1940
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
- The two police forces of Zetland County and the Burgh of Lerwick united to create the Zetland Constabulary in 1940, when the 1857 'General Police Act' was extended to the County (see May 18th).
- Author Jessie M. E. Saxby dies, nearly 99 years old.
- Author Christian S. Tait was born
- Author John A. W. Strachan born in Yell
- Late summer SOE(Special Operations Executive), Norwegian Section, later known as "Company Linge", established a base in Lerwick.
- Hugh MacDiarmid organises a meeting of working men in Whalsay. An informant reported to the police, "This man and his wife are dangerous to the state, and should be prevented from tampering with the loyalty of young men called to the colours."
January
- 1st
HMS Coventry nearly hit by bombs from a German 'Dornier' at Sullom Voe. - Two German Ju 88 were reported near Fetlar. They were engaged by Gladiators of the "Shetland Fighter Flight" from Sumburgh, and one Ju 88 was shot down into the sea.
- 9th
SS Tonis Chandris wrecked off Mu Ness, Unst - 18th
The British ship S/S Polzella (4751GRT) was torpedoed 6 - 7 nautical miles north of Muckle Flugga by the German Submarine U 25.The whole crew of 37 were lost.
The Norwegian steamer D/S Enid of Trondheim, went to search for survivors, none were found, but the same submarine torpedoed the Enid, and sunk her. The crew of the Enid were later picked up by the Danish ship D/S Kina.
February
- 4th
The British steam freighter S/S Leo Dawson, (4330GRT), was torpedoed by the German submarine U37 east of Shetland on tour Narvik - England with a cargo of iron ore. The whole crew of 35 were lost.
The Norwegian steamer D/S Hop of Bergen was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U 37, near Shetland. The whole crew of 17 were lost. Later 4 bodies drifted ashore on Unst, 3 on Fetlar and one in Lunna, all assumed to come from the 'Hop'. - 6th
Cargo ship SS Highcliffe shipwrecked on Forewick Holm, Papa Stour. Crew saved, ship and cargo lost. - 7th
Author William J Tulloch died. - 11th
The Swedish ship Orania of Frederika (1854GRT), was torpedoed by the German submarine U-50 near Shetland. 14 of the crew of 24 were lost. - 16th
In the Altmark Incident, the British capture a German vessel and crew at Jøssingfjord in Norwegian waters. Norway is still officially neutral. - 18th
The Panama registered steam freighter S/S El Sonador,(1046GRT), was torpedoed by the German submarine U61 east of Shetland. 17 men lost their lives. - The Supermarine Walrus I flying boat, L2296, of 700 Sqn. made an emergency landing at the north coast of Foula. The crew were picked up by M/V Water Lily a couple of days later, but the plane was broken up by bad weather.
- 22nd
The Saro London II flying boat, L7049, of R.A.F 240 Sqn. destroyed by fire at Sullom Voe.
March
- 20th
The Algier, a motor vessel, of Denmark was topedoed by the German submarine U38. The crew were picked up at a position approx 15 miles NNW of Foula and the vessel is presumed to have sunk at or around that position. - 23rd
The Danish registered steamship Christiansborg in passage for the U.S.A. to Denmark with a cargo of maize was torpedoed by the German submarine U38, and sank to the west of Foula.
April
- 2nd
The Signe, a steamship carrying a general cargo, was presumed lost with all hands in the vicinity of Fair Isle, after the remains of a crew member was recovered from a raft and interred in Fair Isle Kirkyard. - 3rd
The British fishing boats Gorspen (steam trawler, A 376, 208 BRT) bombed and sunk NE of Out Skerries; and Sansonnet, (steam trawler A 862, 212 BRT) bombed and sunk 18 miles E by S of Muckle Flugga - 8th
An Avro Anson I aircraft, N9678, or R.A.F. 269 Squadron crashed in to the sea at an unknown location west of Shetland - 9th
Germany begins its invasion of Norway and Denmark. The UK contacts the Icelandic Government requesting them to join the war. The Icelanders refuse.
- The four British destroyers; HMS Cossac, HMS Kashmir, HMS Kelvin and HMS Zulu arrived Lerwick harbour. One of them heavily damaged.
- 10th
The Norwegian Navy's 'T/J Draug' arrived at Sullom Voe with 67 German prisoners from the German merchant ship 'Main'. The 'T/J Draug' had been ordered to escort the 'Main' to the nearest British Harbour, but the crew of the 'Main' scuttled her, took to the lifeboats, and were picked up by the 'T/J Draug'. After dropping the Germans at Sullom Voe the ship carried on to Scapa Flow. - 12th
The UK occupies the Faroe Islands to prevent German invasion.
- The British steam freighter S/S Stancliffe, (4511GRT), on tour Narvik - England with a cargo of iron ore, was torpedoed by the German submarine U37, 45 miles northeast of Unst. 22 of the crew of 38 were lost.
- 15th
A lifeboat arrives Haroldswick, Unst with 12 survivors and 7 dead from a torpedoed British freighter. - 17th
The British steam freighter S/S Swainby, (4935GRT), was torpedoed by the German submarine U13, 25 miles north of Muckle Flugga.The whole crew of 38 were saved. One of the lifeboats from the Swainby later became roof of a shed at Kirkton, in Norwick, Unst.
The tow boat 'St.Mellons' arrives Shetland with HMS Eclipse in tow. The destroyer was heavily damaged after battles on the Norwgian coast. - 18th
A Blackburn Skua II aircraft, L2999 of 800 Squadron F.A.A. (Fleet Air Arm) reported missing at an unknown location between Lerwick and Orkney.
The Pilot, J.R. Crossley was never found, but Pilot Officer R. Hall is buried at Lerwick Cemetery. - 24th
Four destroyers and a tow boat arrives Lerwick, one ship, HMS Pelican was nearly a wreck after being attacked near Molde, her sinking mines exploded on deck, with great losses among the crew. - A Supermarine Walrus I aircraft, L2316, of 700 Squadron F.A.A. (Fleet Air Arm) reported missing, presumed shot down in enemy action at an unknown location to the south of Fair Isle.
- 26th
Bergen captured by Germany.
- The Norwegian destroyer KNM Sleipner arrives Lerwick from Molde. It was the last of the Norwegian warships that escaped.
May
- D/S Borgund arrives Lerwick with 13 Norwegian refugees and 30 German prisoners of war.
- 4th..
M/B Jåbæk (M85B) , skippered by Peder L. Godø , arrives Lerwick with 20 refugees.
M/S Bomma (Fred Olsen Lines ), arrives Lerwick from Molde with refugees and Norwegian millitary personel. - 5th
M/S Bjerk arrives Lerwick with refugees. - 6th
M/S Veststein, skippered by Hans Feie, arrives Lerwick with refugees. - 7th
M/B Sjøgutten (M54HØ), skippered by Peder G. Remøy, arrives Lerwick with 19 refugees.Among them was Head officer in the Norwegian Air Force, Bjarne Øen and his staff. - 8th.
M/B Sandvikhorn (M181HØ), skippered by John Vike, arrived Baltasound with 6 refugees, some British soldiers and a German prisoner. - 9th.
M/B Vestern (M234HØ), skippered by Hans Feie, arrived Baltasound with 7 refugees and 12 Brithish sodiers.
M/B Porat (H61S), arrives Lerwick with 2 refugees.
M/B Vita (H95B), skippered by Lt.Per Danielsen arrived Shetland with 4 Norwegian Navy officers and 2 other refugees. - 10th.
M/B Havørn (SF40SV), skippered by Simon Holvik, arrived Shetland with 7 Norvwegian refugees, 11 British citizens and 2 Austrian jews.
M/B Wailet (V2S), skippered by Mons Storemark arrived Shetland with 5 refugees and the British manager of the convoy office in Bergen.
M/B Nyo (M9B) arrives Lerwick with refugees.
- British invasion of Iceland commences, known as "Operation Fork".
- 12th
M/S Leiv(SF53SV), skippered by Th. Melkevik, arrived Shetland with 14 British soldiers and 3 refugees. - 13th
M/B Reidar (SF 2D), skippered by Edvin Nore, arrived Lerwick with 4 British soldiers, among them, Lieutenant J.L. Chaworth Musters and 3 refugees. - 17th.
The Norwegian Lieutenant Peder Juliebø led the Norwegians in Lerwick in a Constitution Day Parade (Norway's National Day )
M/B Flink (SF7S), arrived Lerwick with 5 refugees.
- 18th.
Shetland finally adopts the 'Scottish Police Act'. The last Scottish area to do so. Prior to this date, Shetland was responsible for maintaining law and order in its own way. Lerwick was a Police Burgh, with three officers and a further five for the rest of Shetland. The large increase in population due to the war rendered this situation untenable. - M/B Vest (R270A), arrived Lerwick with 4 Brits and 3 refugees.
- 20th.
M/B Snål, skippered by Oskar Leirvåg, arrived Lerwick with one Brit and 7 refugees. - 21st.
M/B Vega, arrived Shetland with 8 Brits and 2 refugees. - 27th.
M/S Svalen (SF106A), skippered by Jens Værøyvik, arrived Baltasound with 6 refugees. - 28th.
M/B Breisund (M33A), with 6 Norwegian refugees and 5 British soldiers ,wrecked on a skerry near Haroldswick.All rescued.
M/B Nyken (SF64SV), skippered by Peder Paulsen, arrived Lerwick with 7 refugees. - 30th.
M/B Livlig, skippered by Anton Lammetun, arrived Shetland with 11 British soldiers and 3 refugees.
June
- M/B Roald (SF 218A), skippered by Peder Grane arrives Shetland from Askvoll.
- M/B Sjøglimt (H3F), skippered by Jakob M. Syltøy, arrived Lerwick with 7 British citizens and 3 refugees.
- British armed forces occupy Iceland.
- 1st
M/B Nyo (M9B), skippered by Olav Festøy, arrived Baltasound with 12 refugees, 2 Brits and one German jew. - 2nd.
M/B Vågsfjord (M44B), skippered by Nils Eilertsen, arrived Lerwick with 9 refugees and 11 British soldiers. - 6th.
M/B Skarv (M155G), a 21 foot boat, arrived Lerwick with 2 refugees. - 7th.
M/S Slotterøy (H56B), skippered by Størk Sæverud, arrives at Bressay with 16 refugees.
- King Haakon VII is evacuated from Norway.
- 8th.
M/B Nordkynn (Statens Fyrvesen), arrived at Baltasound with 11 refugees and 3 British soldiers. - 10th
The German invasion of Norway is complete, but the Norwegian Resistance continues operations throughout the war, some of them through Shetland. - 11th.
M/B Gneist, skippered by Oskar Leirvåg, arrived Shetland with a group of agents and the skipper's wife and 3 children. - 14th.
An aircraft, either a Bristol Beaufort I or a Blenheim IV (the record makes the impossible statement that it was both), L4489 of RAF 42 Squadron crashed in to the sea at an unspecified position off Sumburgh. It is not recorded whether this incident occured in the Atlantic or North Sea. - 17th
Requisitioned Cunard Liner 'Lancastria' sunk by bomber aircraft off St Nazaire with huge loss of life. 'Lancastria' was commanded by Captain Rudolph Sharp, from Yell. The aircraft were from the same unit which had dropped the first bombs of the war on British soil, at the flying boat base at Sullom Voe on 13th November 1939. - 25th
Germany completes conquest of France. This allows U-Boats to use the English Channel for access to the Atlantic, rather than the northern route, and also removes one of the UK's major naval allies from the war.
July
- 9th.
A Lockheed Hudson I aircraft, N7377, or R.A.F. 233 Squadron was shot down by a Messerschmidt BF 110 aircraft at an unspecified location off Shetland. - 10th.
Sixoared rowboat, 22 foot long, and 41 years old, arrived Haroldswick with 3 refugees after a 7 days voyage from Stadt, Norway. - 16th.
M/B Traust,skippered by Hilmar Langøy, arrives Shetland with 2 refugees. "Traust" did 2 more tours to Shetland later this Summer.5 refugees arrived each time.
- 22nd
The pilot of BlenheimIV, R3887, of the 254 Sqn. at Sumburgh, Flight Sergeant W.G. Tyler, was killed when his plane was just going to touch down at Sumburgh. He suddenly realized that the runway was blocked by two lorries and tried to turn around, but stalled and crashed to the ground. - 23rd.
A Hawker Hurricane I aircraft, P2861 of RAF 232 Squadron ditched in to the sea on approach to Sumburgh Aerodrome. The Pilot survived and was picked up by the "Maid of Thule" It is not recorded whether this incident occurred on the Atlantic or North Sea approach.
August
- 6th
By-election of the Lerwick Town Council. - 28th
The Magister I, R1832, of the 248 Sqn. at Sumburgh crashed, and both crewmen were killed while they was performing some low level acrobatics over the airport.
The crewmen were: P/O R.H. Havilan, Pilot, and AC2 R. Moon.
R. Moon is buried at Lerwick Cemetery
September
- The first runway was finished at Scatsta Airport, near Sullom Voe
- 17th.
M/B Traust, skippered by Hilmar Langøy, arrived Shetland with 9 refugees. - 20th.
M/B Måken (M366B), arrives Shetland with 12 refugees. - 25th.
The Lerwick registered requisitioned steam drifter White Daisy (LK304) sank at a position approx 2.5 miles SE of Lunna Holm.
October
- 18th.
M/B Stjernen, skippered by Hilmar Langøy, arrived Shetland with 18 refugees. - 20th.
M/B Havlyn (H76B), arrived Lerwick with 4 refugees. - 26th
The Swordfish, L2794, of the 248 Sqn. at Hatston, crashed into the Bay of Quendale, killing the whole crew, just a few minutes after take off from Sumburgh where it have been undergoing some engine repairs.
The Crew were: R.T. Chambers, Pilot, Sub Lt. P.B. Laycook, Navigator and NA I B.F.A: Brewster. - 27th.
M/B Hugin (M8R), arrived Shetland with 2 refugees.
November
- 7th.
M/B Pokal (M102H), arrived Lerwick with 9 refugees, among them 4 Norwegian Navy officers and one Army officer.
December
- 8th.
M/B Ulf (M381A), arrived Shetland with 7 refugees. - 11th
A Short Sunderland V Flying boat, N9046, of R.A.F. 204 Squadron was destroyed by fire at it's moorings in Sullom Voe.
- 24th
M/B Igland (SF48B),skippered by Bård Grotle, arrived Shetland with 4 refugees and 3 agents. - Adam Halcrow, Shetland author, dies at 6 Carlton Place, Lerwick
