Many visitors are surprised to discover that Shetland played a vital part in both the First and Second World Wars. Often viewed as remote and isolated, Shetland was in a key strategic position throughout both conflicts and the idea that Britain could be taken from the north was a very real and worrying prospect for politicians and those living within the isles – this was felt even more acutely following the fall of Norway in the spring of 1940.

Many Shetland men served in the merchant navy throughout both world wars. Shetlanders were renowned seamen, with many already working as merchant seamen prior to both wars. Losses were heavy and acutely felt as family members and neighbours often worked together on the same ship and, when a ship was lost, families often lost several sons, relatives and friends.

With most men already away at sea, war didn’t change family dynamics as much as in other areas. Shetland was a rural community, dependent on the land and the sea, and women were already well used to taking responsibility for the day-to-day running of the family crofts while the men were away at sea for prolonged periods of time. However, the war brought additional worry, heartbreak and suffering to many families and communities throughout the islands and, as this blog will illustrate, war was often brought perilously close to home.

Today, Shetland wool and the islands’ knitting industry are enjoying a renaissance as people worldwide take up their wires (needles) and engage in this age-old tradition. It’s touted as being a positive pastime for our mental health, and in a world that, by and large, is fast-paced and technologically driven, the slow and tactile pleasure of knitting can offer the perfect escape from the day-to-day. 

But this idea that knitting offers a sanctuary away from daily life is a very modern view, and doesn’t represent the everyday reality for the thousands of Shetlanders who sold or bartered knitted goods to merchants until the mid 20th century. 

The Highland clearances of the 19th century are infamous for the cruelty and inhumane treatment shown to tenant farmers, who were cast from their homes and land by their landlords, known as lairds. Blighting much of the Highlands and Islands, these callous forced evictions also reached Shetland. 

Although less prevalent than in other areas, the toll the clearances took here was no less devastating. Communities across Shetland were ripped apart by landowners who cleared the tenant farmers off the land, replacing them with sheep – an easier source of income. 

The clearances were a particularly dark period in Shetland’s history, a time of injustice, persecution and fear. Locally, we hear stories of houses being burnt to the ground, of babies being carried out in kishies (straw baskets) in the dark of a winter night and the destitute and homeless walking for miles, carrying their few possessions on their backs.

The advent of the North Sea oil industry had a great impact on Shetland. It was a pivotal point in the island’s history, accelerating Shetland into the modern, industrial era, creating a boom in the island’s economy.

North Sea oil was discovered in the 1960s and a terminal was planned for a 1,000-acre site on the northeast shores of Sullom Voe in the North Mainland. The 1970s saw a flurry of construction to make ready for the first barrels of oil coming ashore in 1978. Sullom Voe Oil Terminal was the largest oil terminal in Europe at the time, and employed 6,000 workers during construction phases.

The infrastructure required for a terminal of such magnitude was a real feat of civil engineering, unlike anything Shetland had ever seen before. It helped stem a gradual decline in population at a time when post-war jobs were hard to come by and opportunities few. With major road networks installed from north to south, new piers and jetties built at Sella Ness and Lerwick, it was a project of epic scale for a small island population.

Folklore has played a huge part in Shetland’s society and culture. These islands are a place that has inspired generations of storytellers, and that tradition of storytelling has continued, with mysterious tales being retold and passed through generations.