History / Uniform jacket owned by Shetland Bus hero donated to Scalloway Museum
A SIGNIFICANT piece of history has been added to the collection at the Scalloway Museum – a uniform jacket from Shetland Bus hero Leif Andreas Larsen.
The jacket was donated by his daughter Astrid on Monday.
Leif Andreas Larsen is arguably the most well-known name from the Shetland Bus operation in World War Two.
He made more than 50 trips in the operation between Shetland and Norway, on both fishing boats and submarine chasers, becoming the most highly decorated Allied naval officer of the Second World War.
Also known as Shetlands-Larsen, a statue of the navy man can be found at the Bergen waterfront in Norway.
His daughter Astrid makes regular trips to Shetland, and her latest visit began last week, where she helped to formally unveil the renovated Prince Olav slipway in Scalloway on Thursday.
Charlie Grant of the Shetland Bus Friendship Society, which runs the museum, said the jacket was used when Larsen was a commander, and features numerous medals.
He said Larsen’s jacket is an important piece of history for the museum.
“Leif Larsen got the name Shetlands Larsen, he was a very highly decorated member of the Shetland Bus operation and he made many, many trips to Norway,” Grant said.
The jacket is being kept in storage for the time being, and will likely be prepared for display after the museum closes for the season next month.
Grant added that arrangements to display a recently donated hand-made model of a Shetland Bus boat will also take place when the museum shuts for winter.
Meanwhile the Scalloway Museum has also received a plaque from the chief of the Norwegian Navy to mark its commitment to the Shetland Bus story.
A diploma, given in conjunction, said the plaque has been awarded in recognition of the museum’s “long-standing dedication to sharing and safeguarding a vital chapter of both Norway’s and the Royal Norwegian Navy’s history”.
It said that his chapter of history was a “legacy that embodies national resilience, maritime heritage and community pride”.
“Through their meticulous restoration of the Prince Olav Slipway, they have ensured that this historic site will continue to inspire suture generations and stand as a living reminder of our shared maritime story”.
It was signed by Oliver Berdal, chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy.
In addition to this, four awards were also handed out in Scalloway on Thursday night on behalf of the chief of the Norwegian navy.
The recipients were Bill Moore, Charlie Grant, Jim Young and Janne Glesnes Martin.
Scalloway ended up being the base for the Shetland Bus operation of World War Two, which played a vital role in the resistance against the occupation of Nazi-Germany by transporting resistance fighters, agents and refugees across the sea between Shetland and Norway.
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