Softback book ‘Virtue Mine Honour – Charles McLean’s War’, by John Holliday and Fiona Wilson, 2021. An account of a young RAF Pilot Officer’s life and death during WWII, based on letters home to family and friends. Charles McLean was the son of Donald Archibald McLean of Kenovay and Linlithgow.
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.
Short, tubular, brass spacer found on the shore at Sandaig in 2021, and presumed to be from the destroyer HMS Sturdy which was wrecked there in 1940.
White dinner plate marked with ‘RAF’ under a blue crown, made by W Adams and Sons, England. Used in NAAFI canteens on Tiree during WWII.
Copy of the Swiss magazine Passé Simple containing an article (in French) about RAF airman Léonard Revilliod, one of the 16 flight crew who lost their lives in a mid-air collision over Island House in 1944. Léonard was the grandson of the first President of Czechoslovakia, and served with 518 Squadron based on Tiree. Written by Denis Dumoulin in 2020.
Click here to view extract (copyright Magazine Passé simple Sàrl, Switzerland)
Hardback book ‘An Expendable Squadron’ by Roy Conyers Nesbit, 2014. A history of Coastal Command’s 217 Squadron which flew bombing raids out of St Eval, Cornwall, into France during WWII. Relates to archive item 2020.1.70 about RAF Pilot Officer Charles MacLean, grandson of Lachlan MacLean, Kenovay.
Hardback book ‘Woe to the Unwary’ by Roy Conyers Nesbit, 1981. Detailed and graphic account of life and operational flying by a young RAF airman during WWII. Based on the navigation logs of the author while he was serving with Squadron No. 217 flying Bristol Beaufort bombers out of St Eval, Cornwal in 1941. Relates to archive item 2020.1.70 about RAF Pilot Officer Charles MacLean, grandson of Lachlan MacLean, Kenovay.
Scanned copy of a newspaper obituary for Captain Allan Campbell (b. ca 1900), Scarinish, in around 1980. Allan Campbell was a deep-sea mariner all his life, including serving in the Merchant Navy during WWII.
Click here to view 2020.52.6
Original ‘Application for a Permit under the Defence Regulations’ by John Hay of Edinburgh, to enter the Island of Tiree for the purpose of labouring in the employment of Melville, Duncan and Whitson in 1942. During WWII, Tiree was a Protected Area. The application is verified by Robert Williams, Glasgow.
Click here to view 2020.50.2
An ‘Active Service RAF Privilege’ envelope addressed to Mrs V R Harvey, Hastings, stamped 12 October 1942 , Crossapol, Tiree, containing a series of letters from her husband Harry Harvey who served at RAF Tiree during WWII. In the letters Harry expresses how homesick he is, how he misses his wife and child, and his frustration at missing several shots at the island’s wildlife. The letters were opened and approved by the Postal Censorship Authorities before delivery.
Click here to view 2020.50.1 letters
