Norway 1940

Chris Basey · 10-08-2004, 09:17 AM

I have heard suggestions of a special force of Royal Artillery personnel being sent (as employees of Vickers Armstrong) to Norway to instruct on artillery. Believed that they escaped to Holland only just before the invasion.

Anyone have suggestions as to source(s) of evidence, please?

Glosters · 10-08-2004, 10:03 PM

The group that you are thinking of went to Finland not Norway. I am currently researching their story as part of my study of Britain and the Winter War.

Steve

BeppoSapone · 11-08-2004, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Basey@Aug 10 2004, 02:17 AM
I have heard suggestions of a special force of Royal Artillery personnel being sent (as employees of Vickers Armstrong) to Norway to instruct on artillery. Believed that they escaped to Holland only just before the invasion.

Anyone have suggestions as to source(s) of evidence, please?

Actually, if it really is Finland that you are thinking of I have recently read a review of a book on this. Some 227 volunteers enlisted in London, 4 in Canada and 13 in Finland itself. Another 186 volunteers were unable to reach Finland.

Those that reached Finland included: "16 Aircraft Technicians including Royal Artillery and Royal Army Ordnance Corps personnel."

The book is: "The Volunteers: The Full Story of the British Volunteers in Finland, 1939-41" by Justin Brooke.

Email me for details of where to obtain a copy, which will be direct from the author and £14.95 post free, assuming he has any left!

Glosters · 11-08-2004, 06:53 PM

Justin Brooke's book is almost entirely about the Volunteer Company of Osasto Sisu. The information on the RA and RAOC men is limited to a paragraph. If you want this I can copy it out for you.

Steve

Chris Basey · 13-08-2004, 08:43 PM

Steve

Would very much appreciate a copy of that relevant paragraph. Thanks.

Kind regards

Glosters · 14-08-2004, 08:09 AM

Page 31:

"There was also a group of sixteen anti-aircraft fire control specialists, temporarily discharged from the Royal Artillery and Royal Army Ordnance Corps. They were enrolled at Vickers Limited, head office in London as civilian employees. The first six, who were RAOC sergeants, left London about 20th February 1940 and arrived in Finland three days later, where they were placed under the Ministry of Defence. The remainder reached Helsinki by various means. They each received the Finnish Winter War Medal with Kotijoukot bar. One of the men, M. Silverwood-Cope, was given a commission as Acting Captain in the Royal Artillery and took up the post of Acting Assistant Military Attache at the British Legation in Helsinki, where he was known as Captain Cope. Most of the men returned home later in 1940, but two (Fribsy and Hurst) stayed in Helsinki for about a year."

Steve

10-08-2004, 09:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Chris Basey Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 108	I have heard suggestions of a special force of Royal Artillery personnel being sent (as employees of Vickers Armstrong) to Norway to instruct on artillery. Believed that they escaped to Holland only just before the invasion. Anyone have suggestions as to source(s) of evidence, please? __________________ Chris Basey

13-08-2004, 08:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chris Basey Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 108	Steve Would very much appreciate a copy of that relevant paragraph. Thanks. Kind regards __________________ Chris Basey

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10-08-2004, 10:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Glosters Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 46	The group that you are thinking of went to Finland not Norway. I am currently researching their story as part of my study of Britain and the Winter War. Steve

11-08-2004, 06:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Glosters Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 46	Justin Brooke's book is almost entirely about the Volunteer Company of Osasto Sisu. The information on the RA and RAOC men is limited to a paragraph. If you want this I can copy it out for you. Steve

14-08-2004, 08:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
Glosters Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 46	Page 31: "There was also a group of sixteen anti-aircraft fire control specialists, temporarily discharged from the Royal Artillery and Royal Army Ordnance Corps. They were enrolled at Vickers Limited, head office in London as civilian employees. The first six, who were RAOC sergeants, left London about 20th February 1940 and arrived in Finland three days later, where they were placed under the Ministry of Defence. The remainder reached Helsinki by various means. They each received the Finnish Winter War Medal with Kotijoukot bar. One of the men, M. Silverwood-Cope, was given a commission as Acting Captain in the Royal Artillery and took up the post of Acting Assistant Military Attache at the British Legation in Helsinki, where he was known as Captain Cope. Most of the men returned home later in 1940, but two (Fribsy and Hurst) stayed in Helsinki for about a year." Steve

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