Photograph of a still-life watercolour painted by Charles McLean in around 1933 in the Art Room of Linlithgow Academy. RAF Pilot Officer Charles McLean, the grandson of Lachlan MacLean of Kenovay, went missing in action over the English Channel during WWII. This is his only known painting. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Parlophone vinyl record of William Hannah’s Band playing traditional Scottish dance music – ‘Highland Waltz’ and ‘Circassion Circle’, belonging to the McLean family of Kenovay and Linlithgow. The record was mentioned in a collection of letters regarding RAF Pilot Officer Charles McLean, who died in action during WWII. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Small black & white phototgraph of the McLean family on the Ringing Stone in 1934. L-R: Effie, Donald Archie, Isabel, Mary and George. Although they lived in Linlithgow, they spent most summer holidays with family on Tiree. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Collection of around 45 letters of condolence written to the family of Charles McLean (1917-1941), beginning with a telegram from RAF Emsworth to Charles’ father’s work place. Charles was the son of Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow, and his wife Euphemia Terris Stoddart. An RAF Pilot Officer with 3 and 217 Squadrons, Charles went missing in action over the English Channel in November 1941. The letters provide an insight into the trauma of losing a loved one to active service at that time, and include special letters kept by the family in a red photo album titled ‘The Life and Times of Charles McLean’, and letters from friends and family on Tiree plus other significant letters, including those from parents of other members of Charles’ crew who were lost (Childs, Halley). Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view condolence letters from:
2020.1.88 Donalds family off Tiree
Collection of around 20 personal letters written to Charles McLean (1917-1941), from his family and friends during WWII. Charles was the son of Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow. An RAF Pilot Officer with 3 and 217 Squadrons, he went missing in action over the English Channel in November 1941. The letters provide an insight into the life and emotions of family and friends of personnel in active service at that time, and include letters to Charles from a friend of the parents of Jim Hunter, a fellow airman missing in action, and from the same friend to Charles’ parents after Charles goes missing in action. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view a selection of letters from:
Collection of around 35 personal letters written by Charles McLean (1917-1941), to his family and friends during WWII. Charles was the son of Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow. An RAF Pilot Officer with 3 and 217 Squadrons, he went missing in action over the English Channel in November 1941. The letters provide an insight into the life, experiences and emotions of a young RAF recruit from Scotland at that time. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view letters from Charles while stationed at:
2020.1.86 Hastings Dec 1939 – Mar 1940
2020.1.86 Hastings Apr-May 1940
2020.1.86 Carlisle May-Jun 1940
2020.1.86 Babbacombe Jul-Aug 1940
2020.1.86 Prestwick Autumn 1940
2020.1.86 Barnstable Jan-Mar 1941
Around 100 black and white photographs from a large red album titled ‘The Life and Times of Charles McLean’, collected and perserved by his family. Charles (1917-1941) was the son of Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow. An RAF Pilot Officer, he went missing in action over the English Channel during WWII. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view 2020.1.85. The photographs are arranged as closely as possible to the layout of the original album.
Official letter from Buckingham Palace during WWII, conveying the condolences of King George and Queen Mary to Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow, on the death of his son Charles McLean, who went missing in action over the English Channel in 1941. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Official note that accompanied post-humous war medals awarded to Charles McLean (1917-1941), sent to his father Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay & Linlithgow. Charles went missing in action over the English Channel during WWII, while serving as a Pilot Officer with the RAF. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view 2020.1.81
WWII Roll of Honour for Linlithgow with an entry for Charles McLean, son of Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow, plus documents relating to it and the Air Forces Memorial at Cooper’s Hill, Runnymede. Charles McLean, went missing in action over the English Channel during WWII, while serving as a Pilot Officer with the RAF. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view roll of honour | memorial
