Geir Eikenes and a Committee representative, to be announced, lay a wreath at the memorial to those who fell in the Battle of Alvøen.
At 08:15 on 17 May 2027, a wreath is laid at the memorial to those who fell in the Battle of Alvøen. Geir Eikenes and a representative of the 17 May Committee (name to be announced) lay the wreath at the monument on the east side of Korskirken.
The Battle of Alvøen — 16 May 1808
During the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark–Norway was at war with Great Britain. After the British attack on Copenhagen and seizure of the fleet in 1807, small gunboats became important in defending the Norwegian coast. The British blockade also made food supplies to Norway more difficult.
When the frigate HMS Tartar approached Bergen, five Norwegian gunboats went out to meet it. The battle took place at Alvøen on 16 May 1808. The small, oared vessels could use the narrow waters to their advantage against the larger sailing ship. Tartar withdrew and Bergen escaped the attack. Five men on the Norwegian side lost their lives and were buried at Korskirken.
The memorial at Korskirken
The memorial stone was unveiled on 16 May 1893, 85 years after the battle. It stands at the burial place of the five fallen men: Jens Hansen, Torbjørn Knudsen, Guttorm Haugland, Johan Beum and Lars Andersen. Their names are carved into the stone.
The monument is made of pale granite, is approximately four metres high and stands on a natural stone base. Six posts shaped like cannon barrels, joined by chains, surround it. The wreath laying highlights the city’s history and the people who lost their lives defending Bergen.
Getting there
The ceremony takes place at the memorial on the east side of Korskirken, beside Nedre Korskirkeallmenningen. Be considerate of others and keep passages clear.
Historical sources: Store norske leksikon — the Battle of Alvøen, Kringom — the memorial’s history and Bergen city encyclopaedia — Korskirken.