Sjetlandsbussen Viola

[Sigbjørn Sandsmark]

Siste spor jeg har etter Viola er at en Bjørn Johansen i Skien skal ha eid den-men solgt den videre. Er det noen som vet noe om hvor den er nå,flytende eller sunket.>>

>>

>>

>>

>> 1938-registeret: VA 26 H (Hidra), eier Ingvald J. Hogstad, Kvanvig pr.

>> Flekkefjord. Båten var 49,4 fot lang, 17,1 fot bred, 6,5 fot dyp, var

>> bygd i

>> 1937 og hadde en 45 HK Rapp-motor, 1937-modell.

>> 1940-registeret: Solgt til Flekkefjord, uten at omregistrering var

> foretatt.

>> Står ikke oppført verken under Flekkefjord eller Hidra.

>> Registrene for 1943, 1944 og 1945 har tilsynelatende ingen

>> opplysninger om båten (den var vel bokstavlig talt nokså bortreist!).

>> 1948-registeret: VA 168 H (Hidra), eier Leif H. Larsen, Abelsnes i Lista.

>> Tilleggsopplysning om at båten var innkjøpt fra Flekkefjord

>> merkedistrikt som VA 9 F.

>> Registrene for 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956 og 1958: Samme merke (VA 168 H)

>> og samme eier.

>> 1960- og 1962-registrene: VA 73 N (Nes), eier L. H. Larsen, Svege,

>> Flekkefjord.

>> Registrene for 1966, 1968, 1971 og 1973: VA 73 F (Flekkefjord), eier

>> Leif

> H.

>> Larsen 4400 Flekkefjord.

>> Registrene for 1976, 1976, 1980 og 1982: VA 73 S (Søgne), eier Øyvind

>> Stoveland, 4500 Mandal. Ny motor f.o.m. 1976-registeret: 90 HK

>> Grenaa, 1964-modell.

>> 1984-registeret: Finnes tilsynelatende ikke lenger i merkeregisteret.

>>

[Sigbjørn Sandsmark]

M/B Viola (VA 9 F)

 

Built at Svege, near Flekkefjord in 1937.

Left Spinangerfjorden near Flekkefjord on Sept. 13-1941 with 13 people (some of whom were in danger due to resistance activities), arriving Dundee, Scotland on the 15th.

On board were:

Olav Skarpenes and Ingvald Hogstad (owners of the boat), Petter Wilhelm Didrichson, Arne Gjestland and his brother Trygve Gjestland*, Tor Hugo van der Hagen, Gustav Karlsen, Tor Pedersen, Gabriel Salvesen, Sverre Strømsland, Birger Svein Syvertsen, Hans J. R. Winge and Torleif Åsmundsen.

* Dr. Trygve Gjestland should be a well known name to former WW II seamen; he worked in Newcastle until 1942, later in New York until the end of the war. He happened to be travelling with Washington Express when that ship picked up the shiprecked men from Moldanger who had been on a raft for 48 days - there's more details on this in my text for Moldanger.

According to an article in the Norwegian magazine "Krigsseileren" No. 1 for 1985, Olav Skarpenes fished with Viola until the spring of 1942, at which time she was requisitioned for special service, based in Peterhead near Aberdeen, and Skarpenes joined the Navy, taking part in operations on the Norwegian coast. The author of this article, Søren Brandsnæs escaped from Norway with Dronning Maud in Aug.-1941. Included in the article is a picture of the 13 happy escapees on Viola going into to Dundee.

6 of the 13 later lost their lives as follows:

On Jan. 1-1943, the converted whale catcher Bodø, stationed in Liverpool and used in "Local Escort" service, departed Aberdeen for Norway with 40 commando soldiers from Kompani Linge on board, including the well known Odd Starheim (see Galtesund). The group's intention was to capture a German convoy (Operation Carhampton, unsuccessful). They were landed at Tele near Flekkefjord. The owners of Viola, Ingvald Hogstad and Olav Skarpenes had joined the navy and were on board Bodø at the time; both died when she struck a mine on her return voyage.

Hans. J. R. Winge, who was in Kompani Linge, was among those who were landed at Tele by Bodø, and later died (as did Odd Starheim) following the unsuccessful attempt to take Tromøsund to a British port.

Torleif Åsmundsen, who was a dentist and worked for the Norwegian Army in Scotland, died in an accident there.

Arne Gjestland, also in Kompani Linge, died when en route to Norway in an aircraft on Nov. 8-1944.

Gabriel Salvesen sailed in the Merchant Marines for about 6 months, then he too joined Kompani Linge and was among the unfortunate men who were executed following the tragic Brattholm disaster in the spring of 1943.

When the war was over, Viola returned to Flekkefjord and remained in the district until she in 1975 was sold to a fisherman in Søgne, who had her until 1981, at which time she was sold and used for leisure. In the summer of 1983 she was sold to an owner in Arendal.

On Sept. 13-1941, some of the escapees who were from Farsund had stayed hidden behind a rock at Langøy while waiting for Viola to arrive from Flekkefjord to pick them up. 40 years later, 5 of those who took part in the escape (Petter Didrichson and Tor Pedersen had passed away by then) were reunited at Langøy, and on that rock there is now a plaque with the names of those who lost their lives in the war. The plaque was unveiled by the widow of Torleif Åsmundsen in the presence of the 5 surviving men, namely Gustav Karlsen, Trygve Gjestland, Sverre Strømsland, Birger Syvertsen and Tor Hugo van der Hagen. (The latter had also been among the 40 who were landed at Tele by Bodø).

External link related to above text:

[bergiverson]

M/B Viola (VA 9 F)

 

Built at Svege, near Flekkefjord in 1937.

Left Spinangerfjorden near Flekkefjord on Sept. 13-1941 with 13 people (some of whom were in danger due to resistance activities), arriving Dundee, Scotland on the 15th.

On board were:

Olav Skarpenes and Ingvald Hogstad (owners of the boat), Petter Wilhelm Didrichson, Arne Gjestland and his brother Trygve Gjestland*, Tor Hugo van der Hagen, Gustav Karlsen, Tor Pedersen, Gabriel Salvesen, Sverre Strømsland, Birger Svein Syvertsen, Hans J. R. Winge and Torleif Åsmundsen.

* Dr. Trygve Gjestland should be a well known name to former WW II seamen; he worked in Newcastle until 1942, later in New York until the end of the war. He happened to be travelling with Washington Express when that ship picked up the shiprecked men from Moldanger who had been on a raft for 48 days - there's more details on this in my text for Moldanger.

According to an article in the Norwegian magazine "Krigsseileren" No. 1 for 1985, Olav Skarpenes fished with Viola until the spring of 1942, at which time she was requisitioned for special service, based in Peterhead near Aberdeen, and Skarpenes joined the Navy, taking part in operations on the Norwegian coast. The author of this article, Søren Brandsnæs escaped from Norway with Dronning Maud in Aug.-1941. Included in the article is a picture of the 13 happy escapees on Viola going into to Dundee.

6 of the 13 later lost their lives as follows:

On Jan. 1-1943, the converted whale catcher Bodø, stationed in Liverpool and used in "Local Escort" service, departed Aberdeen for Norway with 40 commando soldiers from Kompani Linge on board, including the well known Odd Starheim (see Galtesund). The group's intention was to capture a German convoy (Operation Carhampton, unsuccessful). They were landed at Tele near Flekkefjord. The owners of Viola, Ingvald Hogstad and Olav Skarpenes had joined the navy and were on board Bodø at the time; both died when she struck a mine on her return voyage.

Hans. J. R. Winge, who was in Kompani Linge, was among those who were landed at Tele by Bodø, and later died (as did Odd Starheim) following the unsuccessful attempt to take Tromøsund to a British port.

Torleif Åsmundsen, who was a dentist and worked for the Norwegian Army in Scotland, died in an accident there.

Arne Gjestland, also in Kompani Linge, died when en route to Norway in an aircraft on Nov. 8-1944.

Gabriel Salvesen sailed in the Merchant Marines for about 6 months, then he too joined Kompani Linge and was among the unfortunate men who were executed following the tragic Brattholm disaster in the spring of 1943.

When the war was over, Viola returned to Flekkefjord and remained in the district until she in 1975 was sold to a fisherman in Søgne, who had her until 1981, at which time she was sold and used for leisure. In the summer of 1983 she was sold to an owner in Arendal.

On Sept. 13-1941, some of the escapees who were from Farsund had stayed hidden behind a rock at Langøy while waiting for Viola to arrive from Flekkefjord to pick them up. 40 years later, 5 of those who took part in the escape (Petter Didrichson and Tor Pedersen had passed away by then) were reunited at Langøy, and on that rock there is now a plaque with the names of those who lost their lives in the war. The plaque was unveiled by the widow of Torleif Åsmundsen in the presence of the 5 surviving men, namely Gustav Karlsen, Trygve Gjestland, Sverre Strømsland, Birger Syvertsen and Tor Hugo van der Hagen. (The latter had also been among the 40 who were landed at Tele by Bodø).

External link related to above text:

 

Interesting history Sigbjørn. Here is some more about Bodø. ex Gos 8 whalecatcher built Tonsberg 1939. My fathers cousin Birger Ekmann from Kirkenes was a crew member and died.

Ron Berg-Iverson

 

Casualty list of Bodø sunk by mine off Eastern Scotland on 4 Jan 1943

Karl Thøger Andresen, Georg Norvald Barknes, Clary Arne Carlsen, Henry Michael Christiansen, Birger Iver Ødegård Ekmann, Elmer Eliassen, Arne Johannes Evensen, Sverre J. Fritzland, Reidar Nilsen Feen, Harald Leif Grotle, Henry Bergiton Hansen, Anker Jacobsen, Asbjørn Jacobsen, Olav Kjell Johansen, Einar Kleverud, Knut Kraft (captain), Karl Kristiansen, Olaf Lie, Karsten Liland, Ernst Bryne Marstrander, Øivind Numme, Sverre Ragnar Olsen, John Sivertsen, Edvin Solberg, Harald Virik, Fredrik Wataker, Gunnar Adolf Winther.

[bergiverson]

Interesting history Sigbjørn. Here is some more about Bodø. ex Gos 8 whalecatcher built Tonsberg 1939. My fathers cousin Birger Ekmann from Kirkenes was a crew member and died.

Ron Berg-Iverson

 

Casualty list of Bodø sunk by mine off Eastern Scotland on 4 Jan 1943

Karl Thøger Andresen, Georg Norvald Barknes, Clary Arne Carlsen, Henry Michael Christiansen, Birger Iver Ødegård Ekmann, Elmer Eliassen, Arne Johannes Evensen, Sverre J. Fritzland, Reidar Nilsen Feen, Harald Leif Grotle, Henry Bergiton Hansen, Anker Jacobsen, Asbjørn Jacobsen, Olav Kjell Johansen, Einar Kleverud, Knut Kraft (captain), Karl Kristiansen, Olaf Lie, Karsten Liland, Ernst Bryne Marstrander, Øivind Numme, Sverre Ragnar Olsen, John Sivertsen, Edvin Solberg, Harald Virik, Fredrik Wataker, Gunnar Adolf Winther.

 

My error. Gos 8 was built 1936 Tonsberg.

http://www.lardex.net/TONSBERG/lippe/skipstekst/1936Gos8.htm

[Roger B]

"Viola" hadde egen hjemmeside på internett rundt år 2000, der de samlet inn penger for å sette den tilbake i orginal stand. Den var da tilbake på sørlandet et sted.

Min bestefar var med Viola tilbake til Norge i begynnelsen av mars 1943, derfor traff jeg på denne informasjonen. Prøvde å kontakte eierne den gang uten å få svar.

 

mvh Roger Bjorøy

[Gunnar Sigdestad]

Eg skjønar ikkje dette, du har jo namnet på han som åtte båten i 1982, Øyvind Stoveland, så kvifor ikkje ringe han direkte? Han står i telefonkatalogen. Og om ikkje han har "Viola" lenger, så veit han vel kven han selde til... Dette må vere ei enkel detektivoppgåve...

[Sigbjørn Sandsmark]

Ikkje så enkelt nei,har snakket med Stoveland.Viola var solgt østover-rykter om at den sank under slep et eller annet sted omkring Skien.

 

Mer en rykter har jeg ikke funnet. Diverse båtforeninger og sjømannsforeninger har ikke svart på mail. Er uendelig takknemmelig for all hjelp jeg har fått og håper på å få.

[siw aileen næsgaard hovde]

 

Interesting history Sigbjørn. Here is some more about Bodø. ex Gos 8 whalecatcher built Tonsberg 1939. My fathers cousin Birger Ekmann from Kirkenes was a crew member and died.

Ron Berg-Iverson

 

Casualty list of Bodø sunk by mine off Eastern Scotland on 4 Jan 1943

Karl Thøger Andresen, Georg Norvald Barknes, Clary Arne Carlsen, Henry Michael Christiansen, Birger Iver Ødegård Ekmann, Elmer Eliassen, Arne Johannes Evensen, Sverre J. Fritzland, Reidar Nilsen Feen, Harald Leif Grotle, Henry Bergiton Hansen, Anker Jacobsen, Asbjørn Jacobsen, Olav Kjell Johansen, Einar Kleverud, Knut Kraft (captain), Karl Kristiansen, Olaf Lie, Karsten Liland, Ernst Bryne Marstrander, Øivind Numme, Sverre Ragnar Olsen, John Sivertsen, Edvin Solberg, Harald Virik, Fredrik Wataker, Gunnar Adolf Winther.

[siw aileen næsgaard hovde]

Do you know more about this boat or the people on board. One of the men you mention is my grandmothers little brother.. øivind numme. We all grew up hearing about him, but no one really knew what happend.. I didnt know there where survivors until now..I have a little boy myself now. He is 5 mnths old and his name is øyvind :)

[siw aileen næsgaard hovde]

Do you know more about this boat or the people on board. One of the men you mention is my grandmothers little brother.. øivind numme. We all grew up hearing about him, but no one really knew what happend.. I didnt know there where survivors until now..I have a little boy myself now. He is 5 mnths old and his name is øyvind :)

[bergiverson]

Sorry,I do not have any more information. There is a history of the Gos whalecatchers but not much about the sinking in Jan 1943

http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/gos.html   See Gos VIII

. Your Øyvind Numme was a seaman ( U/dm ) on Bodø ( ex Gos VIII ) If I come across more information I will post it.

Ron Berg-Iverson

[bergiverson]

I found some pictures of Gos VIII ( Bodø ) and a little more information.

 

http://www.lardex.net/TONSBERG/lippe/skipstekst/1936Gos8.htm

[bergiverson]

Uff da!! I had aleady posted these ( # 4 )

[siw aileen næsgaard hovde]

Thank you so much. We have our great grandmothers diary. She write about the grief and the hope after they got the message in Sandefjord 7.of may...I wonder what happend to the two men who survived. . Another uncle of my mother survived the Blink.He never talked about it.

[siw aileen næsgaard hovde]

Do you know what gos stands for?