Bamse

The Sea Scamp Bamse adventure stories are inspired by the exploits of Bamse, the Norwegian St Bernard dog, who sailed from Norway to Great Britain during World War 2. Anna first learned of Bamse, on a visit to Scotland in 2012. The story of Bamse was an amazing one and totally captured her imagination. Bamse was born in 1937 and lived with the Haft... o family in Honningsvg, Norway. In 1940, during the invasion of Norway, he became a crew member of the KNM Thorodd, a ship that was part of the flotilla alongside HMS Devonshire which carried King Haakon to Great Britain. See if you can see what flies alongside while Bamse sails to Montrose in the Thorodds gun turret. Bamse and his fellow crew members initially arrived at Lerwick but were then transferred to Port Edgar in the Firth of Forth where KNM Thorodd was converted for minesweeping duties. With the conversion complete KNM Thorodd regularly put out to sea to carry out its dangerous tasks. Dundee and Montrose became the regular home ports of KNM Thorodd and its crew. In both towns Bamse became known for his brave deeds and brought companionship to all with whom he came into contact. Ultimately Bamse was adopted as the mascot for all of the Norwegian forces. Seventy years on the Norwegian Navy still sends, on a yearly principle, dignitaries to his grave on the anniversary of his death. This amazing story prompted Anna to introduce children to Bamse by way of a their own picture book.Read More