Clausen was from a place very close to where I live according to Bert, which is an area near the River Hull called Stoneferry. I have searched local records and find no mention of that name in Hull. Okay many seamen were just passing through and the name looks Scandinavian.

The date of Bert's trip on the SE must have been the 30s. I was writing simply from memory. I have the actual date somewhere. As none of Bert's researches or autobiography are extant we have little chance of verifying things. The dates are in Dave's biography. As far as I know there are no other mentions of Clausen. Yes it is quite possible that there was a Fred Clausen and that he knew something of 'Heave away, my Johnny'. I'll see if I can find my copy (I used to sing it in the dim and distant past.) There will of course be records of the crew at that time on SE. I doubt they are online though.

Bert at least implied that that is how it was sung to him by Clausen.

I don't have Dave Arthur's biography but I have read it. I ought to have my own copy if I'm going to get involved in these discussions.