大象传媒

My father, Norwegian Gunnar Gaasland, was against war and fighting. But, the second world war gradually made him change his mind. After having escaped from Norway in June 1940, he first went to Sweden for six weeks, thereafter flew to England where he stayed for a month, before moving on to Canada. In 1942 he travelled by convoy to England (Liverpool?). He than joined the Norwegian army on 23th January in 1942, and was discharged in August 1945.

I remember him sitting with the Scottish map, talking about all the places he had been stationed. Unfortunately, I didn't take much interest in these days, - which I regret now!

The Norwegian army never got into active service, and have at least in Norway been called "the forgotten army".

He was stationed up north, including Brora, but later came to Callander. They stayed at the Palace hotel, where my dad's grade was Corporal in "Bergkompaniet".
The Norwegians were populare people in Callander. Sometimes they used to go dancing at the Dreadnougt Hotel, where the Norwegian Leif Flisnes was leader of the Norwegian army band. After the war Leif Flisnes and his Ballroom Ensamble had a very populare radio programme for many years here in Norway.

The Dreadnought Hotel is also where my dad met my mum, Fay McKiggan. At the end of the war, 16th May 1945, they got married in Callander, and had their wedding reception at the Bridge End hotel.

Due to my dad not finding suitable work in Scotland, my parents set up home in Norway.

So, as a consequence of the war, my brother Jon Campbell Gaasland and I were born. No doubt, we are not the only half Norwegian / half Callander people about, though I've never known any others, inspite of both my brother and I having visited Callander frequently all our lives.

I would love to hear from others who know more about this period!

Catherine Campbell Gaasland

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