History

Amundsen & Smith Ltd can trace its origins to the early years of the 20th century, when its founder Alfred F Amundsen, a Sunderland man of Norwegian descent, began his business career in the offices of Thomas R Pinkney, Shipbrokers and Sale & Purchase Brokers, of West Sunniside in Sunderland.

After a short spell with Rose Line, Mr Amundsen set up in business before the First World War with a partner as Lythgoe, Amundsen & Company, managing a series of small coasters, including the "COMPASS", "WHARFEDALE","THAMES" and "TREFUSIS" from their offices in Sunderland.
He continued business on his own after the break-up of the partnership, and after serving in World War I, joined forces with his friend William Smith in 1919 as Amundsen & Smith with offices in Sunderland and Seaham Harbour.

The Amundsens had two sons. Alfred (junior) went straight from school to work for Newcastle shipowners R S Dalgliesh in 1931 whilst his younger brother Archie joined his father at the Seaham Harbour office.
Both were called up during World War II and returned from the armed forces to take over the business upon their father's death in 1946. In the meantime, Willie Smith had taken up the post of Company Secretary with the Seaham Harbour Dock Company. Continued on Next Screen >>>

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