Email from Charles Pressley to An Tirisdeach (2009) with attached article about the HMS Sturdy
Email from Charles Pressley to An Tirisdeach (11 July 2009) stating his interest in the published articles about the wreck of the HMS Sturdy at Sandaig in 1940, his association with Tiree and friends and relatives of those who were on the Sturdy, and his attached article about the Sturdy that he wrote for the West Sussex Gazette following a visit to Tiree in 1999.
Copies of a report and accompanying letters written by Lt-Cmdr Cooper of HMS Sturdy in 1945
Copies of a report about the recovery of POWs from Macassar, and two accompanying letters written by Lt-Cmdr Cooper of HMS Sturdy in 1945. The original report was written soon after the POWs had been recovered and outline the POW`s experiences, inter alia, of many of the survivors of the sinking of the HMS Exeter. Retyped from a carbon copy of the original report by a crew member of the Maidstone who had preserved the record for over 60 years.
Email message about HMS Sturdy and photographs
Email message from Derek Fox to John Holliday about photographs of the wrecked HMS Sturdy at Sandaig in 1940. Black and white photo of wrecked whaler (life boat) attached.
Collection of documents about HMS Sturdy donated by Lt. Cmdr. Mike Gibson in 2008
Collection of texts and photographs about the HMS Sturdy that ran aground off Sandaig in 1940. Includes text of personal reminiscences by Harry Springett, letter to Mr Springett from Donald MacLean (Tiree), letter from Dawn Springett (Harry`s daughter, Australia) 2007 regarding his memoirs. Photographs of HMS Sturdy, seamen, graves at Soroby Cemetry of those that perished, the shore where the wreck occurred, letter from Mike Gibson to C. MacKinnon (clerk of Sandaig Common Grazing) re erection of memorial, Navy News web page (2005) about HMS Sturdy by Mike Gibson, extract from “The Hebrides at War” by Mike Hughes, emails between Mike Gibson, John Holliday and Ian Gillies (2008) re erection of memorial. Earlier version of Harry Springett`s recollections added in 2011 (E01206).
Book “Never Forget, Nor Forgive” by the captain of HMS Sturdy.
Softback book by the captain of HMS Sturdy, which was wrecked off Sandaig during the second world war. The book recalls Captain George Cooper`s experiences at sea, particularly during his time as a Japanese prisoner of war. Signed by the author.
Papers from the Board of Enquiry into the wreck of the HMS Sturdy
Photocopies of papers from the Board of Enquiry into the wreck of the HMS Sturdy on the shore at Sandaig on 30 October 1940. Copies of originals held at the National Archives, Kew.
Admiralty charts from the Board of Enquiry into the wreck of the HMS Sturdy
Copies of 5 charts pertaining to the Board of Enquiry (Nov. 1940) into the wreck of the HMS Sturdy on the shore at Sandaig on 30 October 1940. From originals held at the National Archives, Kew.
De Havilland Rapide over Sandaig
Photograph of a de Havilland Rapide over Sandaig.
Courtesy of Mr Donald MacKinnon
The first commercial flights from Renfrew Airport began in 1933 to Campbeltown and Islay. The following year a 29 year old businessman, George Nicholson from County Durham, set up Northern and Scottish Airways to take over these routes and develop others.
In October 1935, Nicholson was flown by his chief pilot, David Barclay, on a reconnaissance trip to Tiree. Islanders were woken early as he flew for some time low over the island, landing at 6 a.m. on An Tràigh Mhòr, the beach at Gott Bay. In May 1936, Colin MacPhail was appointed Northern and Scottish Airways local manager.
On 1st July 1936 David Barclay flew the first commercial flight to Tiree via Islay and landed on the Reef in a De Havilland Rapide, a fabric-covered twin engine biplane that could carry eight passengers.
Black and white photograph of a de Havilland Rapide over Sandaig after World War II.
De Havilland Rapide over Sandaig after World War II. The `X` off shore on the right marks the spot where the Sturdy went down.
