The SAMS Lyceum of Martial and Societal Antediluvian Chronicles An addendum to The SAMS Sporran Scottish History The Shetlandsbusse You have heard of sheepdogs and Shetland ponies or maybe even the Shetland cattle. You know the ones with long horns and even longer hair. What about Shetland sheep? If you have sheepdogs you must have sheep for them to herd. Shetland also has geese and ducks. Unfortunately there are no Shetland pigs; they have been extinct since 1930. You might even know it was formerly known as Zetland. But have you ever heard of the ? There were no tokens or passes, no transfer stops, no local or express buses There were no tokens or passes, no transfer stops, no local or express buses. Shy, apprehensive and wary of other seaborn strangers,The Shetland Bus preferred the secure solitude of the open sea. Like the pig, The Bus is now extinct. It’s home was the perilous,foggy, storm ridden waters of the North Sea. It lived in relative obscurity from 1939 to 1945. It spent most of its life traveling along the coastline of either Shetland or . Unlike most Scottish mythical sea creatures it didn’t prey on hapless people who fell into the frigid waters. It rescued them and carried them safely to land. You see the Shetland Bus wasn’t a creature at all, but a cadre of brave men who sailed their fishing boats to Nazi occupied Norway to rescue hunted Norwegiens or to drop off needed supplies.

The (in box) Norway (East) The UK (South) When The National Socialists (NAZI) invaded Norway it put Shetland within easy flying range of Nazi Luftwaffe. It also meant that both The Orkney and The Shetland Islands could be used as staging areas for land invasions of Great Britain. Since the British Home Fleet was stationed at Scapa Flow, Orkney that made it unlikely to become a staging area. Shetland, however, did not share that distinction. In Novemebr 1939, six Nazi Heinkel Bombers flew over Lerwick Harbor on a bombing mission. Although they only sank a flying boat it alerted both the islanders and the British military to the impending threat. The British response was manifold. First they fortified Lerwick and other places around Shetland. Artillery guns were positioned around Lerwick to protect the harbour approaches and anti aircraft guns were also deployed in Lerwick and the towns of Scalloway, Sumburgh and Sullom Voe. Then important buildings had sandbag walls built to protect them from bomb blasts.Runways were created at Sumburgh and Scatsta for Spitfire and Hurricane fighters to be based there to defend Shetland from air attack. Sullom Voe was converted into a base for flying boats. Finally, boatloads of soldiers began arriving. At the height of operations in Shetland, some 20,000 service men were stationed there, easily outnumbering the local residents. Also seeking shelter in Shetland were many Norwegian fishing boats and their crews that had escaped Nazi controlled Norway. These men had a vast storehouse of information about the waters surrounding Norway. This could prove invaluable to Allied planners in their defense of Great Britain and a possible invasion to free Norway.Their knowledge and their boats were put to use transporting supplies to the Norwegian resistance groups and rescuing Norwegians endangered by the Nazis. When the Nazis invaded Norway many Norwegian soldiers went “underground” to avoid capture and tried to resist the invaders. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill created a secret organisation, the Special Operations Executive (SOE), to organize work behind enemy lines and train these groups of soldiers to conduct irregular warfare operations and act as Norwegian commandos. This is how the ‘Shetland Bus’ came into being. The fishing boats were crewed by Norwegian sailors who knew the waters like the back and front of their hands. Their knowledge was rooted in many years fishing off the coasts of Greenland and Iceland. This knowledge served them well as they now sailed during the winter months when the nights were dark the seas were rough and stormy making the sailing difficult. But what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander and there were fewer Nazi patrol boats or aeroplanes to deal with. Even still they had to sail with onboard blackout conditions. Their deep seated knowledge of the Norwegian coastline was invaluable as the Nazis controlled the lighthouses and other navigational aids. Each sailor knew the route from memory and their local knowledge enabled them to distinguish man made alterations in the landscape, ie: a sentry or some kind of a new fixture designed to watch the coast. Initially, 14, small agile 50- to 70-foot fishing boats were used and they were completely defenseless, camouflage was their only defense on these unassisted excursions. A typical, fishing boat would have bunks for six or eight men in the forecastle, and two in the small cabin aft. The hold amidships could carry eight or ten tons of small arms and explosives camouflaged under fish, of course. The wheelhouse was built on top of the engine casing and usually had a small chart-room opening off it, and a galley was located behind it.

A Typical Shetland Bus The first voyage of the Shetland Bus occurred on 30 August 1941. The boat was called The Aksel and was skippered by August Nærøy. He was bound for the Norwegian city to rescue refugees. It was successful. Probably the most famous of the Shetland skippers was , nicknamed Shetlands Larsen. In all he made 52 trips across The North Sea to Norway some of them hundreds of miles long and 3 weeks in duration. He became the most highly decorated Allied naval officer of the Second World War. One harrowing adventure proved just how dangerous operating the Shetland Bus actually was. He was captaining the ship, Bergholm, on a run into Traena, Norway. After they had dropped off their cargo and were returning to Shetland, the ship was attacked by two German planes. The attack killed six of the eight men aboard. Leif and the other survivor, Nils Vika, got into a lifeboat and began rowing for Aalesund, the closest port. It would take four days to get there and Nils would not survive the trip. Leif was the only survivor and was picked up by an MTB (motor torpedo boat) and taken back to Shetland. Occasionally, the Bus took a more aggressive approach. The Bus took part in attacks on German forces. One such operation in which The Bus was involved was in a raid on Måløy, a Norwegian town held by the Germans. The purpose of the attack was to win back the town and eliminate enemy strongpoints on Måløy Island and Holvik. They were successful, and the raid prompted Hitler to reroute 30,000 of his forces to Norway and upgrade his coastal and inland defenses as he feared the British might invade Europe through Norway. In another such operation The Bus dropped off a group of British Commandos on the Islands of Norway. Again Hitler sent more troops to Norway and by 1944 there were 370,000 German soldiers stationed throughout the country. Another attack on 31 October 1942, was a genuine David versus Goliath adventure. It saw a 60 foot long fishing boat, The Arthur, going against the almost invincible German battleship Tirpitz, anchored up Trondheimsfjorden. The Tirpitz was 823 feet in length, weighed an intimidating 42,000 tons with 8-15 inch guns, 16-4 inch, and 16-1.5 inch secondary guns along with 58-1 inch anti-aircraft guns and 8-21inch torpedo tubes.

The Kriegsmarine Tirpitz The wee Arthur had 2 two man “torpedoes” called chariots. These chariots were actually two man submersibles. The crew wore wet suits and used air tanks when they were exposed to the underwater elements. On the front of the chariot was a detachable warhead.Their mission was to close within a few hundred yards of the Tirpitz, submerge and steer the chariot below the Tirpitz. Leave the chariot, unscrew the warhead and set a time fuse, attach it to the bottom of the Tripitz using magnets, return to the chariots and then escape. The best laid plans of mice and men aft gang agley. A few miles from The Tirpitz a huge storm blew up and the chariots broke free. The mission had to be terminated. The crew escaped the German forces by going across the border into Sweden, losing only one man. As the German coastal defenses improved it became obvious that faster vessels were necessary for the safe continuation of the operation. In October 1943, the US Navy transferred three submarine chasers called Hitra, Vigra, and Hessa to The Shetland Bus. These ships were armed and fast; 22 knots, 17 at cruising speed. These boats were able to make more than 100 trips between Shetland and Norway with no loss of life or ships. By the end of the war, all the ships and submarine chasers in The Shetland Bus had completed a total of 198 trips, and Leif Larsen had carried out 52 of them.

A Typical Sub Chaser There is a museum at Scalloway that features a permanent exhibition of the Shetland Bus. In 2001, the Scalloway Community Council decided that a permanent memorial to the 10 boats and 44 men that were lost during the war was long overdue. This memorial was finally unveiled in 2003 by Barbara Melkevik of Scalloway and Norway, one of several Shetland women who married Norwegians during the war. It is crafted of stones from Shetland and Norway. In May 2007 the memorial was visited by Queen Sonia of Norway, to lay wreaths at the memorial to her countrymen, in recognition of the significance of this enduring link between the two communities.

The Shetland Bus Memorial at Scalloway

American History Memorial Day A time for all of us to remember those who made The Ultimate Sacrifice. In modern day America we celebrate Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer. Lost in the excitement of barbecues and a three day weekend is the original purpose of the day. This is the day, we as a people, set aside to pay homage and respect to those who paid the ultimate price to protect our liberty. We as a people, must not allow others to forget those brave men and women that we honor today. It is customary, although unknown to many, to fly the flag at half mast from sunrise till noon and to hold a minute of silence at 3 pm. Many veteran's associations place poppies or flags on the graves of fallen comrades. The idea of a “memorial day” traces its roots back to the Appalachian regions of the south. Their annual Decoration Days were held on a Sunday in late spring or early summer at family cemeteries or other local cemeteries. They usually took the form of family reunions. There often is a religious service and a picnic-like "dinner on the grounds," the traditional term for a potluck meal at a church. What was originally called Decoration Day began on 3 June 1861 when the good folks in Warrenton, Virginia placed flowers on the graves of their fallen soldiers. The next year the women of Savannah, Georgia joined them in decorating the graves of their dead soldiers. On 18 November 1863 following Lincoln's address dedicating the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg the graves were decorated with flowers. On 4 July, 1864, ladies decorated soldiers' graves in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Boalsburg promotes itself as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Rather than have Decoration Days scattered throughout the calendar year, a more universal date for Decoration Day was established when General John A. Logan issued General Orders No.11, 5 May, 1868. which designated the 30th day of May, 1868, as the day to decorate the graves of the fallen Union soldiers throughout the country. With his proclamation, Logan adopted the Memorial Day practice that had begun in the Southern states three years earlier. On 28 June, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved four holidays, including Memorial Day, from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. In 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act, asking people to stop and remember at 3:00 PM. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. It is customary for volunteers to place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day By Joyce Kilmer The bugle echoes shrill and sweet, But not of war it sings to-day. The road is rhythmic with the feet Of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red On tombs where weary soldiers lie; Flags wave above the honored dead And martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel, They kept the faith and fought the fight. Through flying lead and crimson steel They plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn Their strength, who lie beneath this sod, Who went through fire and death to earn At last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed They march, the legions of the Lord; He is their Captain unafraid, The Prince of Peace Who brought a sword.

Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) was an American soldier-poet who was killed in France during the waning months of World War I.During the Second Battle of The Marne, Sargeant Kilmer was leading a scouting party on July 30, 1918, when he was killed by a sniper’s bullet. He was 31 years old. The French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre posthumously. Some News from The Home front Dolly's Gift to Scotland’s Wee Bairns This year marks the tenth anniversary of The Dollywood Foundation working with The Scottish Book Trust and the Scottish Government to bring The Imagination Library to Scotland. The 3,000+ 'Looked After ' (Foster) children of Scotland will be able to receive a free book every month until their fifth birthday, thanks to the generosity of Dolly Parton. Dolly said; “ I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful effort. When I started this project in my own hometown I never thought one day I would be helping Scottish kids.*** Much of my music has been inspired by Scotland, so it's only right that we are now in a position to bring more joy into the lives of the nation's 'looked after' children.” As of this month The Foundation has distributed nearly 155 million books throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the Republic of Ireland, and Australia. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment by an unselfish humanitarian. (She can also sing verra weal.) Speaking of Anniversaries June of this year will mark the 160th anniversary of Edinburgh's fabled gun. Festivities will start at The Greyfriar's Kirk, at the grave the world famous Scottish Terrier 'Greyfriar's Bobby'. Bobby was alerted that it was dinner time when he heard the One O'clock Gun being fired. Generations of people have set the clocks or watches according to the gun. The initial gun was a 64 pounder and needed a crew of four men. The gun in use today, affectionately known as 'Tam' was actually operated during the North African Campaign and can be handled by one man. Annually about 220,000 tourists visit both the gun and Bobby's grave. The most frequently asked question is; “What time is the One O'Clock Gun fired.” Tourists, I kid you not. Summer Midge Invasion Expected This year we will be plagued with the invasion of cicadas with their bulging red eyes and ubiquitous, cacophonous mating calls. Thankfully they arrive only once every 17 years. We cannot say the same for our Scottish cousins unfortunately. Experts say that because of the unusually snowy Scottish winter, the snow acted as an insulating layer for midge larvae. They expect this year's invasion to be several hundred times worse than last year. Dr. Andy Evans of the Scottish Agricultural College said people must be prepared to be bombarded by 'enormous clouds' of midges.

From The Mass Deck How about something different this Memorial Day? Haggis was originally made from beef.While the Sassanachs are cooking hamburgers, you can cook something different, something better! It is based on a recipe for Haggis from Mistress Dods Cookbook, 1833 edition. American Haggis Ingredients: 2 cups "pinhead" oats 2 large onions chopped and cooked 1 lb. Ground round or hamburger meat ½ lb. Beef liver, ground ½ lb. Tongue, ground 1 teaspoon salt Tablespoon Black Pepper ½ teaspoon cayenne 2 cups beef broth Method: toast oats shallow pan at 350 degree oven until light brown. Cook onions until soft and brown. Cook Beef liver,until well done and in crumbles. Cook tongue and ground round or hamburger until well done. Mix all meat together in a bowl. Add toasted oatmeal. Stir all together, and you should have a bowl of crumbles. Add: onions, salt, pepper and cayenne. Mix all ingredients together and pour into two loaf pans. Over each loaf pan pour 1 cup beef broth. Wrap each loaf with Foil, leaving a tented top, and place in a 350 degree preheated oven for 2 hours. For a variation: instead of beef, use bison much more aromatic and leaner.

Collops A traditional Scottish dish Ingredients: 450g Thinly sliced of veal Burre Manie (anut of butter rolled in flour) 1tbs butter 6 pickled oysters or 6 pickled mushrooms 1 c. stock 1 egg yolk Grated peel of ½ lemon 1tbs. Cream pinch of mace salt to taste 3tbs. Wine pinch of nutmeg Method: 1.Pound veal slices until thin. Melt butter in skillet and brown the veal slices. 2.Add stock,lemon peel,mace and wine. Simmer gently for 20 minutes. 3.Thicken with burre manie and add oysters or mushrooms. 4.Beat egg yolks with cream, salt and nutmeg. Stir in, heat up. But do not boil. You can substitute beef for veal. Crostini w/peas, mint and Smoked Salmon Ingredients : 900g/2 lbs pea pods or 300g/10.5 oz frozen petit peas Juice from ½ large lemon Extra virgin olive oil 50g/1.75 oz grated Parmesan cheese 15g /1/2oz mint & extra for garnish 1 Italian sfilatino (or thin French bread stick) cut into 30 rounds 200g/7oz smoked salmon Method: 1.Pod the peas if fresh and boil until just tender (or cook from frozen). Drain immediately under cold tap to arrest cooking. Pat dry on kitchen paper. 2.Tip peas into a food processor with the lemon juice, three tbsp oil, cheese and mint leaves. Whiz then taste and add salt and pepper accordingly. 3.Place bread on a baking sheet, brush lightly with olive oil and bake at180c or 350f for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. 4.To serve ,Place the crostini on a serving platter spread each with pea puree and top with a sliver of Salmon. Garnish with mint. Scotland Magazi The Highland Honey Julep With a nod to the Runnin'o'The Roses Ingredients: 2 shots of scotch 1 barspoon (teaspoon) Scottish heather honey 5 mint leaves 1 mint sprig for garnish Method: warm the honey and put in an 'old fashioned' glass. Add a shot of Scotch .Stir until honey is dissolved. Fill glass half way with crushed ice and add remaining shot of whisky. Stir for 15 seconds. Fill glass to top with crushed ice and add garnish. Sip slowly during race. Scottish Crackers This section features humorous contributions. If you told a joke at the last meeting and wish to share it or you have a humorous anecdote please send it in.

Things We Can Celebrate In the Merry Month of May May 1 Beltaine's Day- the ancient fire festival celebrating the start of summer. May 4 National Star Wars Day May 5 National Hoagie Day also Sub, Grinder, Torpedo and Hero day. May 6 National Nurses Day Here, here! May 8 National Coconut Cream Pie Day May 9 Mother's Day also J.M. Barre’s birthday, author of 'Peter Pan'. May 11 National Twilight Zone Day May 13 National Apple Pie Day May 14 1754 St. Andrew's Society of Golfers began. Now its The Royal and Ancient Golf Club. May 15 National Armed Forces Day May 16 National Mimosa Day May 21 National Pizza Party Day May 25 National Wine Day, also In !967 Celtic Football Club won the European Cup! I apologise for the dreadful partisanship. May 28 National Hamburger Day May 30 National Mint Julep Day May 31 Memorial Day Scottish Words of Wisdom Conscience is the little thing that tells you someone is sure to find out.

A Fish Story Scottish Style Angus, an avid , was telling his friend Ruppert about his recent fishing trip. 'After a few frustrating hours I ran out of bait. Then I spied a viper in the bog with a wee frog in his mouth. Know'n frogs is good bait, I also knew the viper couldn't bite me with the frog in his mouth. So I grabbed him behind his head, snatched away the frog and put it in ma' bait bucket. Now I had a wee bit of a problem. I had to release the crabbit viper without allowing him to bite me. An' he was a given' me the evil eye, what with me taking his meal and all. So I grabbed my pocket flask and poured a wee nip o' whisky into his mouth. Help me Boab, he went hirple! His eyes rolled back and his body went limp. I gently put him on the moor and carried on with ma' fishin' using the frog as bait. Some time later I felt a nudge on ma' foot. Glancing down I espied the viper again. I was terrified 'til I noticed that now he was a lookin’ up a’ an’ had two frogs in his mouth!

Anyone wishing to contribute an article, news, a joke or humorous anecdote or other contributions, news, suggestions for articles or genteel comments can send them to: [email protected]

Hymn #513 Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep: O hear us when we cry to thee For those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain O'er which our traffic runs amain By mountain pass or valley low; Wherever, Lord, thy brethren go, Protect them by thy guarding hand From every peril on the land.

O Spirit, whom the Father sent To spread abroad the firmament; O Wind of heaven, by thy might Save all who dare the eagle's flight, And keep them by thy watchful care From every peril in the air.

O Trinity of love and power, Our brethren shield in danger's hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them whereso'er they go, Thus evermore shall rise to thee Glad praise from air and land and sea.

Do a BUDDY CHECK on the 22nd of Every Month.