Gold Run: The Rescue of Norway’s Gold Bullion from the Nazis, 1940

by Pearson, Robert

  A large party of men were now put to work to strike the mountainous stacks of bullion on the Quarter Deck and below deck while Glasgow headed directly away from Norway toward England or Scotland and we the ship’s company conjectured where we were to put our guests ashore. Rosyth seemed the most likely, but it wasn’t to be, King Haakon refused to leave Norway so we headed north. The large working party continued stowing the gold below.

  We said our goodbyes to King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav. It was a sombre, never to be forgotten moment as the King and Crown Prince transferred to a small Norwegian vessel to go ashore. We hated to see them go. However, with all haste we turned round and made for Scotland.

  Pictures taken aboard HMS Glasgow of Molde

  Horace Grant RN: Boy Seaman144 Horace served in a number of ships, including HMS Victory and HMS Glorious, but was later drafted to HMS Glasgow. It was whilst he was on Glasgow that he helped ship some of Britain’s gold reserves to Canada and America in 1939 whilst escorting The King and Queen.

  Horace remembers the Norwegian Campaign clearly with Glasgow taking part in ‘Operation Henry’, but it was at Molde that Horace played a significant part in the rescue of the gold bullion. Horace’s action station was one of the 6-inch gun turrets, but with the cruiser docked his manning of the gun was inconsequential against that of loading the bullion and orders were issued to get it on board with all haste. Dressed in the standard blue denim boiler suit that he had worn for several days and nights, he got to work. Tin hats were not donned; in fact the sailors on Glasgow had not been issued with them – the Royal Marines being the only exception.

  Horace Grant RN

  All available hands were engaged in loading the bullion onto Glasgow and Horace stated that it was hard work, the boxes and barrels being heavy and awkward. Horace then had the idea of soaping the gangway with a bar of ‘Pusser’s Soap’ whereupon sliding the heavy barrels and boxes up the gangway would become a lot easier for all concerned and would reduce the risk of loss or damage. Horace’s idea was well received and put in to practice with immediate results. However, with the sudden appearance of a German bomber flying over Glasgow the remaining gold on the quayside was hastily abandoned. Horace was one of the last onboard the cruiser as she reversed back into the fjord in pitch darkness; the flaming town destroying any hope of peering into the abyss of a black fjord.

  Midshipman John Knox Laughton RN wrote a three-page entry in his diary on April 29th. He describes the crowd of people on the jetty as the Glasgow came alongside the burning quay. He also notes the arrival of the Royal Party and the officials. While the Royal party was being accommodated, some stores for the town had been already been disembarked as they had heard there was a shortage due to the German attack. However, it was clear that the town was just about ruined so the decision was made to re-embark as it seemed pointless to leave much needed supplies for the benefit of the Germans. The following is an extract from John Laughton’s diary:

  [the gold] which arrived alongside the jetty in small puffers. It required all hands to get the large numbers of small heavy boxes onboard and into the magazine; all was going well and the gold, except for one heavy load, was all on board when the drone of an aeroplane overhead warned us bombers might be in the vicinity. The ship was got underway and was just moving off from the jetty when an enemy plane swooped low overhead out of the smoke of burning Molde. A heavy barrage was fired at it and it retreated.

  John Laughton’s account was written on the evening/early morning that it all happened. The small vessels are described as alongside the jetty, although it is highly likely whilst some of the gold – the smaller boxes – were carried by hand from the tenders, the heavier kegs may have been brought alongside via a winch lashed up as a temporary crane on the starboard quarter.145

  Sir Cecil Dormer – His Majesty’s Minister in Norway, wrote a statement whilst aboard Glasgow describing the events as he saw it. Whilst Sir Cecil only makes a brief reference to the gold, his account graphically illustrates the trauma of that tragic period in Norwegian history. Sir Cecil balances his observations with the calm resolve of HMS Glasgow and her crew.146

  The only accommodation we could find near Molde was in houses belonging to the lunatic asylum, but the director, although very friendly, was nervous about having us stay there fearing that we might compromise the Red Cross flag which was prominently flying. On April 27th Molde was bombed all day. We had to spend several hours in the shelter of the improvised SNO’s (Senior Naval Officer) quarters, a few yards from the jetty and therefore an unhealthy spot. The bombing was continued the next day both there and at Åndalsnes, which was on fire and from which we could see clouds of dense smoking rising over the mountain ridge. Occasionally we could hear anti-aircraft guns at work, but the German bombers were free to come and go as they liked as the two bases were virtually undefended. Molde was not just exposed from the air, but also from the sea and the land. The bombing was continuous and carried out with horrible ease and deliberation. The weather was perfect and the bombers had no need to hurry. They came from Germany and had orders to bomb among other targets clusters of small houses in the countryside, and to machine-gun roads, both of which tasks they performed as and when they pleased.

  At 6pm on 28th April M [Minister] Koht and the Minister of Defence Ljunberg called upon me and showed me a report from General Ruge stating that orders had been sent to the British troops to evacuate the Romsdal, but that he and General Paget had telegraphed the War Office deploring on the grounds that it would enable the German forces in Trondheim to link up with those operating from Oslo. The whole of central and western Norway would thus fall into German occupation. I had already seen and heard enough to know that Molde had become untenable as a base, but I knew of no definite decision to evacuate. M Koht was very despondent and although I was unable to encourage any idea that General Ruge’s information might prove to be premature I undertook to telegraph his news to the Secretary of State. In my telegram I added that if evacuation was to be undertaken then His Majesty’s Government ought to send a ship to remove the King and government to some place of refuge, for at Molde they were trapped.

  On April 29th at 7am the SNO sent me a message that His Majesty’s Government wished me to invite King Haakon and his Government to leave by British cruiser that night either for any other Norwegian port or for England as his Majesty might later decide. I was to say nothing about the evacuation but steps were to be taken to see that the King did not fall into German hands. I was also entrusted with a message from the King [George] to His Majesty to be delivered when onboard. My instruction also said that my French colleague and I with our staffs were to accompany His Majesty. I went at once to see M Koht and asked him to inform King Haakon and the Government. M Koht was very upset and for a time I feared that the government might throw their hands in. Fortunately I had told Colonel Ljunberg that I was on my way to see him and when he came into the room I found him to be most helpful for we began to talk about details of the proposal, discussing the various ports which might be suitable to go and the number of persons who could be included in the party. While I was with them a Heinkel dropped a bomb near enough to make me hope it would reconcile the Government to the idea of departure. But it was only in the afternoon that they informed me that the King and they were willing to embark. By that time Molde was ablaze.

  It was arranged that we should all assemble at the entrance to the town at 9:30pm. On our way there a Heinkel flew over us – an unusual hour for it to appear. It dropped a bunch of incendiary bombs, which as bad luck would have it fell right on the quay where we were to embark. The town was one vast furnace. An old church near where we were to assemble caught fire. We stood with members of the Government helplessly watching its destruction, while we waited to be told how best to reach the ship. The brilliance of the flames threw the shadows into a darker relief, and it took some time to collect the party. The King and the Crown Prince had been seen to arrive by car but it was a long time be
fore we could find them. We had perforce to abandon our cars on the roadside as there was no other means of disposing them.

  HMS Glasgow was lying alongside the burning quay, the ship’s hoses turning the flames into smoke through which those embarking had to pass. After the Government and several wounded men from the base had been brought onboard, lorry loads of gold arrived at the quayside for shipment to England. But not more than 23 tons of it could be taken, as Captain Pegram was anxious to sail not later than 01:15am before it became light. About 35% of the gold had to be left behind, but it is hoped that it will all have been shipped the following night either by a Norwegian vessel or by one of HM Ships when the evacuation was to be completed.

  As the ship was about to cast off an enemy bomber appeared from behind the screen of smoke and flame but was quickly driven off, (and perhaps shot down) by the guns of HM Ships present. Not many who saw Molde that night will soon forget the dramatic and tragic sight it presented. The town was largely destroyed, yet it is said no lives were lost, most of the population of 3000 having already fled.

  Once aboard, the question to be decided was, what was to be our destination? The Government was in favour of Mosjoen, but Captain Pegram’s opinion was that it was much too close to Trondheim to afford any security from bombing and that the best place was to make for Tromsø. The King preferred Tromsø too, but was unwilling to insist; and in accordance with his Majesty’s invariable practice he was ready to leave the decision to the Government. I shared Captain Pegram’s view and undertook to persuade the Government to acquiesce. I had no little difficulty however, with M Koht who insisted that by going as far North as Tromsø the Government would be cut off from the rest of Norway and would be accused by the people of running away. He was in a very nervous state of mind. I pointed out that it was no use going to a port which would be certain to be destroyed the following day, that Tromsø was as much part of Norway as somewhere south and that the Captain had to consider the safety of his charges. If the Government preferred some other places they could go there later, but it was best to make for Tromsø first. There would be wireless facilities there, and the Government would be as much in touch with the Norwegian people by radio through England as at any more southern point. But M Koht was past listening to me and burst from the ward room where our conversation was held exclaiming: “You are killing us, you are killing us”. I quickly sought out the other members of the Government, M [Ministers] Nygaardsvold, Lie, Ljunberg and Vold. They were much more reasonable, and it was a great relief when a little later M Koht came to me and said that by a majority (of 6 to 5) the Government agreed to go to Tromsø but asked for air and gun defences against the German bombers, also the proposal that M Koht and Colonel Ljunberg should go to London in HMS Glasgow after the King and other members of the government had been landed.

  The guard ship which took the King into Tromsø was the Heimdal, the same ship that brought him and Queen Maud to Trondheim for their coronation. The altered circumstances between now and then were present to many of our minds as His Majesty was piped down the gangway. The scene was made all the poignant and affecting by the desolate nature of the region in which he was now to seek shelter and the uncertainty of what lay in store for his country. He was as dignified and gracious as ever and I think benefited by his spending three days on a British warship. We had been refugees for three weeks, and the atmosphere of strength, efficiency and quiet confidence which all seemed so natural once one was onboard HMS Glasgow, the strong personality and kindness of Captain Pegram and the hospitality which he and his officers and ratings showed us were all most inspiring and gratefully received.

  Cecil Dormer – May 1940

  Jack Hall RN served in ‘Y’ Turret as a 16½ yr old at Molde. At the time of embarkation of the bullion gossip surfaced that someone had helped themselves to a few coins although Jack Hall does not recall any of the gold being stolen by either a sailor or a Royal Marine.147

  …however, a rumour was going around of some sort. I helped to load the gold, although we had to leave some behind and leave in a hurry. I also remembered that I was one of the last to get back onboard after letting all but one wire go, the ship was already moving out.

  On May 2nd, whilst at sea and having disembarked King Haakon, Captain Pegram sent a signal to the Admiralty informing them that he had between 60 and 70% of the bullion onboard and that arrangements were now in hand to ship the remainder of the metal north in local ships. Pegram gave no indication of how long this would take. His last message, dated May 3rd reads:

  IMPORTANT

  Expect to arrive 15:15 tomorrow Saturday HMS JACKAL and HMS JAVELIN in company. Request Gate at 16:15. have on board Norwegian Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence. British Minister and 15 others who wish to travel to London without delay. Also 23 officers and 179 others…Approximately 23 tons of bullion.

  Daily Telegraph Reporter – ‘Bombers Missed Norway’s Gold.’

  The reporter and date is unknown, but possibly written in April or May 1940. Certainly it appears to have inaccuracies and therefore may well have been issued as some sort of press release from an unknown department.

  I am able today to add further dramatic details to the account given exclusively in the Daily Telegraph yesterday of the manner in which Norway’s £23,000,000 Gold Reserve was saved from the Germans, and in which King Haakon escaped to find refuge in Britain.

  The gold, most of which was brought away in the cruiser HMS Glasgow was packed in 1,500 boxes. It was saved despite the most intense bombardment throughout its journey. A full account of the operation was given to me by a man who organised the transport. He saw the whole of it. The boxes were taken from an underground cellar in a place in East Norway to begin their adventurous journey on a dark, cold night.

  Not a light shone in the streets, not a beam was seen from any window, as the lorries arrived with the loading crews.

  None of the crews knew the object of the mission. The men worked fast. The gold was driven to a waiting train and in the railway carriages checkers strained their eyes to note the figures. Now and again a bayonet would gleam for a moment.

  German parachute troops were then at large in the valley, but these were captured. Through the train windows protruded gun muzzles of the soldiers guarding Norway’s treasure. German planes flew over the valley and cut the railway line. That damage was repaired in three hours and the gold reached Åndalsnes.

  It was learned that German troops would arrive at any moment, so it was decided to move the gold and silver further north. 26 lorries were obtained and set off, spread over 2 miles to avoid making easy targets. The column was bombed and machine gunned, but managed to reach a fjord taking 6 hours carrying 3 lorries at a time, arriving Molde south west of Trondheim. There followed 5 days of intense bombardment. The town was in ruins and the quay on the fire, but we managed to get alongside and loaded the gold and silver, plus the King Haakon and Crown Prince Olaf. No room to turn around so went out stern first and went to North Norway. British troops poured in hundreds with equipment needed, with boxes stored and stowed aboard. But as the days went by the position in Åndalsnes began to worsen. The Germans had the greatest difficulty in destroying the quay and railway station.

  As Captain Pegram quickly backed Glasgow astern and away from the burning quay and town, Paymaster Commander Boutwood RN was already at work compiling a signal to be sent from one King to another. The following photographs are reproduced with the kind permission of his daughter, Miss Anne Boutwood.148

  So completes the story of HMS Glasgow and her mission with King Haakon, the Royal Norwegian Government and some 23 tons of gold bullion – well, almost. Her task was accomplished with impeccable professionalism from the officers and crew of HMS Glasgow and it is clear from the stories recounted by the veterans that King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were held in very high esteem by the sailors, but they also felt for the townspeople of Molde who had suffered dreadfully at the terrible and devastating bombing.
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br />   In 2004 the town of Molde proudly held a commemoration ceremony for the men of HMS Glasgow. The town, having risen literally from the ashes after the war like a phoenix, welcomed back the British veterans and their families. There was much regaling of stories to the enthrallment of all, plus sincere and dignified medal ceremonies and church services. Amidst the celebrations I was fortunate enough to interview some of the veterans and among their discussions, memories and personal thoughts all of those that I spoke to revealed that they felt that something of themselves had been left behind in Molde during that dramatic night of 29/30th April 1940 and that they had come back to make their peace and to meet up again with a part of their soul that had been cleaved from them that night and which is now forever a part of Molde.

  A small, but nonetheless very well appointed and dignified museum now exists at the Rica Hotel in Molde. Poignantly, the room where the memorabilia is held is called the ‘Glasgow Salon’ and provides a fitting tribute to the Britons and Norwegians who fought valiantly to save a King, a government and a nation’s wealth in gold.

  12

  D/S Driva

  April 30th

  As Glasgow slipped away into the darkness, Fredrik Haslund fought down his disappointment. He still had some 18 tons plus of gold. What he did not know was that two other Royal Navy ships, the cruiser HMS Calcutta and the sloop HMS Auckland from the 18th Cruiser Squadron had been ordered in to remove the remaining bullion via HM trawlers, which would embark the gold from quayside then transfer the bullion to the ships anchored in the fjord, but the order was issued late on May 1st – much too late to be of any help to Haslund.149