Friends and Enemies

It was during an Easter that I took these pictures at Sjællands Odde and Sejerø Bugt.
The beaches of Sejerø Bugt are incredibly beautiful. The sea is fresh and the sky is clear. I love the sea in all seasons, but the time around Easter is remarkable.

We went to see the wonderful Odden Kirke. The church is built around the year 1300. Three English pilots from the Royal Air Force are buried here.

They crashed over Sejerø Bay in 1944, and the bells were rung despite the Germans’ protests. The English pilots were honored by the entire local population, and the priest had to disguise himself as a gravedigger because he wasn’t allowed to carry out the burial for the occupying power.

Things turned out quite differently in 1808. At that time Denmark was at war against the English.

“Prince Christian Frederik – Denmark’s only ship of the line after the loss of the fleet in 1807 – was on its way from Helsingør to Store Bælt, in order to cover the transfer of French and Spanish troops to Zealand.

Prince Christian Frederik was pursued by three British ships of the line and two frigates.

In Samsø Belt, Prince Christian Frederik became aware that the English ships could not be avoided. It was decided to take up the fight in an attempt to get back to Sundet by taking advantage of good local knowledge and under the cover of night.

The battle began after sunset. Three hours later, the scuttled Danish ship of the line took the ground at Sjællands Odde and Prince Christian Frederik struck the flag.

Prince Christian Frederik had almost 200 wounded and dead – among the last Peter Willemoes (the hero from the Battle of Rheden in 1801).

A monument to Peter Willemoes, Dahlerup and Soland and many of their men is erected at the common grave of the fallen at Odden churchyard. They fell in the Battle of Sjællands Odde in 1808 against the English.

The day is solemnly celebrated every year with a memorial service in Odden Kirke and wreath-laying at the warrior’s grave and the memorial for Peter Willemoes.” * Forsvaret.dk

Vi besøgte Sjællands Odde og Sejerøbugten i en påske for år tilbage.
Strandene er utrolig smukke, havet er friskt, og himlen er klar.
Jeg elsker havet på alle årstider, men tiden omkring påske er noget ganske særligt.

Vi besøgte Odden Kirke den påske. Her ligger tre engelske piloter fra Royal Air Force begravet. De styrtede ned over Sejerøbugten i 1944, og der blev ringet med klokkerne trods tyskernes protester. De engelske piloter blev hædret af hele lokalbefolkningen, og præsten måtte forklæde sig som graver, fordi han ikke måtte foretage jordpåkastelsen for besættelsesmagten.

I det 18. århundrede var Danmark ikke så gode venner med englænderne. På de faldnes fællesgrav på Odden Kirkegård er rejst et monument over Peter Willemoes, Dahlerup og Soland samt mange af deres mænd. De faldt i Slaget ved Sjællands Odde i 1808 mod englænderne.

“Prinds Christian Frederik – Danmarks eneste linieskib efter tabet af flåden i 1807 – var på vej fra Helsingør til Storebælt for at dække overførslen af franske og spanske tropper til Sjælland.

 Prinds Christian Frederik blev undervejs forfulgt af tre britiske linieskibe og to fregatter.

I Samsø Bælt blev Prinds Christian Frederik klar over, at man ikke kunne undvige de engelske skibe. Det blev besluttet at tage kampen op i et forsøg på at komme tilbage til Sundet ved at udnytte det gode lokalkendskab og i ly af nattemørket.
Kampen begyndte efter solnedgang. Tre timer senere tog det sønderskudte danske linieskib grunden ved Sjællands Odde og Prinds Christian Frederik strøg flaget.

Prinds Christian Frederik havde næsten 200 sårede og døde – blandt de sidste Peter Willemoes (Helten fra Slaget på Rheden i 1801).

Dagen højtideligholdes hvert år ved en mindegudstjeneste i Odden Kirke og kransenedlæggelse ved krigergraven og mindesmærket for Peter Willemoes.”  Forsvaret.dk