Scanned copy of a ‘Permit to Enter a Protected Area’ issued by the Military Permit Office, Edinburgh, in 1942, belonging to Hugh McColl who came to Tiree to work on the construction of buildings on the RAF airfield during World War 2.

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Hugh McColl worked for The Glasgow Steel Roofing Company and was responsible for bringing men and materials over to construct the buildings on the airfield for the RAF. His work had it’s challenges, including battling with the weather right through the summer of 1942. The men were only paid when they worked, and he recorded on the time sheets for August that their hours varied because “… some men refused to work at times owing to the weather…”. They worked on Tiree from June to October.

Hugh appeared to enjoyed himself more than the men. He stayed with the Omand family at Balemartine School House and recalls having a great time fishing, harvesting and calling at the airport picture house, which was in a Nissen hut.