Anzac Day in Tønsberg

Vallø is a small neighbourhood just down the road from us. On April 25, 1945 with only 2 weeks before the cessation of hostilities in Europe, British Mosquitoes and Lancaster bombers dropped 380 tons of high explosives in order to destroy the oil storage tanks that were used to fuel the fishing fleet. This was a "just in case" raid as it was well known that there was no pressing military value in these targets at the time.

Rannveig and Auslag at the Vallø Memorial

The result was the area being laid waste, with between 10 and 80 Germans killed. The actual number is still being debated. But there were also 30 houses and 50 Norwegians killed as well, in some cases, entire families were wiped out. Our house like most others of a similiar vintage here, have some degree of bomb damage to this day. (Just for once I'd like at least one door to close properly)

There is a war memorial with a roll of honour at Vallø. The names are not of soldiers, but of the families who died during that pointless, terrrible action. April 25 means many things to Australians and Vallø is an grim reminder that the price of war is one all too many have had to pay.