Neilston War Memorial Association seeks £1,500 to replace damaged trees at Kingston Park, honoring WWII heroes.
A group then transported them to Scotland. A convoy went through the Arctic from Russia. They went to Neilston.
The people of Neilston honored them. They planted 27 trees in Kingston Park. The park was once a refugee camp where Norwegians lived during World War II.
The trees also remember American sailors who gave their lives to save Norwegians. Twenty-seven sailors died saving nineteen refugees.
Now, some trees need help. The Neilston War Memorial Association wants funds, desiring £1,500 to replace five damaged trees and tidy the area.
Matt Drennan spoke about the trees’ trouble. Vandalism has damaged and replaced them before. At least five trees now require replacement, and the surrounding area needs tidying.
During their risky trip, trouble struck the ship. “SS Henry Bacon” had steering problems caused by a winter storm. Nineteen Norwegians were aboard, hoping to reach Scotland.
The “SS Bacon” lagged behind the convoy, struggling to reach safety in the UK. It carried those nineteen Norwegian refugees.
German planes spotted it, and the Luftwaffe attacked the ship. On February 23, 1945 it sank after a torpedo hit it. This was the last Allied ship lost to the Luftwaffe in the war.
The American sailors acted selflessly, following maritime traditions. They put the Norwegians in a lifeboat that was fully operational and sent out distress signals for assistance.
The Navy sent ships, and rescuers saved Norwegians from the lifeboat. American sailors were also pulled from the Arctic Sea.
Sadly, twenty-seven Americans perished that day. The nineteen Norwegian survivors went to Neilston, where the Kingston camp offered them safety and shelter during the war.