On the evening of the 20th April 1940, the crew left Hovika and travelled by land to Skomsvoll. My grandfather had arrived earlier and with the translation assistance of Paul Stene had managed to advise the police in Skomsvoll of the impending arrival of his crew. Arrangements were made and the crew spent the night in the Folkehallen (community centre – the extension on the left hand side of the building has been added since 1940). It also appears that my grandfather purchased 250 cigarettes from Paul and distributed these amongst the crew. After having been served with hot food comprising red snapper, boiled potatoes, green peas and coffee, I am advised by Roald Stene a resident of Skomsvoll and the son of Paul and Ingeborg Stene, that later that evening and despite everything that had happened on that day, one of the crew, probably Alex Morrison, apparently played a rendition of Home Sweet Home on the piano, much to the pleasure and no doubt reflection of some of the crew.

During the course of Sunday, 21st April 1940, George Swift, wireless operator on the Rutlandshire presented the adjacent photograph on the left to Helga Strand. She was 16 at the time and was serving the Rutlandshires crew with coffee and hot food that Sunday in the folk hall, Skomsvoll on the island of Øtteroya. The crew had spent the night in the folk hall. On the reverse side of the photo in slightly faded pencil are the names of 5 of the crew who were obviously sitting with George. In addition to Georges’ name are: Joseph Winney, Chief Engineer Alex Morrison, Seaman Norman Martin, Seaman Alex Crawford, Seaman

I met with Helga Strand in May 2002. She recalled that the 5 crewmen had been sitting together in the hall. George presented to her the photograph of his two daughters, Sylvia and Madeline Swift as a gift. Borrowing a pencil, she returned to the table, asking each of the 5 to sign the photograph. The son of George, Graham Swift met with Helga in May 2003.

The white house on the right hand side of this photograph belonged to Paul and Ingeborg Stene in April 1940.

Roald Stene (the 9 year old of Paul and Ingeborg) recalls that on the morning of the 21st April 1940, his mother served breakfast to the four crew members of the Rutlandshire - my grandfather, Chief Engineer Winney and the two naval Officers. Having expressed their thanks, my grandfather is reported to have stated that the coffee was so good it was ‘worth being bombed for’.

The house is now owned by Nils and Kristi Lunde Stene – Kristi is the daughter of the priest, Erik Lunde Stene.

My grandfather had in his possession 2 picture postcards of Skomsvoll with "Namsos, 20th April 1940" written on the back of each. I can only assume that Paul and Ingeborg Stene perhaps gave these to him.

"Parti av Skomsvoll" - A part (small section) of Skomsvoll

"Handelstedet Skomsvoll" - the trading place Skomsvoll

The text on both the front and back of each photograph is in Norwegian, which, judging by their condition, suggested that these were pre-1940 photographs of Skomsvoll.

In the photograph entitled "Handelstedet Skomsvoll", the building on the immediate right is where my grandfather spent the evening of the 20th April 1940 (point F on the map).  

Please contact f.wilson@royal-naval-reserve.co.uk for further information regarding this site.

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