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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
