Remembering Vita - one of the last WW2 Shetland Bus Boats
Donation protected
“Rememembering H-95-B-Vita”
"It is with a heavy heart, that the fledgling "Friends of Vita" has made the difficult decision to halt our rescue attempt of M/K Vita. We were in a race against time before Vita was scrapped at Fosen Gjenvinning in Sør-Trøndelag. We were in the process of organising a temporary repair from Midtnorsk trebåtverksted of the bow hole and stern planks. It had been assessed two weeks ago, that it could be possible to tow her from the yard, subject to all the securities, ownership and insurances were in place.
Despite regular discussions between the owners Kystmuseet and the breakers yard, and a proposal developing to remove her, with interest increasing in Norway and Scotland, Vita was extensively damaged during this period, with a hole in her bow and her topsides damaged. Whilst this was a serious setback, it did not deter the group to assess all possibilities, and with the help with experienced shipwrights, come up with a plan for temporary repairs.
Unfortunately further damage has occurred since the inspection took place two weeks ago, and the keel and stern area are now damaged beyond repair. In addition, the breakers yard has not been able to offer any extra time to delay the scrapping. The cost to hire a crane to lift her onto a barge, and all associated costs, is impossible to justify, and out-with our reach.
If the recent damage had not taken place, and, ideally, we had found out about Vita’s plight prior to her having been towed to the breakers yard, we believe that Vita could have been saved.
With the amount of interest that has been generated in the past fortnight alone, from across the seas, we believe that, over time, we would have been able to raise the funds to restore her, should we have got her to a safe place.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported this rescue attempt, to save the first,and one of the most important, Shetland Bus fishing boats remaining in the world.
We will be in touch with those who have made larger donations, with an offer to return all or part of them. We would like to retain smaller donations, if possible, as we would like to develop a small display and online resource about Vita, and the Shetland Bus story, in Shetland/Norway or both, likely in conjunction with an existing museum. For this, we will keep the fundraiser going a little longer, so that we can develop a display that is worthy of Vita, her crew’s contribution to the war effort, and that of the other Shetland Bus boats and crews.
There are artefacts that have been saved from Vita by Kystmuseet, prior to her being towed to the breakers yard, and others in private ownership, and we are looking at saving further items from Vita if at all possible.
Once again, we are sorry that we have not been able to give Vita a last chance, but hopefully we can help keep the story of Vita and the other Shetland Bus boats alive, and remember the bravery of the young crewmen and all involved to help Norway gain her freedom and help shorten the war. Thank you for all your support with this campaign".
Please Help us Save Vita!
We are a small group of people from Scotland, Shetland, Norway, England and USA who want to try to save Vita!
Vita is one of the last remaining WW2 Shetland Bus wooden fishing boats left in the world - and she is about to be scrapped!
We need your help to give her a stay of execution, so we can tow her away from the breakers yard, and take her to a safe location, where we can prepare a plan for her restoration.
Vita was the first official boat used in the Shetland Bus operation, set up by SOE (Special Operations Executive) in 1940 to send agents, weapons and supplies to Norway and collect agents and refugees in return.
The missions took place in the winter months under the cover of darkness and often in horrendous conditions. The volunteer Norwegian fishermen who ran these missions, besides cleverness and great seaman ship, had a couple dozen old fishing boats which did 5-6 knots and some colt machine guns - not to underestimate their considerable local knowledge and contacts on the Norwegian coast.
They had the world’s most efficient and fearsome war machine against them and they helped win – they began to suffer great losses but the Shetland Gang never gave up.
The contribution of SOE, the Shetland Bus, SIS, Company Linge and MILORG the Norwegian resistance, helped shorten the war by some 6 months and gave the Norwegians hope during 5 long years of occupation.
As well as the first official Shetland Bus boat, Vita was the first boat to deliver weapons to SOE resistance groups in Norway.
She was also the first boat to be lost, captured by the Germans in 1941 and worked as a patrol boat for the rest of the war.
Vita is historically important to both Norway and the UK. Most of the boats that were important during the war have been scrapped and lost forever – this is our last chance to save this important piece of wartime history – and we have week to save her.
Since she has been at the breakers yard for the last month, she has moved further up the line until she is now next to be destroyed for good. Some dismantling and damage has already taken place. Shipwrights from a local firm have proposed an ingenious solution with a metal frame and aluminium plates, to refloat her now her bow has been damaged. She will then be towed to a boat yard where we can make a plan for her restoration.
We need some funds to do this and we are therefore appealing to those that are interested in wartime history in Norway, the UK and beyond to donate if they can.
We are trying really hard, but should we be unable to save Vita, donations can be returned if wished or given to the remaining few Shetland Bus boats, and the museums telling the story, such as the Scalloway Museum and the Shetland Bus Friendship Society.
The "Friends of Vita" thank you for anything you can donate large or small. For further information, please contact us through this fundraiser.
Organizer
Cally Fleming
Organizer
Scotland