Mons Klubben and Lieutenant-Commander Ian Fleming

Hello,
I am working on a history podcast on how the Trafalgar Square Norwegian Christmas tree tradition began in 1942, courtesy of Lieutenant-Commander Ian Fleming of 30 Commandos and the Norwegian, Mons Klubben/Urangsvag, who during World War 2 served in the Royal Norwegian Navy in Scotland, and possibly linked to 12 Commandos.

In December 1942, during a raid on the Norwegian coast, he went ashore on Hisoy island and fetched a fir tree to present to HM King Haakon VII then living in exile England. Later, he met with Fleming in London, and the two of them at the end of the evening spontaenously put up a second tree the Norwegian tree in Trafalgar Square.

We are very keen to find out more about the military exploits of Mons Klubben. We believe he was on a scouting mission to Hisoy either in preparation for the January 1943 raid in Operation Cartoon or the February 26 raid in Operation Gunnerside, both in Norway. But we have so far not found any concrete information on this.

We are also keen to find out if there was any personal connection between Fleming and Klubben as when Klubben came to London with the trees he was treated to a particularly good war-time meal at The Savoy Hotel.

Finally, and this is very much a long shot, we would loved to know how the two trees made it down to London from Shetland where they came back on shore.

Thank you for any help anyone can give.

Louise Byrne.