The first Tiree man to enlist after the outbreak of World War II was Willie Bunting of Balemartine. He is pictured in this photograph (second right in the front row) after completing his training at Newcastle. Prior to this, he worked for Johnny Brown at the Scarinish Hotel as a motor mechanic and taxi driver.
In 1939 he asked Johnny for a couple of days off work and went to Stirling Castle where he joined the army. On his return in 1945, Johnny handed him a large brown envelope containing his wages for the time he was away.
After the war Willie worked on Tiree as a haulier, then left for Glasgow in the early 1950s to work as a mechanic. He returned to the island in 1969 to work as an engineer in the power house in Crossapol.
Black and white photograph of Willi Bunting at start of WWII.
Willie Bunting (2nd right front) after training at Newcastle in 1939-40.
Colour photograph of Willie Bunting, Donald MacKinnon, Elaine MacArthur and Lorna MacDonald at a Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
L-R: Willie Bunting of Crossapol at the trophy table, Donald MacKinnon of Sandaig, teachers Elaine MacArthur of Balinoe and Lorna MacDonald of Vaul at a Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
Colour photograph taken down by Scarinish harbour after a regatta in the 1980s.
Down by Scarinish harbour after a regatta in 1987. L-R: visitor; Donald MacDonald, Heanish; Tommy Monaghan, Heanish; Charlie MacLean, Salum; Murdoch MacDonald, Kilmoluaig; Iain Aonghais MacKinnon, Kilmoluaig; Mike Stanfield, Heanish; Willie Bunting, Crossapol; Simon Latham, Baugh; Donald Farquhar, Balemartine; Donald MacKinnon, Sandaig; Iain Whyte, Crossapol.
Colour photograph of Willie Bunting, Donald MacDonald, Duncan MacPhee and John MacCallum.
On board the `Heatherbell` during a Tiree regatta in the 1980s. L-R: Willie Bunting, Crossapol, Donald MacDonald, Heanish; Duncan MacPhee, Scarinish; Iain MacCallum, Cornaigmore/Kenovay.
Audio cassette recording of Alasdair Straker interviewed by Maggie Campbell in Balemartine on 9/10/02.
Maggie Campbell talks to Alasdair Straker of Balemartine in January 2002 about working with Willie Bunting in the 1950s delivering stores to the shops; the ferries; the shops in Balemartine, Balinoe, Balevullin, Baugh, Cornaig, Salum and Vaul and the butchers in Scarinish, Balevullin, Salum and Kenovay.
