entry reflections 283: reflections from the Seamen's Memorial Hall

5 days ago

August 1, 2026 marked 100 years since the opening of the Seamen's Memorial Hall overlooking the sea here in Stavern.

"The Seamen’s Memorial Hall is Norway’s official memorial in commemoration of the seafarers who perished during the First and the Second World War. In the crypt of the memorial, 8000 names of Norwegian and foreign deceased seafarers are engraved into copper plates." source https://minnehallen.no/

names of the deceased on norwegian ships sunk during the first world war

the name of the deceased, their position or rank, where they were stationed, date and place of birth, the ship they were on, where they died, date of death and cause of death

the shiny copper plates reflected their surroundings

in the center of the crypt there is a norwegian flag draped over a coffin for those who were never given a proper burial. nearby stands a statue of a wave in the form of a hand pulling down a victim of the wars succumbing to the depths

when standing in the right position the copper plates reflect the coffin and the statue