Porthole from the WWII warship, HMS Sturdy, which was wrecked on rocks off Sandaig during a storm in 1940. The porthole has been re-painted by Donald Brown, Vaul, and decorated with a sketch of the ship. The stainless steel bolts and backing (made from an old fish box) were added by Donald.
Collection of around 45 letters of condolence written to the family of Charles McLean (1917-1941). 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 trauma of losing a loved one to active service at that time. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
A selection of the letters will be digitised and uploaded soon.
Hardback book ‘From Coastal Command to Captivity’ by W J Hunter, 2003. Memoirs of Wing Commander Jim ‘Ginger’ Hunter who served in the RAF during WWII alongside Charles ‘Jock’ McLean (1917-1941), son of Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow. Charles was a close friend of Hunter, and is mentioned several times in the book (pages 27-43). The book is accompanied by a letter, dated 2006, highlighting one of the passages. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Articles about the loss of the RAF bomber that went missing in action over the English Channel during WWII, carrying Charles McLean (1917-1941), son of Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow. (1) Newspaper article written around the event. It is not clear whether those missing included Charles, but the description fits the event. (2) Print-out of article from ‘Aircrew Remembered’ written by Donald Price, nephew of Charles McLean, in 2017 aircrewremembered.com/halley-george-charlton. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Aerial photograph of the MacLean house at Druimfraoich, Kenovay, in around 1975. Note the old tractors and hay stacks in the field. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Colour photograph of Donald Archibald MacLean, Kenovay, taken on 1 January 1979. Donald was the son of Lachlan MacLean, Kenovay, and Mary MacDonald, Tiree. He attended Cornaigmore School and became a police constable on the mainland. He and his wife, Euphemia Stoddart, lived in Linlithgow and had seven children. By the time he retired in 1952, he had risen to Deputy Chief Constable of West Lothian. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view three additional photos of Donald: (top, L-R) with his grandsons Donald McLean (son of Alister McLean) and Donald Price (son of Mary McLean) in around 1970; (lower left) with his surviving children Effie, Mary, Isabella and Alister, in 1980; (lower right) in 1979.
Summaries of climate statistics collected at the Met Office on Tiree during 1962-1971, and covering letter, 2018. Courtesy of the National Meteorological Archive.
Click here to view 2019.97.2
Research article by Rena Maguire, 2019, about reconstructing a Bronze Age horse’s bridal made using a deer antler tine for a bit cheek piece. A similar antler tine, also thought to be a bit cheek piece, was found amongst items excavated from Dun Mor Vaul by Euan Mackie in 1962-1964. Entry includes extracts from associated papers.
Click here for link to article
Black & white photograph of Graeme MacKinnon (1921-2000), grandson of Archibald MacKinnon, Vaul, who emigrated to Australia in 1876. Graeme became an Antarctic explorer and geographer responsible for mapping Antarctica. McKinnon Island and McKinnon Glacier in the Antarctic are named after him.
Softback book ‘Shore Lines – word pictures from an island’ by Donald E Meek, 2019. A collection of verse in English composed by Donald Meek, Caoles, about his life on Tiree from the 1950s to the present. Signed by Donald for An Iodhlann.
