May 8th is the National Day of Liberation in Norway. This day marks the end of Norway’s occupation during the Second World War, and also serves as its Veterans' Day. The images below detail a visit made by two Norwegian MTBs, and one British, from their base in Lerwick, Shetland, to the Norwegian town of Molde in May 1945.
The German invasion, and subsequent occupation of Norway commenced in April 1940, and by June of that year the Norwegian forces had been forced to surrender. Thirteen naval ships with around 500 officers, petty officers, and men, left for Britain with the King and his government, to form the nucleus of the Royal Norwegian Navy in exile.
Two Norwegian MTBs, 5 & 6, were the first ships commissioned for the Norske Marine in Britain. They operated in the Channel from early summer 1940 as part of the British 11th MTB Flotilla. On the introduction of the Fairmile 'D' class, eight boats formed the 30th MTB Flotilla, deployed in November 1942 to Lerwick in Shetland. From there offensive operations started against German shipping along the western coast of Norway. With the allocation of several more 'Dog Boats' the 30th MTB Flotilla became the 54th MTB Flotilla, and carried numerous clandestine missions amongst the Norwegian Leads, right up until V.E. Day
The Lerwick boats used to carry a full load of additional fuel on deck in cans on the outward leg of their journeys across to Norway, which they used to refuel their boats as they went, providing them with sufficient range to sail there and back, as well as spend time operating amongst the many islands and inlets of the Norwegian coastline.
Kvartermester Hans Thorvald Bærevahr Hansen, MTB 345, Age 22
U/dm Jan Kristian Hetland, MTB 5
U/f Harald August Johannessen, ML 125
Kvartermester Bernhard Kleppe, MTB 345
Matros Jens Klipper, MTB 345, Age 24
U/kvm Alf August Litle-Kalsøy, ML 210
U/mm Ivar Martinsen, ML 210
U/dm Johannes Mongstad, MTB 620
U/dm Magne Sigvart Mortensen, ML 1252
Kvm Gustav Nærland, MTB 688
Matros I Arve Aleksander Paulsen, MTB 717
Matros II Johannes Olaus Siglen, MT 625
U/mm Jon Riis Sigurdsson, MTB 7116
U/mm Einar Smith, ML 210
At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them
Dutch National Remembrance Day / Liberation Day
MTB 240 of the Dutch 9th MTB Flotiulla painted by Harold Garland (courtesy Jacques Bartels)
Mei 4 Dodenherdenking
May 4th is the National Day of Remembrance in the Netherlands, on which day the victims of the Second World War are commemorated with a nationwide two minute silence held at 20.00hrs. Each year the commemorations have a theme, and the theme for 2022 is Freedom in Connection
Freedom in Connection Logo
Coastal Forces Veterans recalls the contribution of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Koninklijke Marine, during the Second World War, in particular those members who served in Light Coastal Forces. The Dutch initially helped man boats of the 3rd MGB Flotilla, then two flotillas of MTBs, the 2nd and 9th MTB Flotilla, operating primarily from HMS Wasp at Dover
On the 5th May each year, the Netherlands celebrates the liberation of the country in 1945, and that its people have lived in freedom ever since. On this day the country also reflects on the value of freedom, democracy and human rights.
Able Seaman Korpl Macht Lucas Willem Fernhout MGB 46 Age: 28
Korpl Telgr Petrus Theodorus Kint MGB 114 Age: 24
Matr I Ment Pronk MTB 418 Age: 24
Matroos 1e KL Adriaan Cornelis Van Vegten TMB 51 Age: 27
Stoker O/M Antonius Franciscus Verbeek MTB 203 Age: 28
At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them
MGB 605 of the 17th MGB Flotilla
ANNIVERSARY
The Loss of MTB 732
La Combattante, a Hunt Class destroyer manned by the Free French Navy, which was involved in the friendly-fire incident with MTB 732. La Combattante was herself sunk in February 1945 when she hit a mine, and 117 of her crew were lost
The English Channel: 28th May 1944
The night of the 28th–29th May 1944 saw the largest single loss of life suffered by Coastal Forces through friendly fire, when MTB 732 was sunk by gunfire from the Free French destroyer La Combattante in the English Channel, after being mistaken for an E-boat.
MTB 732 acccompanied by MTB 739 had been ordered to search for two E-boats, sighted in an area of the Channel where La Combattante was also conducting a sweep. Despite both MTBs sending up recognition flares, the destroyer opened fire on MTB 732, sinking the boat, and killing 15 crew.