Maintenance project completed in Norway

Our UKNA works team – the team responsible for our sites in the UK and across much of northern Europe – has recently completed an extensive project to maintain Commonwealth burials in two civil cemeteries in Norway. 

Recent surveys of the sites showed that historical repairs in the cemeteries had failed, and structural movement had damaged the stone. The initial stages of the project were carried out in 2023 with a detailed review of both sites before templates were created and sent to the quarry to secure the necessary materials to restore the stonework. 

Once the Portland stone had been delivered to Norway, a team of stonemasons and operational staff travelled to Norway to begin the work. Travelling by ferry, with our Commission vans, the team were able to take all the equipment needed to complete the work. 

Across the three-week trip, the team completed the entire replacement of the paving course on the cross of sacrifice at Kvam and the entire replacement of the ashlar course at Nord-Sel. This, along with a complete repointing of both crosses, stone inserts, re-bronzing, and steam cleaning both sites.

Along with the works at Nord-Sel and Kvam, the team also took the opportunity to survey sites in Trondheim, Fredrikstad and Oslo, with templates taken for replacement stones required and other works identified for works to be planned over the coming years.

Nord-Sel Cemetery 

During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. 

Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. 

There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. Nord-Sel Churchyard contains 31 Commonwealth burials, one of them unidentified.
 
Nearly all are of the 1st Battalion, Green Howards, who were killed during the Battle of Otta on 28 April 1940 during the Allied withdrawal through the Gudbrandsdal.

Kvam Churchyard

Kvam was the scene of bitter fighting by troops of the 15th Infantry Brigade during the withdrawal of Allied forces in central Norway in April 1940. 

The 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment held positions in this area from 24-28 April against fierce enemy land and air attacks and those who were killed in action during the last week of April are buried in a collective grave in Kvam Churchyard.

Kvam Churchyard contains 54 Commonwealth burials. An investigation undertaken by Commission staff in 1999 resulted in the identification of the 15 servicemen originally buried here as unidentified.