the Iceland Air Defence ...

. During his 55-year service with the Coast Guard, he took part in all three Anglo-Icelandic

Cod War The Cod Wars (; also known as , ; ) were a series of 20th-century confrontations between the United Kingdom (with aid from West Germany) and Iceland about Exclusive economic zone, fishing rights in the North Atlantic. Each of the disputes ended ...

s where he was nicknamed "''Mad Helgi''", "''The Maddest Axeman''" and "''Napoleon of the North''" by the British due to his aggressive tactics.

Life

Helgi was born in

Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...

to Guðfinna Lýðsdóttir and Hallvarður Rósinkarsson, both from Skógarströnd.

Honours

* : Knight of the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

(1974) * : Knight of the

Order of the Falcon The Order of the Falcon () is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by Christian X of Denmark, King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowaday ...

(1976)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helgi Hallvardsson 1931 births 2008 deaths Grand Knights of the Order of the Falcon Order of Saint Olav People from Reykjavík