Royal Norwegian Slip & Repair Shops
With so many Norwegians and their boats in the town, the Ministry of Commerce of the Government-in-Exile decided to establish the Royal Norwegian Slip and Repairs Shops at Cluny Harbour in Buckie. It was built to take in hand the Norwegian fishing boats that had transported refugees across the North Sea and to ensure the remains seaworthy and so could contribute to the war effort.
Right: the western end of Cluny Harbour showing the Norwegian Slip. Below: the site of the slip before construction. |
A Norwegian resistance fighter from Bergen called Frank Mohn was assigned responsibility for its construction. Frank had initially been training with the Free Norwegian Forces before sustaining a knee injury during exercises. The premises were established in Commercial Road at the west-most basin of the harbour (now filled in). Frank would return to Norway after the war and become one of its most successful businessmen, establishing Framo Pumps.
Without that knee injury, my future might have been very different. Then it might have been a military career instead of industrial enterprise for me. |
The Norwegians were industrious and skilled workers and they put their skills to good use, ensuring that the Norwegian fishing fleet could contribute to the war effort by landing catches but also by ensuring that the fleet could 'pick-up-where-they-left-off' back in Norway after the end of the conflict. Some boats were converted for military purposes.
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King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav spent considerable time at the Norwegian Slip during their visit to the town on 10 July 1943. Frank Mohn played a significant part in the Norwegian community and, indeed, in the wider life of the town during the war years. After the end of the war, the site was acquired first by John Duncan Engineers and then subsequently by Thomsons' Boatyard. .
See if you can spot the words Lukk døren in one the pictures.
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