Issue 9, March 3, 2004:

New Film Explores the
Heroes of the North

When Nazis invaded a small Norwegian community its people fled – and Nancy Kelly ended up in Seattle. Now the survivors touching story is told in an acclaimed film.

By SIRI ELISE DYBDAL

Nancy Kelly’s philosophy in life is simple: You can achieve anything if you are determined enough. And she should know. Kelly, 78, is a survivor of a remarkable British naval rescue mission and the star of a documentary – Through Hell and High Water.

The film was shown at the commemoration of the sinking of the U.S. Liberty ship, SS Henry Bacon, in Washington D.C. in February, which is also featured in the film.
On February 23, 1945 the famous photograph of American soldiers raising the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima was taken. On the very same day, the crew of Henry Bacon performed another act of heroism, valor and self-sacrifice – they put the lives of 19 Norwegian refugees above their own, losing many crewmembers, including the ship’s captain.

Love, Drama and Hope
Elly Taylor, the Scottish director of Through Hell and High Water, said it is a film filled with love, drama and hope in the face of despair. It details some of the most remarkable, but unknown stories of the Second World War.

In 1944 the Norwegian town of Hammerfest was one of the only peaceful places left in Europe. Situated in the remote north of the country, its residents were convinced that it was just a matter of time before the Russians arrived to liberate them from the country’s five-year Nazi occupation. Then the unthinkable happened: German soldiers entered the town and burned houses, businesses and schools. Families could only stand by and watch as homes were razed to the ground.

More than 1,000 of the town’s citizens fled to the nearby island of Sørøya, including Kelly, where they hid in caves and struggled to survive four months of an Arctic winter in sub-zero temperatures.

When an Allied convoy of ships finally rescued the group, many in poor health and suffering from frostbite, they endured a perilous journey across the Arctic Sea before finding sanctuary in Scotland. Many stayed and some even found love on the journey across.

Another Aspect of WWII
The film detailing the amazing story has already been shown to great acclaim in film festivals around Europe, as well as on BBC, NRK and the History Channel. But the story would probably never have come to light if it had not been for the determination of its director.

"It took a year to get funding," said Elly Taylor. "Nobody wanted to make another documentary from World War II. They liked the story, but said there was no slot. But I felt this film would show another aspect of the war."

Taylor finally managed to secure funding and joined forces with her German co-producer, Carl-Ludwig Rettinger.
Taylor was fascinated by the story of the brave sailors who took part in the Atlantic convoys, often called suicide runs, to rescue the Norwegians.

When a colleague, who had spent time in the north of Norway told her about Norwegian Nancy and Scottish seaman Archie, who married after meeting on the convoy and later emigrated to Seattle, Taylor said it became the most obvious way of telling the story.

"Nancy and Archie would never have met if it had not been for the daring and unprecedented rescue by the navy soldiers. Their story highlights undeniable courage in the face of adversity and the determination of the human spirit," she said.

Horrendous Experience
"Those who participated in Through Hell and High Water gave their best to me – they searched their souls and came out with the truth, and that always shines through in a film."
For some, it was the first time they had ever spoken about their ordeal.

"One of the American soldiers who took part in the convoy had not spoken about this for 50 years. I was the first person he confided in," Taylor said.

"He said it was such a horrendous experience that he had put it to the back of his mind. I think with all of us, if we experience something like this, we would try to forget. But when you reach a certain point in your life, there comes a time when you actually want to tell your story."

Nancy agreed that it was a tough decision to participate in the film. She and Archie now live in Seattle, and have a daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
It was for the sake of her family that she finally decided to take part.

"I had to consider whether I really wanted to go through these memories. But then, I thought it would be a great way for the family to learn about their history, both in Norway and Scotland," she said.

After the war ended Nancy and Archie lived in Scotland for six years, but a difficult job market forced them to move to Seattle.

Safe Haven
In the film, Nancy travels back to Sørøya, and climbs up to the cave, which was really more of a crack in the ground. She still remembered what it was like living there for four months.

"It was of course very cold when we were hiding in the cave, as we were there over the winter months. But, I think we acclimatized in the end. I never once had a cold when we were living there, but once I got to Scotland I got one, probably from the different climate," she said.

And surprisingly, Nancy said it was an advantage that they were there during the winter season.

"It was very good because it was dark most of the day and very quiet," she said.

The cave provided a safe haven for seven people including best friend Gunvor Bay, her family, Nancy and her sister and brother.

"The men provided the food. It was mostly fish, which they dried and salted. We also had an old radio to keep us informed," Nancy recalled.

And she has never forgotten the Christmas she spent there. "We actually had a Christmas tree. We cut the top of a Norwegian birch and decorated it with little baskets made of silver paper from tobacco packets. It was the most beautiful Christmas tree I have ever seen," she said.

Taken to Russia
On the 15th of February 1945, four British destroyers reached Sørøya with the objective of saving as many Norwegians as possible. The refugees were taken to Murmansk, Russia and then transferred onto American Liberty ships heading to Scotland.

The trip started well, but then disaster struck – the boat was torpedoed.

"I was sleeping in the captain’s office, because I was acting as an interpreter for the other Norwegians, when I awoke from a big bang," said Gunvor Bay, Nancy’s best friend from back then.

She was thrown across the floor, but managed to get up and run across to the women’s room. There were several small children and elderly onboard, but everyone made it into lifeboats.

Nancy and Gunvor remember sitting in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, watching the convoy of more than 100 ships pass by. Nancy recalled: "The convoy couldn’t stop for fear of more German submarine attacks, and I thought to myself, ‘Is this the way I’m going to die?’"

But two British destroyers returned and the women were rescued by HMS Onslaught.

Onboard, Nancy noticed a young marine by the name of Archie Kelly from Greenock, Scotland, and it was not long before romance blossomed.

"It was really great. We had the same understanding and similar upbringing. He was very kind and considerate – he still is. And of course my mother and father liked him, which was very important," Nancy chuckled. The couple married in Scotland in late September 1945.

23 American Soldiers Died
But not everyone was so lucky. The film also features some of the dramatic story of the SS Henry Bacon, which was the last Liberty ship sunk by the German Luftwaffe on the Murmansk Run.

The ship fought valiantly against superior forces, and downed more German planes than any other Liberty ship. But after picking up Norwegian refugees in Murmansk and heading to Great Britain, a torpedo hit, which would prove to be devastating. All but one of the lifeboats were destroyed.
The ship’s captain, Alfred Carini, decided to give the Norwegian refugees priority when it came to filling the life boat. Because of his decision, all of the refugees survived, while 23 American soldiers perished. When the ship went down, the proud captain and chief engineer stood at the helm.

Spud Campbell, the ship’s telegraphist, was sent to the lifeboat by Captain Carini so that he could transmit an SOS for the survivors to be found. "After three hours a British destroyer picked us up," Campbell remembered. "I guess we were lucky," he added.

Jon Åge Øslebø, counselor for press and culture at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington D.C. is very glad he had the opportunity to show the film.

"We invited survivors from the SS Henry Bacon, the stars of Through Hell and High Water – Nancy and Archie Kelly – as well as representatives from the Pentagon, Congress, and Norwegian friendship associations. This film expresses our gratitude to the American people, but also symbolizes that we stand together with the U.S. on security policies. The U.S. remains Norway’s biggest single standing ally," he added.

Screenings of the film are currently planned for various U.S. cities.

Previous Stories:

• Issue 8, February 25, 2004
Kofi Annan Greets
Norwegian Artists

• Issue 7, February 18, 2004
Bølgen & Moi Open
Restaurant in Hudson

• Issue 6, February 11, 2004
Norwegian Diva With
Broadway Dreams

• Issue 5, February 4, 2004
Norway's New Princess Named

• Issue 4, January 28, 2004
Helga's Historic Walk
Across America

• Issue 3, January 21, 2004
Arne Næss Jr. Dies
Climbing in South Africa

• Issue 2, January 14, 2004
Norway's Kurt Ready
To Conquer the World

• Issue 1, January 7, 2004
Dragsten Honors Sons of
Norway's Founding Fathers

• Main Stories 2003