British occupation of the Faroe Islands

[1] In April 1940, the United Kingdom occupied the strategically important Faroe Islands (part of Denmark) to forestall a German invasion.

Following the invasion and occupation of Denmark on 9 April 1940, British forces launched Operation Valentine to occupy the Faroe Islands.

On 11 April, Winston Churchill – then First Lord of the Admiralty – announced to the House of Commons that the Faroe Islands would be occupied, We are also at this moment occupying the Faroe Islands, which belong to Denmark and which are a strategic point of high importance, and whose people showed every disposition to receive us with warm regard.

We shall shield the Faroe Islands from all the severities of war and establish ourselves there conveniently by sea and air until the moment comes when they will be handed back to Denmark liberated from the foul thraldom into which they have been plunged by German aggression.

[2]On the same day HMS Suffolk embarked Faroes Force, consisting of 13 officers and 180 men of the Royal Marines under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel T. B. W. Sandall, at Scapa Flow.

Colonel T. B. W. Sandall (the British military commander) and Frederick Mason (the new British consul to the Faroe Islands) then met with the Danish prefect, Carl Aage Hilbert, who responded with what Sandall took to be a formal protest, although he maintained that owing to the occupation of Denmark he was unable formally to represent the Danish government.

The author Eric Linklater was part of the British garrison and his 1956 novel The Dark of Summer was set in the Faroe Islands during the war years.

[citation needed] A plaque was erected by British veterans in Tórshavn Cathedral expressing thanks for the kindness shown to them by the Faroese people during their presence.

Drifting sea mines proved to be a considerable problem and resulted in the loss of numerous fishing boats and their crews.

Following the liberation of Denmark and the end of the Second World War in Europe, the occupation was terminated in May 1945 and the last British soldiers left in September.

A continuing reminder is the Faroese love of fish and chips and British chocolate such as Dairy Milk (which is readily available in shops throughout the islands but not in Denmark).

Faroese fishing vessels harvested the sea near Iceland and around the Faroe Islands and transported their catch to the UK for sale.

After Germany occupied Denmark, the British Admiralty no longer allowed Faroese vessels to fly the Danish flag.