PEOPLE WITH NORWEGIAN links in Moray or beyond are being sought to help a local community effort that will see a commemoration of the ‘Shetland Bus’ this summer.
A memorial is to be erected and unveiled at the harbour in Burghead to commemorate the towns role in the ‘Shetland Bus’ service during the second world war.
The Shetland Bus was the name given to the WWII organisation that connected Britain with the Norwegian resistance.
Helping coordinate the event is Joan Megson, who explained: “This organisation placed agents in Norway and rescued those at danger from the Nazis.
“All those who manned the boats to Norway were Norwegians – and there was a branch of the Shetland Bus in Burghead. We are making a memorial to those who died, and there will be a dedication of the memorial on Sunday, August 23 in the town.
“We would love to invite relatives and descendants of the men who died in the service of the Shetland Bus in Burghead to attend our ceremony, but don’t know how to contact them.”
That is where the community hopes local people can help – those with contacts in Norway or who believe that they can help contact relatives of the Norwegian seamen who worked on the Shetland Bus.
Joan added: “We would also like to make contact with relatives of Captain Hugh John Marks, who was Commandant of the Burghead base, and who also drowned in the sailing accident on 25th April 1943.”
Anyone who believes they can help is asked to contact Joan by email to joanmegson@hotmail.com or Hilary Gloyer at hilary.gloyer@mypostoffice.co.uk.
The following is a list of names of those who were involved:
The men who died in a sailing accident in Burghead Bay on April 25, 1943
Lieutenant Ragnar Sandoy, born 24th July 1910 in Sandoy, son of Rasmus and Elen.
Lieutenant Andreas Fasting (alias Tore Lund), Kompani Linge, Norwegian Army. Born on 19th July 1919 in Lesjaskag, son of Andreas Grill and Ruth Fasting.
Pedar Kare (Pelle) Nonaas, born 23rd June 1924 in Stord, son of Alfred and Ingrid.
Captain Hugh John Marks, born 15th April 1912, son of Hugh and Gertrude.
The crew of the MV Feioy which went missing on a mission to Norway in January 1943
Skipper Ola Grotle, born 25th November 1915 in Bremanger, son of Martin and Anna.
Andreas Geiteroy, born13th March 1919 in Solund, son of Johannes and Oline.
Ulf Terje Vigen Johansen, born 22nd November 1917 in Trondheim, son of Kristian and Inga.
Johan Kristofer Jorgensen Klungreset, born 1st January 1916 in Bremanger, son of Jorgen and Kristine.
Harald Haakon Notoy, born 27th July 1922 in Solund, son of Martinas and Oline.
Walter Olsen, born 19th April 1919 in Moskenes, son of Oluf and Bergljot.
Roald Strand, born 17th May 1917 in Vagan, son of Ludvik and Ellen
Hans Ovretveit, born 20th March 1919 in Sund, son of Hans and Johanna.