Associated People: MacLean, Mr Donald Archibald, Kenovay (1890 - 1981)

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2021.42.1

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.

2020.1.67

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.

2020.1.66

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.

2020.1.65

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.

2020.1.88

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:

2020.1.88 217 Squadron

2020.1.88 red photo album

2020.1.88 Tiree plus

2020.1.88 Donalds family off Tiree

2020.1.88 Euphemias family USA and India

2020.1.88 other RAF parents

2020.1.87

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:

2020.1.87 Thelma re Jim Hunter MIA

2020.1.87 Thelma to MacLeans MIA

2020.1.86

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 Glamorgan Dec 1940

2020.1.86 Newquay Jan 1941

2020.1.86 Barnstable Jan-Mar 1941

2020.1.86 Newquay Apr-Jun 1941

2020.1.86 St Eval Jun-Sep 1941

2020.1.85

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.

2020.1.82

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.

2020.1.81

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

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