WW2 Hero Dog is Celebrated
WW2 hero dog is celebrated to keep his legend alive
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008, 18:53 stv
Bamse the sea dog
A Montrose hero of the Second World War will be celebrated in the town tonight - but this legend is no ordinary soldier.
After docking in the North East in 1940, Bamse the sea dog became local star when he bravely saved the lives of two soldiers.
A book of tales launched this evening focuses on his exploits aboard the Thorodd - the Norwegian Minesweeper the St Bernard lived on.
Bamse was a registered crew member on the vessel and in addition to having a statue in Montrose, he is also an international signal of freedom for Norwegian troops.
Bamse the sea dog
Author Angus Whitson said: “There are other lovely stories about him collecting his shipmates from the pubs where they drank and getting them down to Thorodd, which was the ship they all served on, getting them down to Thorodd in time for curfew to ensure none of them got into trouble.”
His co-author Andrew Orr added: “One of the ship’s guards wanted to go off and make a cup of coffee and so he put Bamse at the top of the gangway and said be sure not to let anyone up this gangway when along comes the Captain, Captain Hafto, and he tries to get up the gangway but the dog has been told what to do, he’s been given an order so he doesn’t let the Captain onto his own ship.”
“There are other lovely stories about him collecting his shipmates from the pubs where they drank and getting them down to Thorodd, which was the ship they all served on, getting them down to Thorodd in time for curfew to ensure none of them got into trouble.”
