Elgin Rotary talks: When Buckie was 'Little Norway'
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How Buckie came to be known as 'Little Norway' during the Second World War was the subject of a recent talk at Elgin Rotary.
Professor Peter Reid from Robert Gordon University has researched the period in depth.
He told how, following the Nazi invasion of their homeland in 1940, hundreds of Norwegian refugees sought refuge in Scotland.
Men, women and children sailed across the North Sea in small fishing boats.
Most headed for Shetland – the nearest landing.
Many, in turn, were then relocated to Buckie.
Ultimately the Norwegian inhabitants came to make up approximately one tenth of the town's 8000 population.
Kintrae, a large house in East Church Street, became the Norwegian Consulate, as well as the Norwegian Fisheries Office and Seamen’s Mission.
The Norwegian Consul, Gustav Puntervold, formed a very successful partnership with the town’s Provost, William Merson, to ensure all the refugees found homes.
Families were allocated any available empty properties across the town, while many Buckie families also gave up spare rooms to help host them.
With so many Norwegians and their boats in the town, its Government-in-Exile decided to establish the Royal Norwegian Slip and Repairs Shops at Cluny Harbour.
It was built to ensure the vessels remained seaworthy so they could contribute to the war effort.
Buckie was visited in July 1943 by King Haakon VII and his son, Crown Prince Olav, who spent a considerable amount of time in the town.
Professor Reid, in 2018, led a project in collaboration with the Buckie Fishing Heritage Centre which researched the stories of the Norwegian and other Scandinavians who made Buckie their home during the war.
This included many personal accounts as well as photographs and newspaper reports from the time.
Professor Reid reflected on the personal impact of this research and his caring for the grave of a seven-year old Norwegian girl called Aud Oline. In 2020 her family emailed their thanks.
He also spoke about how, in April, four Norwegians sailed from Kristiansand to Buckie to commemorate their heroic compatriots who had crossed the North Sea all those years before.
They carried with them a letter from the Norwegian Minister of Defence, thanking the people of Buckie for their support during the War.
On arrival, they were formally welcomed by Frances McKay, the Deputy Lieutenant of Banffshire.
The motto for their trip was Aldri glemme – Norwegian for ‘Never forget’.
More details about this period of history can be found at www.littlenorway.org.uk
