18/05/2026
This International Museum Day we have an international story to share; that of Eva Chew, a remarkable woman and military pioneer.
Eva (1917 – 1995) was from Bergen in Norway and married Conrad Mohr, and a year later they had a son. When World War II broke out, Norway came under German occupation so in 1941 Conrad escaped to Sweden, then onwards to Canada, to become a fighter pilot. Eva had to hide Conrad’s disappearance from the authorities while she waited for the Resistance to help her escape too.
By moonlight, on 19th Nov 1942, Eva and her infant son were rowed across the fjord to become refugees in Sweden. Whilst waiting to travel onwards to London, she received the devastating news that Conrad had died in a plane crash.
Once in London, Eva reported to the Norwegian Joint Command. She and two others became the first women to join the Norwegian Air Force. At the age of 25, Eva was asked to set up a new women’s flying corps.
As soon as the War was over, Eva returned to Norway. She met a Scottish officer called Robert Chew, who she married and moved to Scotland with. Robert taught at Gordonstoun, the prestigious boarding school attended by members of the royal family.
This bust of Eva was created by the artist Gladys Barron, who specialised in portrait busts and regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy and Royal Scottish Academy. She was married to Evan Macleod Barron, owner and editor of The Inverness Courier. In 1944 she became the first President of the newly founded Art Society of Inverness.
The museum holds several busts by Gladys – the one of Eva can be seen on display in the first-floor foyer.
INVMG.2023.004 Donated by the family of Eva Chew, in her memory, 2022. Photos by Ewen Weatherspoon
