The Armistice Reunion in Oslo.

THE LAST REUNION

Up to the day that I started to pack my case I found it hard to accept that I was going to Oslo Norway for the last reunion of members of the MKVF (Marinens Krigsveteransforening) the Norwegian Naval War Veterans Association, an association in which I am an honorary member. I have been going over to Norway with my wife Eileen for a number of years and had always looked forward to the event for months before they took place. Early in this year 2005 it appeared that it was going to be a year of several commemorations, in March Eileen and I celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary, then later on there was to be celebrations to commemorate the end of the war in Europe and a little later the end of hostilities in the Far East, both 60 years ago. A few weeks after our 60th wedding anniversary we suffered a serious blow when Eileen was diagnosed to be suffering from a fractured lumbar which made it very difficult for her to walk very far and unable to stand up for more than a couple of minutes. I did attend a couple of events relating to these other celebrations but attending these on my own somehow didn’t seem right for Eileen had also served in the forces, the WRENS, during WW2, and should have been with me. The situation had to be considered and the conclusion was that it was not practical for Eileen to accompany me on this occasion; we were both very disappointed. However when the committee in Norway knew about our difficulty they did not hesitate to agree that my eldest son David should come with me and act as my carer.

So the day came and we were off to Oslo. The journey went very smoothly, the taxi to the airport and the flight were both right on time. Just one funny incident happened as I was passing through the check-in. I had put my flight bag through the x-ray machine but when I got through the other side I could not find it. A moment of panic was halted when a young lady asked, “ Is this your bag?”, she then explained that she wished to search the bag. In the packing I had put into the bag the charging leads for my magnifier, phone, camera along with my electric razor and talking watch. They must have thought that there was enough evidence of bomb making equipment to warrant a search. However when the young lady saw me dressed in my blazer decorated with all its badges, she realised that I was no terrorist and joked with me about all these electrical things we men carry around with us. After clearing customs at Oslo we caught the train that takes you into the centre of the city. This train is a very plush streamlined and very fast train, so we were soon into the city and taking a taxi to our hotel.

Unfortunately the event had been overshadowed by the sudden death of the association chairman just two weeks before the event was due to take place. However a week before we were due to fly out to Oslo I received an email message from Commander Ola Boe Hensen informing me that some of the proposed events were cancelled and that he along with Commander Bill Ludvigsen were taking over the organising of the event and the first change was that we were being accommodated in a different hotel, one that was closer to the Akershus Castle Complex, their equivalent to our MOD. On the first morning there was the launching of a book written by Commander Boe Hansen relating some of the actions performed by the veterans during the wartime. I had a special invitation to this launch along with the other veterans that appear in the book, for my wife and myself appear in the concluding chapter titled "The lifeboat of Europe". It is a little about my service career and association with some of the Norwegian veterans who served on the Norwegian corvettes that formed B6 mid ocean escort group, protecting convoys across the Atlantic, and also my personal view of co-operation between British and Norwegian forces. In the evening, a party was arranged in a room at the hotel, and all the veterans that appear in the book were invited. The problem I have now is that it is written in Norwegian, and I'm unable to translate the text.

On the Saturday morning there was some free time that enabled my son and I to take a walk around Oslo city, We walked along to the Royal Palace. Whilst it is a large and impressive building it is very different to our Buckingham Palace: to start off there are no high railings around the building, just a large open space in front, so you can walk right up to the front. There are soldiers of the Kings Guard on sentry duty. All these young men are conscripts, for in Norway all the young men and the girls are conscripted for twelve months, though the girls do not have to serve in the forces unless they wish to do so. The Kings Guard appear at the Edinburgh Tattoo quite regularly and always put on a very good show.

Later in the afternoon we were scheduled to hold the last AGM of the MKBF. As I always do, I attended the meeting - it was held in a room at the Oslo Militaere on Kongens gate next to the MOD. After the meeting, there was light refreshments and a chance to mingle and speak with other veterans and their families, all residents in Oslo. A short walk back to our hotel to change, then back to the same building where Chief of Staff Navy, Admiral Finsett, hosted a farewell dinner to the Royal Norwegian Navy War Veterans Association. With coffee and drinks served afterwards, a great evening was enjoyed by all present.

On Armistice Sunday, coaches came to the hotel to take us to the main cemetry along with the Ambassadors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, and many other representatives. The prayers and service were carried out by the vicar from the Anglican Church in Oslo. Buglars from the Kings Guard sounded the last post, a very sombre service carried out on a very dull and wet day. Later in the day the coaches took us to the Anglican Church for a Church service; this service was attended by many British people living in Oslo who had also attended the service at the Cenotaph. The weather had cleared and we walked the short distance to the British Embassy. It was just going dusk, and the Embassy was backlit by the most wonderful red sky. As the Ambassador was greeting us, she was quick to notice that I was a member of St Dunstan's. While she was circulating among the visitors, the Ambassador came and had quite a long conversation with me, and it was then that I requested permission to have a photograph taken with her, and to this she readily agreed. The Ambassador was a very interesting and charming lady, and I felt very honoured to have been photographed with her.

Coaches came to take us back to our hotel and because of the postponements, that was the end of the official events. However, back at the hotel we were asked by Commander Ludvigsen if we would like to join a small party of veterans, who were staying on at the hotel, and who were going out for an Italian meal, and to this we were very pleased to agree. The commander got the small group together, and off we went into the city. At the restaurant, it was obvious that the commander was well known, for we were taken into a more select room at the rear, and the service and food were excellent. I had to smile when I thought about it: here we were in Norway, and eating italian food served by the young Chinese ladies, and when the chef came to speak with us, he turned out to be a Turk. Whatever, a most enjoyable evening was spent by all the party.

The following morning came the time to bid farewell to most of our friends. With lots of warm handshakes and big hugs, we sent them on their way home. As we ourselves had booked our flight tickets before any of the postponments were announced, we were not due to fly back until the Tuesday. This meant we had a further free day. We set out to visit as many sights as we could. First stop, was the Military museum, then on to look inside the fine Town hall, or Radhus as it is known, an impressive building that sweeps right down to the shores of the Oslo Fjord. Then off by bus to the Country Park with its selection of old timber houses with turf roofs that acted as roof insultation. It also included the old school, and in the centre is the very old Stave Church. On to see the Viking long boats. Walking further on we came to the complex that houses the Kon-Tiki and RA2, while just across the way was Amundsen's polar ship Fram. After a long day out, a nice evening meal out before we went back to the hotel to pack our cases ready for the journey back home the next day.

Oh! I didn't mention the outcome of the AGM. I don't really follow that is going on at these meetings, but I did sense that there was a tension in the air. It turned out that of the five members of the committee, three were for ending he association, but two wanted it to continue. In the end, the two won the vote. So the parting words as they all left for home was "Take care and see you in Stavanger next August".

There is one other thing I wish to put in this article. Whenever I am leaving Norway after one of the reunions, I am always asked by the veterans to give their very best wishes and thanks to the people of Britain for all the kindness shown to them while they were over here during the wartime. They truly do have a great affection to the British people.

Ken Seaman. 24.11.2005