Battle of Akureyri

The Battle of Akureyri was a conflict in Iceland during World War Two when a group of Icelanders took up arms against the occupiying British forces. The clash was the only bloodshed in Iceland during the war with aproximately sixty people dead on both sides.
Background
In May 1940, the British invaded Iceland in what they called "Operation Fork". The plan was to occupy and re-enforce Iceland to deny the Germans the same chance..
The British, once ashore proceeded to destory all manner of Icelandic ports to deny the Germans the use of them. The Icelandic government demanded compensation, the British promised it, so little resitance was mounted.
Prelude
Akureyri was one of Iceland's largest towns and as such was bound to be a British target. It was one of the last places to be reached by British troops due to various logistical complications. The news of the invasion reached the town long before any troops did, but unlike in the rest of Iceland, a group of citizens decided to fight the invading forces. Almost overnight, a band of roughly 100 men was gathered, most armed with sticks and farm equipment, but a few had simple fierarms.
Not many troops were actually sent to Akureyri, only roughly 25 British soldiers, commanded by a Canadian sergeant were sent to the city.
When news reached Akureyri that the British and Canadians were near, the group laid traps for them, including an IED which was simple, a large gas canister which would be shot by a waiting gunman once the soldiers were close
by.
The Battle
The actual battle was short yet surprisingly bloody. Once the British and Canadians arrived, the resisting group detonated the gas canister, then charged the soldiers, hoping to win by the element of surprise. The British took many casualties very quickly, but O'Donovan quickly rallied his men and they killed, wounded, captured or routed all of the rebels, save the ones with firearms. The Icelandic gunmen pinned down the Brits, who were well below half-strength, however, O'Donovan ordered his men to give covering fire while he ran around the back of the warehouse where the fighting was taking place. He shot one of the gunmen, causing the others to surrender.
The battle lasted less than an hour, yet left 17 British soldiers dead . The British claimed that all of the rebels were either killed or captured, yet this could never be verified. There was also a claim of civilian casualites that became of mistaken identity, as the resisting group bore no distinguishing features from the rest of the Icelandic populace. The British maintained that no women or children were killed or wounded during the battle.
Aftermath
One the battle was over, the POWS rounded up and the wounds tended to, things carried on as normal. The battle was largely hushed up, partially to discourage other potential Icelandic uprisings, but mainly to not damage morale before the Battle of Britain which was looming in the UK's future.
Just in case another, larger, more co-ordinated uprising was going to take place (Or possibly just incase of German attacks), the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (O'Donovan's regiment) were dispatched to Akureyri and remained there until the Americans took over the occupation

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