As commander of the ''Shetland Bus'' for the last three years of the Second World War, Arthur Sclater was responsible for maintaining a vital supply line and escape route to the Norwegian resistance fighters.
Under the noses of the occupying German forces this courageous group made up of Special Operations Executive agents and Norwegian trawlermen made more than 200 trips across the perilous waters of the North Sea to land agents, arms and ammunition and radio equipment as well as picking up hundreds of refugees who were in danger from the Gestapo.
Born in Sussex, Sclater spent his boyhood summers in Norway and, like his father, married a Norwegian. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Marines but because his work as a wood pulp agent was considered vital to the war effort it was a reserved occupation, denying him the opportrunity for a more active role.
He was called up in 1941 and, newly comissioned, was actually on board a train at Charing Cross station heading for Singapore when he was told to report to his headquarters and found himself summarily transferred to SOE in Shetland.
So valuable was their knowledge of Norway that Sclater's wife Alice was also recruited and followed him north. Since they both still had many relations at risk in Norway they adopted the name Rogers.
By day Sclater helped direct SOE operations from the nerve centre at Scalloway while at the same time at Flemington House in Weisdale, ''Captain Rogers'' and his wife provided a family atmosphere where agents could relax before embarking on a mission or unwinding after one.
Towards the end of 1942 Sclater took command of the Shetland Bus operations.These had begun with Norwegian fishing boats manned by Norwegian crews, but were later reinforced by motor torpedo boats (MTB). By mid-1943 the operation was transformed by the arrival of three sub-chasers provided by the US Navy. The fast and well-armed vessels could run at four times the speed of the fishing boats, cope with much rougher seas than the MTBs and, with their 40mm anti-aircraft guns, could put up a fight against attacking aircraft.
But the round trip from Shetland to the Norwegian meeting points was still a perilous affair. Attack from enemy aircraft was a constant threat. Most operations had necessarily to be conducted in the winter months when darkness gave added cover. But at such times the weather was at its most vile, with hurricane-force winds and huge icy seas.
As well as their regular operations, the Shetland team was also involved in an attempt to cripple the battleship Tirpitz as she lay at anchor off the Trondheim Fjord. They had successfully towed two chariots (manned torpedoes) across the North Sea by trawler and had reached within 10 miles of their target, only to lose the chariots during a sudden squall.
After the war he resumed his work as a wood pulp agent, but soon afterwards returned to Sussex to restore the family's Newick estate.
He is survived by his wife Alice, and by two sons.
Arthur Sclater, commander of the SOE Shetland Bus; born November 11, 1909, died
June 7, 2002.
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