History / Shetland-Norwegian friendship celebrated at Lunna ceremony
Importance of Shetland Bus remembered in during service and wreath laying
THE DEDICATION and bravery of the men who served in the Shetland Bus war time operation was commemorated during a moving service and wreath laying at Lunna Kirk on Wednesday.
Crews from the Norwegian liberation convoy, military and diplomatic representatives, as well as local councillors and members of the Shetland Bus Friendship Society, all gathered at the kirk as part of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The role of the Shetland Bus, which initially operated from Lunna House before moving to Scalloway in 1943, played a vital role in the resistance against the occupation of Norway by Nazi-Germany.
The VE Day celebrations at Lunna were also a poignant moment to mark the power of friendship, joy and respect.
As pastor Gwyn Stoyle told his audience in closing the ceremony inside the kirk: “There can be peace, there can be love, there can be joy, and each one of you here today represents that chance of the future being good.”
Earlier the Shetland Bus was described as “a beacon of hope in some of history’s darkest days” by the Norwegian defence attaché Pål Øysten Hope when he addressed the congregation.
Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media
“The Shetland Bus was more than just a codename. It was a bold and dangerous operation – Norwegian fishing vessels crossing the North Sea under cover of darkness, carrying agents, weapons, and hope,” he said.
“They risked their lives to support the resistance, and to rescue those in danger.
“From 1943, the operation became part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, and its contributions were critical until the final days of the war.”
And he reminded those present to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation that “the struggle for freedom is not confined to the past”.
“Today, 80 years after the liberation, the years of war can seem far away. The idea of occupation feels distant,” he said.
“And yet we are witnessing a war in Europe. A neighbouring country has been attacked. Russia’s war against Ukraine is a serious violation of international law and the principles of peaceful coexistence.”
The defence attaché spoke after he and the chair of the Shetland Bus Friendship Society, Charlie Grant, had laid wreaths at the two Norwegian graves at Lunna kirk.
The two graves, marked by wooden crosses, are of an unknown Norwegian sailor whose body had been washed ashore nearby in 1940 and of Nils Nesse, the first Norwegian to lose his life during the Shetland Bus operation.
Grant said the friendship society was formed in the late 1980s to ensure that the bravery and sacrifices of those sailors would not be forgotten.
“It is extremely important to maintain the friendship between the two countries,” Grant said, “we have links with the communities at the west coast of Norway, we have links with the Norwegian Navy, and we have links with the Norwegian Naval Museum.”
One person who witnessed it all is 92-year-old Joyce Clark, who grew up with her four siblings at Lunna farm – just a stone’s throw away from the big house where the servicemen were based.
She was just eight years old when the Lunna base was established, and the men quickly became part of the small community at the peninsular.
But she and the other kids were told in no uncertain terms to keep absolutely quiet about what they were seeing as this had become an important part of the British war effort.
“We saw the boats coming in, but we didn’t know what was going on, we were bairns I suppose,” she said.
“But I remember in winter when we had snow, we went sledging with them right here below the big house, and men pulled the sledges back up.”
Lunna House was of course supplied by the farm with eggs and milk, and “the cook always brought us bairns chocolate”, Clark added.
The VE Day celebrations continue later tonight (Wednesday) with a procession in Lerwick and a civic reception in the town hall, with Joyce Clark one of the invited guests.
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