Friday 4 October 2024
 10.4°C   S Moderate Breeze
Holyrood Sources - 8 October 2024
Chris Morphet - All Over - 28 Sept - 31 Dec 2024
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

History / Watch: ‘Strong bond’ with Norway honoured as naval cadets visit Scalloway

Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media

A CEREMONY was held at the Shetland Bus memorial in Scalloway this morning (Thursday) as Norwegian naval academy cadets visit Shetland.

The cadets are in Shetland on board the sail training vessel Statsraad Lehmkuhl.

The event heard speeches, including from representative of the Shetland Bus Friendship Society councillor Stephen Leask, while wreathes were laid too.

He paid tribute to the strong bond between Shetland and Norway.

“The brave men remembered here fought for the freedom of their nation, and this gathering today celebrates the commitment made by our young Norwegian visitors who continue to cherish and honour that freedom,” Leask said.

The Shetland Bus operation played a crucial role during the World War II German occupation of Norway.

Under the cover of darkness, a group of small boats – collectively known as the Shetland Bus – ferried people and weapons between Shetland and Norway, with Scalloway used as a port.

Initially it operated informally using fishing boats, before it then became a formal part of the war effort completing more than 200 trips.

Not all of those trips were successful, and 44 lives were lost during the crossings. However, the introduction of sub-chaser ships in 1943 brought an end to the fatalities.

The Shetland Bus memorial, which pays tribute to the 44 crewmen lost on the missions and has a model of a fishing boat used in the operation, sits just along the road from the Prince Olav slipway where vessels were repaired.

Work to reconstruct the slipway and a cradle there to honour the Shetland Bus operation and act as a historical wartime exhibit is progressing.

Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media
Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media
Shetland Bus Friendship Society representative councillor Stephen Leask. Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media

Become a member of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.

 
Advertisement 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please consider paying for membership and get the following features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.