Historic Norwegian Ship to Visit the Tyne — A Personal Journey Home for One Local Family
As part of the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II, the historic Norwegian vessel S/S Hestmanden will sail into the River Tyne on 31st May, offering the public a rare opportunity to step aboard one of the last surviving ships from the wartime convoys that helped secure Allied victory. But for one local man, the ship’s visit marks something much deeper: a poignant connection to a grandfather he never got to meet.
Chris Flanighan from Wallsend has spent years uncovering the legacy of his grandfather, Karluf Thorsen, a Norwegian war sailor who fled occupied Norway in his late teens and served throughout the war in the merchant navy. “He left Norway around the age of 17 or 18 and didn’t return home until he was 22,” Chris said. “Germany had occupied Norway, and he was part of the convoys supplying the Allied effort from Britain — this ship symbolises the life he lived, and the risks he took.”
Karluf Thorsen’s story resurfaced in recent years through a twist of fate — and a Facebook post. “A medal had gone missing, one that my grandfather should have received,” Chris explains. “With the help of a contact in Norway, we eventually found out he was entitled to not just one, but three medals — the Convoy Cup, the Gunners Medal, and finally, King Harald’s Freedom Medal, which had been missing for over 40 years.”
The presentation of the medals, including a ceremony at the Trafalgar Memorial in London, has rekindled a deep sense of pride and connection for Chris and his family. The arrival of S/S Hestmanden on the Tyne now completes that emotional journey. “When I heard the ship was coming to Newcastle — the last stop on her UK tour — I was over the moon. It’s not just a ship visit. For me and my family, it’s like she’s coming home.”
In a touching tribute to his grandfather’s legacy, Chris has been invited to join the Maritime Volunteer Service on one of their vessels to help escort the S/S Hestmanden upriver from North Shields to Newcastle — a symbolic welcome for a ship that represents so much personal and shared history.
S/S Hestmanden is a national treasure in Norway and the last surviving ship of the Nortraship fleet — Norway’s largest contribution to the Allied war effort. Today, she serves as a floating war sailors’ museum, preserving the legacy of thousands of Norwegian men and women who kept the supply lines open through some of the most perilous voyages of the war.
While docked on the Tyne, the ship will be open to the public from Sunday 1st June to Wednesday 4th June, times to be confirmed. Visitors can explore exhibitions inside the ship’s hull and witness the working 114-year-old steam engine.
A full programme of commemorative events will accompany the visit, including:
Ceremonial escort upriver of small boats to Newcastle organised by the Maritime Volunteer Service, – vessel owners can contact Keith Newman keith@highlightspr.co.uk for details.
Special service at Trinity House Chapel on Sunday 1st June at 1:00 pm
Wreath-laying at the Norwegian war graves in Jesmond on Tuesday 3rd June at 1:00 pm
Captain Stephen C. Healy of Trinity House, Newcastle, expressed pride in hosting the vessel: “This historic visit reaffirms the deep maritime bonds between Norway and the North East of England. It is a tremendous privilege to help honour the legacy of the War Sailors.”
The S/S Hestmanden team is inviting local schools, veterans’ groups, cadets, museums, and the wider public to engage in this special event — a shared moment of remembrance and reflection.
For more information or to arrange a group visit, please contact Trinity House:
📧 enquiries@trinityhousenewcastle.org.uk
📞 0191 232 8226