A group of Angus history enthusiasts are using Facebook to raise the profile of a second world war canine hero.
Angus Whitson The Courier’s Man With Two Dogs and retired Montrose GP Andrew Orr, the authors of a best-selling book about Bamse, have set up a Facebook page as a resource for information and events.
St Bernard Bamse whose name is pronounced Bump-sa and means teddy bear left Norway aboard the minesweeper Thorodd with his owner, Captain Erling Hafto, and spent time in Dundee and Montrose during the war.
As a full member of the crew of the Thorodd, he served until his death in Montrose in July 1944.
He became an Allied forces mascot and a symbol of resistance to the free Norwegian forces.
Bamse guarded his ship and looked after his shipmates, saving the lives of two of them, and was later awarded the PDSA gold medal.
The dog left a massive impression on Montrose residents and, in 2006, a statue was erected at the riverfront.Children’s companionMr Whitson and Dr Orr recently sought expertise from the Angus College Montrose learning centre after suggesting a class for people new to Facebook.
Learning centre staff were happy to help and organised a one-day crash course.
The class covered how to set up a profile or a page, how to use the profile settings and, most importantly, what privacy settings are available.
With a little help from tutors, Mr Whitson and Mr Orr set up a page and can raise Bamse’s profile even further.
Dr Orr said, “We were keen to find out how we could use Facebook as an alternative to setting up a website to take the story of Sea Dog Bamse online.
“We would like to thank college staff for their help and support in arranging this tuition for us.”
Bamse arrived at Montrose and began stealing the limelight in 1940 when Norway had fallen to the Germans, and the navy, along with the royal family, were forced to leave the country and battle the Nazis from British shores.
However, he started life as the family pet of Captain Hafto, bought as a companion for his four children during the long winters in Finnmark, north-east Norway.Military burialBamse moved seamlessly from pet to sea dog to mascot.
However, by July 22, 1944, he was worn out and his heart failed while on board the Thorodd, surrounded by the crew that doted on him.
Two days later Bamse was given the burial he deserved, transported to the graveside by six Thorodd sailors in a coffin draped with the Norwegian flag his sailor’s cap centred upon it.
In Montrose 800 school children silently lined the way as all schools were closed for the day.
Local dignitaries attended with their chains of office and the crews of six Norwegian ships stood as a guard of honour.
Bamse was laid to rest with his head facing north-east towards Norway.
The people of Montrose have been tending his grave for 67 years.