SPAIN/ALBIR:WALKING WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN ALONG THE BEACH

Walking along the beach of Albir is a nice experience. But do not look up all the time. If you take a look on the pavement  you will see some decorations where names are written. I did not know any of the names written but what a surprise to find out who the persons are! Spanish actors and actresses who are all famous for the work they have done. One of the persons is from Panama, Miguel Bose: I did not have time to make a list of all the names but here you have a few of them: Charo Lopez, Andres Pajares, Fernando Guillen, Miguel Bose, Maribel Verdu, Fernando Colomo, Marisa Paredes, Eusebio Poncela and Carlos Saura.

Some information about the persons written in the pavement in Albir.
Miguel Bose is a singer and actor from Panama. Born 1936, Carlos Saura is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and photographer. Born 1932.Charo Lopez is a Spanish actress.Born 1943., Maribel Verdu is a Spanish actress. Born 1970.( Known to English-speaking audiences for playing in the film: Y to mama tambien), Marisa Paredes is a Spanish actress. Born 1946., Fernando Colomo is a Spanish film producer, screenwriter and film director.Born 1946., Andres Pajars is a Spanish actor, director, writer and comedian who has worked for both theater, film and television. Born 1940., Fernando Guillen was a Spanish actor. Born 1932 and died 2013(Age 80).

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES

SPAIN: CARTAGENA. HISTORY ON THE WALL

Miguel de Cervantes

The city of Cartagena is worth a visit if you appreciate seaside cities, old building and historical sites. Walking close to the harbour, I was surprised to find Spanish history on the wall on one of the old buildings.The famous Spanish writer was the subject for my attention. It was not easy to find the sign on the wall, but I do wall searching for historical information when I am holiday in foreign cities. I do recall the study of his famous book, Don Quixote, during my years as a student at the Norwegian Library School in late sixties in Oslo. He is regarded as one of the greatest writer  in Spanish language. At the Norwegian Library school the book was studied by making use of a Norwegian translation. Miguel de Cervantes was assumed born in 1547 and died in 1616. His major work, Don Quixote, is considered to be the first modern  European novel. The writer did not work as a writer all his life. He was a professional soldier, a purchasting agent for the Spanish Armanda, a tax collector for the government, working for the banking industry, and  he tried to get a job as an accountant for the  port of Cartagena too. He was unable to support himself through his writings. The Count of Lemos, Pedro Fernandez de Castro y Andrade , supported him economically. Miguel de Cervantes settled in Madrid where he lived and worked until his death.
The sculpture of the writer reading books is my favorite schulpture. I have searched for the schulpture for years without any result. Call me if you find one!

M/S TARONGA

M/S  TARONGA: THE NORWEGIAN SHIP WHO DID NOT WANT TO DIE

A personal quarrel took place between a lady and sailor about the ship, M/S Taronga. The issue was the decision made in 1940 about what to do with the ship. The Norwegian government had forwarded a message to all Norwegian ships not to go to Norwegian harbours due to the political situation in Norway in April  1940. Germany had invaded Norway.

The lady who brought up the problem many years after the event in 1940, was very irritated. Both she and the sailor had been on board the ship in 1940. She is accusing him for his negative attitute not to make a mutiny to avoid a takeover  of the ship by the Germans. The sea captain had decided not to go to a foreign harbour but to seak port of refuge in the city of Larvik.

Mutiny on a Norwegian ship in 1940 would have been a sensation. The newspapers would print the story worldwide to inform that not all in Norway had lost the fighting spirit. Above all:  The mutiny might be an inspiration to the Norwegian people  telling all to reject the official statement made by the Norwegian traitor Vidkun Quisling to sail to  Norwegain harbours

The captain had made his decision to ask for port of refuge in the seaside city Larvik.No mutiny took place . The lady had no say in 1940. She was a passenger only.  But she never forgot the ship, the event, the final decision made.

FACTS ABOUT THE SHIP

M/S Taronga was launched on January 20, 1934 by Odense Staalskibsvaerft, Odense, Denmark. Service speed 16.25 knots. The owner of the ship was the Norwegian company ,Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Tønsberg, Norway. The ship was sailing along the coast of Norway after a tour in South Africa.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SHIP DURING WWII?

The ship was seized by the Germans on August 15, 1940 and transferred to the Kriegsmarine in February 1942. The new name of the ship was: ” Sperrbrecher 15 ”.

 Sperrbrecher  means  ” minefield breaker”. The task of the ship was to serve as a type of minesweeper by sailing ahead of other vessels through minefields  intending to detonate any mines in the path.

The ship was heavily damaged by air attack and towed to Hamburg, Germany. She was also used as a target ship in 1943. In May 1945 the ship was recovered but was completely burnt out from the air attack. M/S Taronga was repaired and she reenterd service in August 1948.

In October 1961 the ship was sold to the Sangyo Shinko K.K for scrapping.

The sailor who did not want to take part  in a mutiny in 1940 had entered the ship on May 13, 1939 and he left the ship on August 1, 1940 accompanied by a furious  and rebellious lady.

The sailor reentered the doomed ship on October 23, 1957 and he left the  ship on November 5, 1958.

The First Mate of the ship in 1940 was my father. The rebellious lady was my mother. The quarrel between them  dating  the event of  1940 went on for many years.

Question. Who was the captain on M/S Taronga in 1940? In 1954 a list of Sea Captains was published:

Norges Skipsførere. Annen Utgave. 1935 – 1953. Paul T. Dreyers Forlag- Stavanger. 487 pages.

I have read the story of all the captains listed. I seached for information about M/S Taronga. No name of the wanted man. Names of some of the sailors who had sailed the ship: Able seaman, Ole Martin Kjørholt( 1936 -1937), Mate Rolf Birger Hagelund, Mate Alv Mangor Jørgensen, Mate Oddmund Arnljot Berge, Mate Rolf Endresen and Mate Hans Pedersen.

But who was the Captain who let the Germans takeover the ship in 1940?

NEW INFORMATION 2023

New information about the Captain of Taronga that was found in " Halden Mønstringkontor " in March 30, 2023. The name of the Captain was Harald Mariunius Andresen. He was born in the City of Halden on March 18, 1892. Captain of Taronga from May 28, 1935 to August 16, 1940. The ship was taken by the Germans on August 15,1940. The crew including the Captain and the First Mate left the ship.