Heroic WWII 'Shetland Bus' to be marked by Norway to Scotland flotilla

The National

25-04-2025

The flotilla will be made up of historic fishing boats and merchant ships which were used to smuggle special forces soldiers, secret agents and freedom fighters from Shetland to Norway.
The boats also smuggled explosives, weapons and radios from Shetland for the resistance movement and also brought back refugees and soldiers fleeing Nazi-occupied Norway.
The perilous route, which risked the constant threat of being discovered by German submarines and planes, was dubbed the Shetland Bus by the fearless sailors who navigated it.
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Commemorating the sailors' bravery, several of the small boats originally used during WWII will take part in the Liberation Convoy, which will cross from Bergen in Norway to Lerwick in the Shetland Islands for VE Day ceremonies on May 8.
Captain Jack Cowie (below) of the Gordon Highlanders, was the liaison officer for Norwegian fishing boats in transit to and from Shetland through Aberdeen.
(Image: The Liberation Convoy 2025)
His daughter Isabell Jack said he was proud of what he did but never wanted to make a 'fuss' after the war so just returned back to work.
She said: 'Obviously it was a secret operation so not much was said to us as children. But Dad was well liked and had a nice manner about him, with a warm sense of humour, and integrity and I think this helped him in this role.
'Dad was proud of what he did, but he wasn't a man to make a fuss and after the war ended, he returned to his job working for the bank, until he retired.'
The lord lieutenant of Shetland, Lindsay Tullock, said the convoy is 'fitting recognition' of the alliance between Norway and the UK, and of Shetland's special role.
'As we commemorate and give thanks to those who were lost, we remember also the resilience of the men and women involved in the liberation of Norway and Europe,' he said.
'The arrival of the Liberation Convoy in Shetland will be an opportunity to acknowledge the long-standing alliance between the people of Shetland, the rest of the United Kingdom and Norway.
'People of Shetland have vivid memories and recollections of the covert Shetland Bus operations during the Second World War. The enduring relationship between Shetland and Norway has strengthened over the years and will continue to do so as we join together in Remembrance on the 80th Anniversary of the end of the War in Europe.'
MK Andholmen (below), which was one of the vessels used for missions to Shetland, as well as Orkney and mainland Scotland.
(Image: The Liberation Convoy 2025)
'Ordinary Norwegians were trained as special forces soldiers in both England and Scotland,' said Per Ola Holm, the current skipper of MK Andholmen.
'Many went on to crew the Shetland Bus vessels as they dodged German submarines and war planes during their dangerous missions, or they returned home on sabotage missions and to fight the occupying Nazi regime.'
He added: 'Everyone who crewed those small boats and ships taking the route knew they were risking their lives, but the fragile link it provided between the Shetland Islands, the Orkneys and occupied Norway was just too important.'