The Unknown Victims
When we began working on the memorial book “The Rig. Alexander L. Kielland”, our ambition was to find photos of all 123 people who perished in the tragedy. From the outset, it seemed like an almost impossible task. After all, nearly 45 years had passed since the accident, and the victims came from multiple countries. By the time the book went to print, we were still missing photos of six individuals. Nonetheless, we were proud of how close we had come to our goal, and we assumed the remaining faces would remain unknown.
Among the six missing photos was John Tegowski, a name none of our contacts had any memories of. Proof of his presence on the platform came from his wallet, which was found on the seabed by divers after the accident. Although he was listed with a British address among the deceased, his name suggested a different origin. Who was he? Where did he come from? These questions remained unanswered—until a media appeal changed everything.
The Breakthrough
One of the British bereaved contacted the BBC, which issued an appeal to find photos of the British victims. Three of the missing photos were of British citizens, and the response was swift. Tips began pouring in from amateur sleuths, family members, and friends of the deceased.
A distant relative in Poland saw the appeal. He revealed that John Tegowski’s father, Jan, was born in 1918 in Rypałki, Poland. Early in World War II, Jan’s father and two brothers were killed by the Nazis. Jan himself escaped, fled to England, and joined the Polish forces in exile. After the war, he settled in England, married Doreen, and had his only child, John.
Childhood and Upbringing
Several of John’s relatives and friends reached out after the BBC report. Through them, we gained insight into his life. John grew up in Nottinghamshire, where his father ran a small pig farm. Despite a modest upbringing, their home was filled with warmth and care. John displayed an early talent for solving technical problems. While still in school, he worked part-time repairing radios and TVs at a local shop. There was rarely a problem he couldn’t fix. After attending Dinnington High School in South Yorkshire, he trained as an electronics engineer.
Adventures in Zambia
In 1976, John accepted a two-year contract in Zambia alongside his close friend from high school, Richard Whiteley. John worked on communication and instrumentation systems at the Rokana smelter, while Richard was a chemical engineer. Together, they explored the African continent and formed lasting friendships.
When the contract ended in 1978, John returned to the UK, and Richard moved to South Africa for a time. Despite living on different continents, they stayed in touch.
Caption: Alongside friends John Chadwick and Susan (Richard’s girlfriend), they explored life in Africa—ranging from trips to Sunken Lake near Ndola to vacations in Kenya.
The Accident That Shouldn’t Have Happened
John began working on oil rigs in the North Sea, but according to his friend Richard, he wasn’t supposed to be offshore on March 27, 1980. He went because an acquaintance needed help with a technical issue. Out of loyalty and a sense of duty, John agreed to assist. The plan was to return as soon as the job was done, but bad weather prevented him from leaving the rig. He ended up staying aboard the Alexander L. Kielland.
John worked as a technician in the North Sea, likely traveling wherever his expertise was needed. This may explain why none of the survivors we contacted remembered him. His presence on the Kielland that fateful day was likely sheer coincidence.
