Martin Linge

Martin Jensen Linge (11 December 1894 – 27 December 1941) was a former Norwegian actor who, in World War II, became the commander of the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1) (pronounced as Norisen by the Norwegians), formed in March 1941 for operations on behalf of the Special Operations Executive.

Biography
Martin Linge was born in Norddal, Møre og Romsdal County, Norway. In 1915 he graduated as a non-commissioned officer from the military school in Trondheim. He subsequently studied at the Trondheim Theatre (1917–1918). He debuted on the stage at the Central Theater in Oslo in 1921 and appeared in both theater and films during the 1920s and 1930s.

Martin Linge was father of Jan Herman Linge, an internationally renowned engineer and boat designer. He was also the grandfather of Norwegian novelist Espen Haavardsholm, who wrote about his grandfather in ''Martin Linge – min morfar. Familieroman med fotografier'' (Gyldendal norsk forlag. 1993).

Military career
Linge was killed during Operation Archery, a British Combined Operations raid at Måløy against German military positions on Vågsøy Island. During the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, Måløy was used as a German coastal fortress, which had led to the eradication of all settlement on the island to make room for the fortress. His body is buried at the Vestre gravlund (Western Cemetery) in Oslo.

Subsequently the unit he had led was named Kompani Linge in his honor. Linge Company was more formally as Lingekompaniet (The Linge Company) ('-et' being the definite article suffix), by Norwegians. He was awarded Norway's highest military decoration for gallantry, the War Cross with sword.

Filmography

 * 1939 - Gjest Baardsen – Fisherman
 * 1938 - Bør Børson Jr. – Nils Bækken
 * 1938 - Det drønner gjennom dalen – Policeman (Lensmannsbetjent)
 * 1935 - Samhold må til – Warden
 * 1926 - Vägarnas kung – Ola, a farm boy

Legacy
He is portrayed in a documentary by XpoMedia Ltd/FRM entitled  Martin Linge - skuespiller og legende by directors Mary Ann Myrvang and Runar Skjong which appeared on the NRK1 program "Fakta på lørdag" on May 8, 2004. He was also portrayed by Norwegian actor Petter Næss in the 2008-movie Max Manus.

Memorials

 * Statue in the Linge park in Måløy
 * Crown prince Olav unveiled a memorial stone and plaque at Linge farm in Norddal, 17 June 1946.
 * Oil Field in North sea named after him in honour. Field was previously named Hild.

Streets named in his honour

 * Kaptein Linges vei, Ålesund
 * Kaptein Linges vei, Stavanger
 * Martin Linges vei, Snarøya
 * Martin Linges vei, Oslo
 * Martin Linges vei, Strømmen
 * Martin Linges veg, Moss
 * Martin Linges veg, Heimdal

Other sources

 * Ford, Ken (2011) Operation Archery - The Commandos and the Vaagso Raid 1942   (Osprey Publishing) ISBN 978-1-84908-372-0
 * Devins, Joseph H., Jr. (1983)  The Vaagso Raid   (Bantam Books) ISBN 978-0-553-23310-0