Norway link Buckie honored as intrepid journey marks invasion anniversary
BUCKIE’s key role in providing a safe haven for Norwegians fleeing the Nazis during World War II was commemorated by a team of sailors from the Scandinavian nation.
A four-man crew of Jarle Føreland, Frode Stokkeland, Willy Pedersen and Tony Teigland left Kristiansand on a seven-metre (23ft) open motorboat Fri IV, arriving in Buckie Harbor on Saturday April 16 after a 200-mile voyage miles.
They were escorted to their berth by Buckie’s RNLI lifeboat, William Blannin, as a traditional Scottish welcome, including two pipers and an enthusiastic crowd of well-wishers waving Norwegian flags, awaited them on the dock. Members of the Norwegian Church of Aberdeen were also at the dock to greet their compatriots.
The quartet received an official letter of welcome from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Frances McKay, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire.
Originally scheduled for April 2020 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day, the trip had to be postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
During the war Buckie became known as Little Norway due to the number of Norwegians housed in the town. Indeed, the number of refugees was such that Buckie boasted of having his own Norwegian consulate at one point.
Portgordon man Professor Peter Reid, who was one of those present to welcome visitors to Buckie Harbour, helped with preparations on this side of the North Sea. In recent years he has been the driving force behind a project detailing the experiences of Norwegian and Danish refugees, as well as their descendants.
Professor Reid said the original plans for the commemoration were made after he was contacted out of the blue in 2019 by a historian from Akivet, the Norwegian Archive for Peace and Human Rights, based in Kristiansand .
“Bjørn Tore Rosendahl is the expert on Norwegian sailors in World War II and was put in touch with me by the Aberdeen Maritime Museum because of my research on Little Noway,” he continued.
“During the conversation we had on Skype he mentioned that there was a local group in Kristiansand who wanted to take a boat to Scotland in April 2020 to mark the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Norway , and then the subsequent escape – on similar small boats – of so many Norwegians to Scotland.
“Little Norway in Buckie seemed to fit well and a lot of Buckie’s stories are lesser known.”
Professor Reid went on to say that a number of factors, including Covid regulations in the UK and Norway and weather conditions over the North Sea, meant the memorial crossing only took place in april.
While the Fri IV looked like a flimsy craft to attempt a North Sea crossing, Professor Reid said it was such a craft that many Norwegians relied on to escape with their lives.
He continued: “One of the driving forces behind the crossing was that Bjorn wanted to use a craft similar to those used by Norwegians fleeing to Scotland.
“Indeed, there were even smaller boats, perhaps carrying two people, that were being used.
“It was a touching moment to see these four intrepid sailors arrive, especially after all the adjournments for the past two years. There, like a lump in my throat. It meant a lot that they chose Buckie to commemorate the birthdays – a lot of l The focus is on Shetlands and the Shetland Bus, so it was hugely rewarding to see Buckie’s role recognized in this way.”
Professor Reid noted that Dumfries was the third major focus for Norwegian war refugees, with the town serving as a base for elements of the Norwegian Army who had escaped.
There was, he said, a permanent legacy in Buckie of the Norwegian presence, with many refugees deciding to settle in the town and have families.
Professor Reid then paid tribute to Archie Jamieson for his role in organizing the pipers and the presence of caterers The Heilan Coo and Buckie Advisor Sonya Warren for his help and support of the project.
Councilor Warren, who was unable to attend the ceremony because she attended her son’s wedding, said: “I was just thrilled that it was finally happening.
“Peter worked so hard on the story of Little Norway and it was so disappointing that Covid prevented this fearless journey from happening in 2020.
“The Norwegian crew showed such determination and resilience in making this trip to raise awareness of history, bringing it to life and keeping the connection to Norway alive and well in their minds. people.
“Little Norway’s story is so important to remember for us.”
Reading out an official letter of greeting to the people of Buckie from Norwegian Defense Minister Odd Roger Enoksen, Mr Teigland said: “Even though the Second World War ended 77 years ago, the experiences of this war are still valuable to draw from today.
“One of them is the importance of having friends across borders and oceans when one’s freedom is threatened or taken away.
“This was the case when Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1940. Over 3,300 Norwegians fled to Britain across the North Sea in all weathers and at risk of being captured by the German police or army.
“Nearly 100 escaped from the southern region of Agder in small wooden boats, like the one carrying this letter.”
He went on to point out that the welcome extended to Buckie all those decades ago made Norwegians in exile “feel like allies, not aliens”.
Quoting the letter, Mr Teigland added: “With this letter, I wish to express my gratitude to the people of Buckie for their great hospitality to Norwegians during World War II and their efforts to maintain historical ties with Norway and Norwegians. alive today.
“I hope this little wooden boat bearing this letter can serve as a reminder of the decisive role that Buckie, Scotland and Great Britain played in Norway’s five-year struggle for freedom.
“Furthermore, can this also serve as an inspiration for an ongoing special relationship between our nations and our people.”
The letter is to be displayed at the Buckie Fishing Heritage Center Ltd, as is the Fri IV’s stern flag.
To find out more about Buckie’s role as Little Norway visit Professor Reid’s website http://www.littlenorway.org.uk
The city was also home to a number of Danes who, like their Norwegian comrades, fled to Scotland to escape the Nazi war machine.