VARIED TROPHIES

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21441, 7 June 1941, Page 2

VARIED TROPHIES

PORTRAITS OF HITLER LOFOTEN ISLANDS RAID ‘FISTS OUR BEST WEAPONS’ LONDON, March 8 Fresh from their dash to Lofoten Islands, British Tommies returned to a home port last night, says the Daily Express. They carried swastikas and framed pictures of Hitler and Goering, trophies of the raid. Said one brawny sergeant: “ Our fists were the handiest weapons we carried. They did all that was needed/’ A corporal from Lancashire said it was the cheapest holiday trip he had ever had. “ It was perfectly planned." he said, "and the Navy worked with us like clockwork. “ I have never enjoyed anything so much as blowing up the oil tanks and power works. Gee! It was grand to hear a roar of dynamite and then see a big puff of smoke go thousands of feet into the air.” A young Scot with a swastika flag round his waist said there was a terrific scramble when they boarded the Nazi steamer Harburg, which was at anchor. The Germans were struck dumb. Fight for Flag “ My biggest fight,” he said, ‘ was to get this flag from the ship, as all the boys around me were tearing to get at it.” While the troops were there they destroyed all the anti-invasion defences. Concrete posts and other works built round the shores were demolished. One hardy-looking soldier with a scar on his chin was asked how he was wounded. “He got that when he was shaving,” said one of his pals. “Aye, shaving with a Nazi’s fist,” he replied. A sergeant said: “ The boys were all told just what their particular part in the raid was to be, and every man went right to it from the moment we went over the ship’s side until we got on board again. Our boats were marvellous; they carried us and our equipment right up on to the shore.” One of the engineers who looked after the demolition work said it would take years to build such a plant again. The ease with which the raid was carried out was shown by the number of ammunition cases brought ashore. These were all intact, just as they had been taken on the ships. Norwegian sailors, soldiers and airmen in this country who have mar.ried British girls are offering homes to the women our warships brought away from the islands. Some of the 300 islanders who decided to come back to Britain with our raiding force were married, and it was agreed their wives should accompany them to avoid their becoming the victims of German reprisals. All reached London last night. Hundreds Join Up The raid was even more successful than at first appeared. Apart from the destruction of oil factories at Svolvor, the landing parties put out of action another important oil plant at Stansund, on the island of Vestvaagoy. When the raiders arrived off the islands messages were broadcast through powerful amplifiers telling the population that “ Friends are at hand.” Then the Norwegian “ announcers ” in short rehearsed speeches said, “We shall be willing to take on board any volunteers who would like to .come to Britain and join the Norwegian Free Forces.”

The response was instantaneous. Hundreds of young men ran to the shore and lined up. They were ready to set off as they were.