Hafnafjordur
Defending HAFNAFJORDUR was a critical part of the Iceland strategy as viable ports were clearly essential to any enemy invasion plans.
The photographs below illustrate the harbour, initially in a modern context, using photographs taken by the author.
The next group are from the collection of historian and author Fridthor Eydal, who has kindly given permission for their use. This batch were taken in November 1941 and cover the streets surrounding the busy harbour, together with an unusual military image and a candid shot of local young men.
The next group of pictures, taken in HAFNAFJORDUR Harbour were taken by the author's late father, or one of his comrades, probably in July 1941 and we are extremely grateful to the Photo Curator at the National Museum of the Royal Navy for the prompt identification of the warships concerned. The aircraft carrier is HMS Furious and the battleships are thought to be HMS Rodney and HMS Resolution. It is quite possible that Lance Corporal R B Dixon should not have taken these pictures, for reasons of security,but they lay undisturbed in a family album for almost sixty years until his death in 1998, when they were recovered by the author.
The final photograph, from Fridthor Eydal's collection, is of a Platoon of Infantry from 70th Infantry Brigade practising a defensive move. Note the World War One vintage rifles and the fixed Pattern 1907 bayonets of the rear rank, ready to run forward at the order of the Platoon Commander.
To contact the author by e-mail with any queries, or to send information - click here.
