Interesting story to those with a sailor in the family

[Richard Olsen]

Since there are many of you with at least one sailor in the family, here is information that could be added to your family history.

 

Norwegian sailors, given the title of professionals, were sought after by many nations needing the assistance of foreign ships and sailors.

 

Eastern Canada (and probably other parts of Canada) was dependent on Norwegian ships and sailors from the late-1880s to early 1900s. It was estimated that 90% of Eastern Canada's lumber exports were transported by Norwegian ships. Many, perhaps most, Norwegian sailors were acquainted with the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Eastern Canada. Many Norwegian sailors felt at home in the Gulf of St Lawrence and its rivers. They saw similarities to the Glomma River area in Norway, the types of trees and lay-out of the land.

 

Many Norwegian sailors rømt along the Gulf of St Lawrence. Several remained and had families. Most of the sailors returned to Norway.

 

If you have a sailor in your family, it is probable that he entered the Gulf of St Lawrence at least once.

 

My Irish great-grandfather operated a Boarding House for Sailors. Many, if not most, Norwegian sailors spent time at his boarding house. He was the man to go to if you wanted to rømt. He assisted sailors in receiving higher salaries. Sadly, he was an Irishman with a temper and could ill-treat others.

 

My parents' home was always open to sailors, especially Norwegian sailors. Over decades, many Norwegian sailors visited our home. They were always treated with respect and dignity.

 

I posted the following years ago, and will post it again for those with interest:

 

In the late 1940s or 1950s, 3 young Norwegian sailors, aged 14-16, arrived at the port where my parents resided. They were homesick, so they searched a telephone book for Norwegian names. They found my father's name and called him. My father went and brought the boys to his home. The motherly instincts immediately activated in my mother. She told the boys to wash while she prepared a meal for them. The boys stayed with our family for the time the ship was in port. The boys began to call my mother Mom, and gave her small items that the boys had obtained for their mothers. They said that they could get other items for their mothers. The night before the ship was to depart the boys became sad. They did not want to leave our home. My father told them that they could stay the night and he would drive them to the next port where the ship was destined. Over the years, my parents spoke of these boys and wondered what became of them.

 

As a historic perspective, and general interest, I submit the following image. A teenage Norwegian in the USA Navy. Name: Theodor Lorang Olsen from Fredrikstad - my grandfather

[Richard Olsen]

In the first post you noticed how Canada and Norway contributed to each others economy. Many of you will have a family member who played a role.

 

The following will show how Canada and Norway assisted each other and contributed to World War Two. Many of you will have family members who played a role.

 

Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa, Canada
https://www.norway.no/en/canada/norway-canada/historical-ties/
World War Two:
The Antarctic whaling fleet, with about 2,000 men, came into Halifax in the spring of 1940 to await further orders. In Halifax, the Norwegians set up offices for the Royal Norwegian Navy and Nortraship as well as a hospital, a seamen's church and a seamen's club. In November of 1940 they established a training facility, called Camp Norway, in Lunenburg to train gunners for Norwegian merchant ships. They also bought a hotel in Chester in which they set up a convalescent home for sick and injured seamen. The Norwegian Army also had a small base in Lunenburg from the spring of 1942 to the summer of 1943. Countless Norwegians trod the streets of Halifax and sailed out of this port during the war......
According to newspaper reports the Norwegians were very well received by the townspeople and it wasn't long before they were taking part in the social activities of the town......
However, the Norwegians caused remarkably little trouble. Hugh Corkum, former Chief of Lunenburg's two-man police force, devotes a chapter of his memoirs, On Both Sides of the Law, to them and cites no really serious incidents except for some drunkenness and dance-hall fights.....
As further evidence of the good reputation of the Norwegians and the high esteem in which they were held, the town council and the business sector held a farewell dinner at Camp Norway when the camp closed in 1943. In the House of Commons, MP J.J. Kinley asked that something be done to officially commemorate their service in Canada, adding "When we said goodbye to those Norwegians we felt that we were losing good citizens....".
Also during World War II, many young Norwegians trained to become pilots and air crews at "Little Norway" in Ontario, before returning to the battlefields of Europe to fight side by side with Canadian and other Allied troops.......
The Norwegian Royal Family visited Camp Norway several times, and the headquarters, a building in typical Norwegian log style, was named “Little Skagum”, in reference to one of the Royal residences in Norway.....
In 2007, a memorial building was opened at the site of Little Norway in Muskoka. At the opening, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said “The Little Norway Memorial Building is a war memorial erected to prevent history from forgetting. It is also a memorial that expresses the lasting gratitude of the people of Norway and the Norwegian government – to Canada for her assistance to our nation when we needed it the most”.

 

Below is a copy of a photo of my grandfather, Theodor Lorang Olsen. A veteran of World War One (1916-1918). Theodor was involved in the Battle of the Somme in France - March 21-April 5, 1918). Theodor became ill but continued to the end. He was gassed (mustard), and it was probably during this battle. Theodor was transferred to a military hospital in Etaples, France. The Germans dropped 116 bombs on this military area, killing hundreds. There was a row of hospitals, and every one was damaged directly or indirectly by bombs except the one Theodor was in. The next day Theodor was transported to England.

 

 

[Olaf Larsen]

Richard, thank you! I had 2 uncles that spent all years at sea, during WW2, but I don't know if they came to Canada. One was a sivilian seaman, sailing at least 3 Murmansk convoys, as a gunner on a petrol tanker! The other one left Norway in 1938, joined the Navy during the war, and came home late in 1945. They were both in Normandy on D-day.

[Richard Olsen]

Olaf Larsen, thank you for the information on your uncles. I find it very interesting. Your uncles are heroes to me.

 

I encourage others to post their stories.

 

The global community needs to know that Norwegians did actively and voluntarily partake in the world wars. People in other nations are taught that Norway was neutral during the world wars, and believe that Norwegians had no part in active duties.

 

There were Norwegians who made great sacrifices and fought for the greater good, such as my grandfather and Olaf's uncles.

Endret Mai 18, 2023 av Richard Olsen

[Olaf Larsen]

Richard, is it very inappropriate to brag a little? Here are a couple of interesting links.

 

From "The Second World War", download book at this link https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-95639-8_5

 

Tenold, S. (2019). The Second World War. In: Norwegian Shipping in the 20th Century. Palgrave Studies in Maritime Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95639-8_5

Sitat

The transport of oil and petroleum products was particularly dangerous and difficult, but crucial to the Allied resistance and eventual victory. The oil tankers were “the artery of the Allied fight for victory.” Winston Churchill’s alleged claim that the Norwegian seafarers were worth more than a million soldiers is an oft-repeated quote.

 

From https://www.shippingtandy.com/features/a-salute-to-the-brave-and-valiant-norwegians/

Sitat

One prominent British politician, Philip Noel-Baker, commented after the war, “The first great defeat for Hitler was the battle of Britain. It was a turning point in history. If we had not had the Norwegian fleet of tankers on our side, we should not have had the aviation spirit to put our Hawker Hurricanes and our Spitfires into the sky. Without the Norwegian merchant fleet, Britain and the Allies would have lost the war”.

 

We were occupied by the german forces from April 9. 1940 to May 8. 1945. At the most, they had app. 380.000 troops in Norway, and app. 340.000 troops at the end in 1945. The norwegian population reached 3 million in 1942, so the number of germans soldiers made up for more than 10% of the population, a very high number. During those years, Norway was led by a norwegian, whose name has given us an international word for traitor, Quisling.

 

BTW, my aunt received the War Sailor Medal in 1996, 20 years after my uncle died, and 50 years after the war. I will not repeat her words regarding that! The country is small, but the norwegian merchant fleet was the worlds 3. largest in 1939, after USA and Great Britain.

Endret Mai 20, 2023 av Olaf Larsen

[Richard Olsen]

Olaf, thank you for the information!  It is pleasant to know that the truth has been recognized.

 

Perhaps others may see it as bragging, however, I believe that all descendants of war soldiers, war sailors, others have an obligation to share the legacies remaining from our previous family generations. These men and women deserve at least that much. Many witnessed the war-time heroism due to the Norwegian Spirit. Heroes are not born, they evolve.

 

I take every opportunity to share my grandfather's legacy. I don't have a lot of time left, but it will be spent on ensuring that my family's Norwegian Heritage is known, and documented for future generations.

 

My grandfather had that strong Norwegian-Spirit. I would not do it justice by attempting to describe and explain the Norwegian Spirit in a few words. One thing I can and will say is that my grandfather was held in high regard by all who knew him.

 

In closing, I will add that my family (great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, myself and siblings) have a total accumulation of 100 years of entertaining Norwegian Sailors (by entertaining I mean - inviting them to our homes, providing meals, providing a relaxing and comforting environment.....)

 

 

 

 

[Richard Olsen]

Sorry, I forgot to mention something. I don't want to keep this going, but will add one more post.

 

Olaf....it is my understanding that during World War Two...

 

The Royal Norwegian Army was in Scotland

The Royal Norwegian Air Force was at Little Norway (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

The Royal Norwegian Navy and Merchant Marines were at Camp Norway (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

 

Training for the Royal Norwegian Navy and Merchant Marines was held at Camp Norway in Halifax. You mentioned one of your uncles was a gunner on a petrol ship. It is probable that he received training at Camp Norway

 

[Olaf Larsen]

Richard, I'll look into it, and send you a PM.