Royal Navy MemoriesHMS Devonshire and HMS Leopard and HMS Glasgow Portal
Norwegian Gold Bullion Snatch
Norwegian Gold Bullion Snatch – April 1940
My name is Bob Pearson, a high school teacher from Ipswich and for some time I have been researching how one of the greatest gold snatches in history was carried out. It is a tale of intrigue, immense bravery and leadership…and a little good fortune. But the story is far from complete and I am hoping someone out there will be able to shed light on HMS Devonshire’s role…and did she carry gold or valuables from Tromso or is purely rumour?
The night of April 8th/9th 1940 was a very traumatic period in the history of Norway: Hitler’s Third Reich had launched a completely unprovoked attack on neutral Norway sweeping up its Scandinavian neutral partner Denmark in the process.
Simultaneous invasion landings took place along the south and west coast of Norway as the might of the German armed forces swung into action, but the Germans had grossly miscalculated the defiance of a small coastal battery, Oscarsborg Fort, that defended the Narrows in Oslofjord leading directly to the much prized capital, Oslo – home to the Norwegian Royal Family, the government and the nation’s gold bullion.
The fort, commanded by Colonel Eriksen ordered his guns into action and as the lead German ship, the mighty cruiser Blucher, came into view, Eriksen gave the order to fire and two enormous shells ripped into the pride of the German force and set her ablaze. As the crippled ship inched forward two torpedoes fired from the battery slammed into the side of the Blucher ensuring a watery grave for the ship and a great loss of many Germans in the icy waters of Oslofjord – the invasion had been stalled had been stalled for a crucial few hours.
The Norwegians, surprised by the unprovoked attack, but taking advantage of the sinking of the Blucher immediately took steps to get the Royal Family, its government and the gold bullion to safety and an urgent cry for help was sent to Britain.
Using any form of transport they could lay their hands on the Royal Family and the government made good their escape.
Hotly pursued by the Germans the Norwegian Royal party were bombed and strafed at every opportunity, but fortune was on their side and after a series of lucky escapes they found themselves at the west coast port of Molde, but even here the relentless bombing continued and the party hid in the woods in their bid to escape certain death.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Norway, with the help of some of its employees and a handful of soldiers had managed to secure road and rail transport to move the bullion away from the desperate, grabbing hands of the Germans.
Dodging the enemy bombers and parachute troops the Norwegian soldiers and bank officials managed to get the bullion away to safety of the then unoccupied west coasts ports of Åndalsnes, Molde and Tromso…and into the safe hands of the Royal Navy.
Three Royal Navy cruisers – HMS Enterprise, HMS Galatea, and HMS Glasgow rescued the gold under appalling conditions…attacked in port and then constantly chased, harassed and bombed by the Luftwaffe as they made their way back to the UK. However, all three cruisers safely made it to their designated ports: Enterprise docked at Devonport, whilst Galatea and Glasgow off-loaded their precious cargo on the Clyde.
HMS Glasgow’s role was slightly different to the others as she not only liberated 23 tons of bullion from the pursuing Germans, but was further tasked with rescuing King Haakon, his son Crown Prince Olav, and members of the Norwegian Government.
King Haakon did not want to forsake his people and asked Captain Pegram if he could be taken to North Norway where he could carry on the fight. Captain Pegram obliged the King and HMS Glasgow sailed north. A short time later and having executed their duty to the King, Glasgow returned to Greenock to off-load her precious cargo of bullion.
In June 1940, and with the Germans over-running Norway, King Haakon and his son, Crown Prince Olav were eventually evacuated to London on HMS Devonshire to lead their people in exile.
However, rumours at that time, and they still abound today, say that Devonshire may have carried a small amount of gold back to the UK. These rumours may have come from sailors on Devonshire or from the local populace. However, the ship’s records state that they left port without any bullion, although it is possible that a small amount of gold coin accompanied King Haakon thereby fueling the rumours.
There have also been rumours that the gold destined for Devonshire was buried and to date has never been recovered…no, I don’t know where exactly!
I am always interested to hear stories from veterans, relatives or people with a sincere interest in the events in Norway during 1940, especially anyone with connections to HMS Devonshire, Glasgow, Galatea and Enterprise.
I am also interested in any information, no matter how small, on two Britons, Sir Charles Hambro and Captain Frank Foley – both men may have played significant roles with the gold transport. All contributions are welcome and are treated with the utmost respect and formally acknowledged.
Bob Pearson
By Robby G:
It was at this time (transfer of Norwegian Royalty & Government) that the aircraft carrier, HMS Glorious with two of her escorts were lost. It was rumoured that “Devonshire” ignored the signal from “Glorious” that she was under attack and did not go to her aid but increased speed to 30 knots toward Scotland., leaving “Glorious” and escorts to their peril.
From HMS Glorious and her two escort destroyers HMS Ardent & HMS Acasta, 1,115 men lost their lives. Only 41 survived the icy waters.
The reason for these terrible losses has been kept secret, and to this day is still shrouded in mystery. There is no doubt though, that “Devonshire’s” prime roll was to get her precious cargo of Royalty and no doubt GOLD, to the UK without deviating in any way whatsover.
Nothing, regarding the true actions of this event can be found in the National Archives. I suspect this has a 100 year release stipulation!
See this interesting link HMS Glorious
Dear Bob, hello! I am sure it was you with whom I was in touch in 2006. So annoying I lost your details. Please get in touch again! Leanda ps niece of Sir Cecil Dormer
Bob, if you do not have Leanda’s contact details, please contact me.
Dear Sir,
My father served on the HMS Devonshire (1939-45) as a first class stoker. He told me many stories about the Devonshire, including this one about the transport of the Norwegian Royalty. He barely mentioned anything about the Devonshire carrying significant quantities of Gold Bullion, although he did mention something about gold bullion being on board.
I have a picture of my father on the HMS Devonshire standing beneath the 8 inch guns. My father told me other stories of the HMS Devonshire including the escort engagement by anothe battleship in the sinking of the Vichy French submarine the ” Surcoffe”. My father had many stories about his Her Majesty Royal Navy service during WWII.
Hi!
My great grandfather was a part of this transport . His name was John Johnsen and were stationed at Jørstadmoen (military camp south in Norway) when he 18.April was commanded out to guard the gold.
There is right now a book in stores written by Robert Pearson which is a good description of this rather spectacular journey they were a part of.
Please contact me if I can be of any help.
Cheers!
John
The story is laid out in full in Alfred Draper’s book “Operation Fish” published
by Corgi in paperback in 1979. It tells the full story of how the gold from various countries was moved out of Europe and the UK to Canada and the USA ahead of the invading Nazi invaders.
Other interesting details can also be found in “Secrets and Stories of the War”
Readers Digest 1963, Vol 1, page 130, in an article entitled “How Britain’s Wealth Went West” by Leland Stowe an American journalist. The gold bullion was the lifeblood that fed the ‘cash and carry’ purchase of arms from America.
My brother John was a boy seaman on HMS Glasgow. He has told me the story and the daring rescue.
He now lives in Australia near his son also named John. Formerly living in Brisbane, area of Hamilton, he now lives in a residential home in Tweed Heads on the border with New South Wales.
John has three times been invited back to Norway courtesy of the Norwegian Government. Their story has been related with photographs in Navy News.
peter
AN ANALYSIS OF THE NORWEGIAN RESISTANCE
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
…Ch 3
System Analysis of Norway and Germany
Care had to be taken of the gold of the Bank of Norway, the reserves so
vitally important to the future of the Kingdom of Norway. Loaded on
trucks, drawn on sledges where the condition of the road was bad,
unguarded but protected by the instincts of a whole nation, the gold came
all the way through the Gudbransdal and across to the fjords. How it was
taken out of Oslo, how all those many tons of bullion worth more than a
hundred million dollars, were carried along with the Army, in front of the
Army, is a fantastic modern romance.
—Mr. Carl J. Hambro
President of the Norwegian Storting, 1940
Pimpernel Gold…. >>
The chapter follows….
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA394028
Also found these links –
Norwegian Gold Bullion Snatch
http://royalnavymemories.co.uk/norwegian-gold-bullion-snatch/
*
Flight of the Norwegian National Treasury
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_the_Norwegian_National_Treasury
*
M/S BOMMA
The Transport of Norway’s Gold
http://www.mlms.logan.k12.ut.us/~ckircalli/snow%20treasure/Bomma.htm
*
The world’s biggest coin deal
http://www.dokpro.uio.no/umk_eng/blanding/gullbehold.html
*
The gold transport
http://www.monthuset.com/English/always-looking.html
*
Hitler’s gold: the story of the Nazi war loot – Google Books Result
Arthur Lee Smith – 1996 – Business & Economics – 256 pages
Much of the credit for rescuing Norwegian gold went to Oscar Torp. minister of finance. He personally supervised the transport of the gold from Oslo to the …
books.google.com/books?isbn=1859739210…
*
Precious Gold Cargo Escapes
http://www.annassecretlegacynovel.com/gold_escape.html
*
Invasion of Denmark and Norway
World War II Database
9 Apr 1940 – 10 Jun 1940
ww2db.com › Events › The European War
*
Nini Haslund Gleditsch – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nini Haslund Gleditsch (22 June 1908 – 25 July 1996) was a Norwegian … Nini followed the transport of four truckloads of gold by ships from Molde to …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nini_Haslund_Gleditsch
*
FAQ – Gold reserves – Norges Bank
Apr 4, 2011 … If you visit Statistics Norway’s website, you will find the price of gold under “Spot prices metals”. Gold transport in 1940: How large were …
http://www.norges-bank.no/en/faq/gold/
hi,yesterday i spoke with a fella who was on the devonshire as a signaller!-he also had a friend on hms hood & once visited the ship-cannot be many men alive to say that.i am interested in all ww2 matters & remembered that devonshire was “involved” in the norway debacle-my grandfather was in the first battalion irish guards who were in norway i believe.i stood at my fence for 2 hours whilst this 89 year old man regailed lots of stories.now i have read this site i will ask more detail about his experience of the norway business-he has an incredible memory & stamina!! i prefer not to give his name without his permission. he mentioned a probable mix up of “feint” signals regarding “pb”(pocket battleship) & another translation.hope to speak to him soon.
Hi Bob,
Hope you’re still checking these comments from time to time.
Both my father and my maternal grandfather were serving aboard Devonshire at this time.My father had joined as a Boy sailor in 1938 and Devonshire was his first ship. My grandfather had served as a regular before, during and after WW1 and, as a reservist, was called back to the service in 1939 when war appeared imminent.
I recall both of them speaking of this episode, neither knew what the ship was carrying (other than the King) but they recalled that two Marines were constantly present at the locked door of one of the forward chain lockers. The Marines were not ostensibly ‘standing guard’, they often were just chatting or playing cards, but, significantly, both wore side arms.
Neither my father or grandfather, both gone many years now, of course, ever knew what was in the locker but their presumption was that it was either bullion, the Norwegian crown jewels or perhaps both.
Sorry I can’t give you anything more definite but I hope it adds a little colour to some small part of the jigsaw.
Hi James, many thanks for the comments – much appreciated. Rob Guyatt gave me the nod, so thanks to him as well. My book, ‘Redd Gullet’ – aka ‘Save the Gold’ (Norwegian text only, unfortunately, but I am working on an English edition) was published in 2010, but i am always interested in new info coming forward.
It is believed that Devonshire was carrying cash – a large amount and possibly government/royalty papers/jewells. We know a Norwegian lady boarded the good ship just as she was about to depart. That lady has never been fully identified. She landed close to the cruiser via a Norwegian seaplane, taken off and then embarked Devonshire. The time is given in Devonshire’s log, but I cannot recall the exact time at the moment. Earlier, she had been taken off a Hurtigruten ferry along with a large suitcase. This lady was obviously important, but all attempts to identify her have drawn a blank, although some think she was the ‘mistress’ of a senior government official (nothing changes!)
To say I was pleased when I saw your posting was an understatement as it confirms that something of interest was aboard, but I don’t think it was gold the marines were guarding as there would have been a stricter prescence, but Norwegian cash/important papers etc., would have seem less worthy of a strict guard, but accompanied by sidearms of course just to put off the ‘enterprising’ types, i could be wrong of course.
There is no mentioning of removal of valuables in the log, but later in London a suitcase appears with cash and papers. The code name for this was ‘light luggage’ whilst the gold was understandably called ‘heavy luggage’. I think it’s fair to say that not a lot of effort went in to those code names!
A bigger mystery is that HMS Enterprise sailed to UK with the last cargo of gold – Devonshire was just behind her, but although badly beaten up due to ops, weather and near misses, she made for Plymouth rather than a Scottish port – which would seem logical considering her state and what she was carrying – she was also unescorted and sailed down the west coast of the UK.
Thanks again, James – as you say another part of the jig-saw slots together.
Hi Bob
Give us a bell-I have a side story for you with regard to Devonshire-my great Uncle Cecil I was informed allowed numerous Poles to be taken on board and down into the bilges who had walked across Europe to get away from the Germans-Verification of this would also be interesting as after being Minister to Norway he was made Polish Minister in Exile to the Poles