Eighty years on ... we shall remember brothers in arms for occupied Norway

A FLOTILLA of “Shetland Bus” vessels used for secret operations in WW2 will cross from Norway to Scotland to remember unsung heroes ahead of VE Day commemorations.

- By Lucinda Cameron

The fishing and merchant vessels were used to smuggle special forces soldiers and secret agents from Shetland to Nazi-occupied Norway.

They also carried weapons, explosives and radios for the resistance and on their return journeys brought refugees and soldiers fleeing the Nazis.

Vessels travelling the route, dubbed the Shetland Bus, were at constant risk from German subs and planes.

Now some of the boats are being reunited for a Liberation Convoy. It will travel from Norway to Lerwick in Shetland next month, arriving in time for the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday, May 8.

They include MK Andholmen, which was used for missions to Shetland, Orkney and mainland Scotland.

Skipper Per Ola Holm, said: "Ordinary Norwegians were trained as special forces soldiers in both England and Scotland.