Karl Kildal

Karl Kildal came from a merchant’s family but joined the cavalry in 1903 as a first lieutenant. In 1916, he was promoted to cavalry captain. As an outstanding rider, he competed in more than 300 equestrian events, winning 70 first prizes. However, he placed in the lower part of the table in the individual jumping event at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Later, he served as head of the Army Riding School and acted as judge in riding competitions.

From 1916-23, Kildal ran the farm Hoel in Nes in Hedmark, which he had bought from his uncle. During this time, he was chairman of the Nes Farmers’ Association and deputy mayor of the Nes municipality. In 1920, he led the largest train with food from the Norwegian famine committee to Vienna and Budapest and returned with a large group of Austrian children. He was chairman of the Norwegian Kennel Club (1932-33) and editor of its magazine; and was made a Knight of the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle.

In 1910, Kildal married Margrethe “Ma” Boyesen, with whom he had one daughter. Later divorced and in 1927, he married his second wife, Andrea Dorothea Wang (née Christensen).