Os Turlag 1994
September, 1994 marked the 50th Anniversary of the crash in Norway and the remarkable efforts of many men and women to rescue the crew and bring them back to Scotland.
To celebrate the event, a 3 day memorial celebration, organized by the members of Os Turlag, was held to retrace the footsteps of the crew and the helpers. The events were described in a brief note prepared by Helen Möwinckel Nilsen, and recorded in Harvey Firestone's memoir. Harvey wrote:
"I have never ceased to marvel at the intense pride the people of Norway have in their history. Particularly their pride in Norwegian war-time history.
"In September 1994, I received a letter from Helen Mowinckel Nilsen outlining a three day event that had taken place. The following is an exact copy of his outline of the meetings:
OS TURLAG: A three day "Remembrance" march was arranged for club members (and friends):
"LITTLE CANADA" 1994, and this tour will be a yearly tour in future to remember your escape in September, 1944.
PROGRAM
Friday, Sept. 2:
Start at Sore Neset school at 17:00. Walk to the landing ground where teacher Askvik's son told about the event, as his father has told him. He did a good detailed speech.
The Canadian and Norwegian flags marked the position of the Wellington. 80 persons were present.
We then went on "your tour" to Bjørnen and Martha Haugland showed your hiding place there and told about the meeting there.
Saturday, September 3,
Start from a farm at 10:00 near the "oyster farm", the boathouse you occupied, and Magnus Rottingen told of your days of living there and after that we went to the top of the hill to your day hiding "tent". No sign of either tent or the house. Einar Evensen and Argot met us at the start, but Einar is in bad health, but is still able to drive his car - 60 persons were there.
Sunday, September 4.
Start from a meeting place behind the farms in Øvredalen at 10:00 o'clock. Following your route up to "Little Canada", where I and Lars Orrebakken told from this period. 138 persons started from Ovredal, 55 from Rolfsvaag (the other and easier way). It was crowded and the Mayors of Os, TJsnes and Trengereidfjord were present. The cottage is in bad condition, but is going to be repaired, and made a "Monument of Canadian Airmens' Hiding Place" as well as a goal for future tours from Os.
All the days were nice and warm sunny weather, opposite to the rainy days of your stay.
A Diploma was made and given to all members of at least 2 tours. The event will be referred to in local papers, and this idea was "put in action" three days after the idea was mentioned in a club meeting so there was no "propaganda" beforehand. Next year may be of greater interest as the story now will be reproduced for the next generation. Maybe some more Veterans will be present next year, I hope. We are all growing older and I mentioned to the touring group the possibility to invite the veterans to the starting places, and presented a list of the remaining; very many is now passed away.
"He also enclosed an original Diploma, that I have in my records."
September, 1994 marked the 50th Anniversary of the crash in Norway and the remarkable efforts of many men and women to rescue the crew and bring them back to Scotland.
To celebrate the event, a 3 day memorial celebration, organized by the members of Os Turlag, was held to retrace the footsteps of the crew and the helpers. The events were described in a brief note prepared by Helen Möwinckel Nilsen, and recorded in Harvey Firestone's memoir. Harvey wrote:
"I have never ceased to marvel at the intense pride the people of Norway have in their history. Particularly their pride in Norwegian war-time history.
"In September 1994, I received a letter from Helen Mowinckel Nilsen outlining a three day event that had taken place. The following is an exact copy of his outline of the meetings:
OS TURLAG: A three day "Remembrance" march was arranged for club members (and friends):
"LITTLE CANADA" 1994, and this tour will be a yearly tour in future to remember your escape in September, 1944.
PROGRAM
Friday, Sept. 2:
Start at Sore Neset school at 17:00. Walk to the landing ground where teacher Askvik's son told about the event, as his father has told him. He did a good detailed speech.
The Canadian and Norwegian flags marked the position of the Wellington. 80 persons were present.
We then went on "your tour" to Bjørnen and Martha Haugland showed your hiding place there and told about the meeting there.
Saturday, September 3,
Start from a farm at 10:00 near the "oyster farm", the boathouse you occupied, and Magnus Rottingen told of your days of living there and after that we went to the top of the hill to your day hiding "tent". No sign of either tent or the house. Einar Evensen and Argot met us at the start, but Einar is in bad health, but is still able to drive his car - 60 persons were there.
Sunday, September 4.
Start from a meeting place behind the farms in Øvredalen at 10:00 o'clock. Following your route up to "Little Canada", where I and Lars Orrebakken told from this period. 138 persons started from Ovredal, 55 from Rolfsvaag (the other and easier way). It was crowded and the Mayors of Os, TJsnes and Trengereidfjord were present. The cottage is in bad condition, but is going to be repaired, and made a "Monument of Canadian Airmens' Hiding Place" as well as a goal for future tours from Os.
All the days were nice and warm sunny weather, opposite to the rainy days of your stay.
A Diploma was made and given to all members of at least 2 tours. The event will be referred to in local papers, and this idea was "put in action" three days after the idea was mentioned in a club meeting so there was no "propaganda" beforehand. Next year may be of greater interest as the story now will be reproduced for the next generation. Maybe some more Veterans will be present next year, I hope. We are all growing older and I mentioned to the touring group the possibility to invite the veterans to the starting places, and presented a list of the remaining; very many is now passed away.
"He also enclosed an original Diploma, that I have in my records."