Norwegian visitors pay tribute to Shetland Bus operation
Jim Tait
A crowd of Norwegian visitors celebrated their country’s independence day with a march through Lerwick town centre today.
The group arrived the previous day on a number of boats, including the Heland which is of special significance to Shetlanders, being a veteran of the Shetland Bus operation during World War II.
The parade began at 10am at Victoria Pier, headed through Commercial Street and the Esplanade and back to the pier where the Norwegian national anthem was sung. The event was recorded for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, to be shown on television in the country.
In the afternoon, the visitors laid a wreath at the Shetland Bus Memorial in Scalloway in memory of those who lost their lives during World War II. They then headed back to Lerwick were, accompanied by members of the Norwegian-Shetland Association, they laid flowers on the Norwegian war graves.
Robbie Tulloch
The 17th May is constitution day rather than indepenence day.
The Norwegian Constitution was signed on 17th May 1814 but they did not become fully independent from Sweden before 1905.
Regards
Robbie Tulloch
Ron Stronach
Its nice to know that Norway and Shetland still hold dear the war time efforts of those who ran and supported the Shetland Bus, I went to sea on a Norwegian oil survey ship in 1971 and one the crew whom I worked with was a member of the Shetland Bus crews. Being too young at the time to fully understand what they went through, it wasnt until later life that I took the time to read the book. I only wish I had read it prior to meeting him.