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.
Copy of the Swiss magazine Passé Simple containing an article (in French) about RAF airman Léonard Revilliod, one of the 16 flight crew who lost their lives in a mid-air collision over Island House in 1944. Léonard was the grandson of the first President of Czechoslovakia, and served with 518 Squadron based on Tiree. Written by Denis Dumoulin in 2020.
Click here to view extract (copyright Magazine Passé simple Sàrl, Switzerland)
Softback book ‘A Divided Life’ by Robert Cecil, 2017. Biography of the Cambridge spy Donald Duart Maclean (b.1913). Donald’s grandfather, John MacLean, was a shoemaker in Kilmoluaig, then later in Carmarthen. Tiree is mentioned on page 3.
Softback book ‘A Spy Named Orphan’ by Roland Philipps, 2018. The full story of the Cambridge spy Donald Duart MacLean (b. 1913) based on previously classified material. Donald’s grandfather, John MacLean, was a shoemaker in Kilmoluaig, then later in Carmarthen. Tiree is mentioned on pages 8-9 & 366.
National identity card belonging to Deputy Chief Constable Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay and Linlithgow, in 1940. Part of a large collection of items belonging to and about Donald Archibald McLean, Kenovay (1890-1981), and his family.
Click here to view 2020.1.13
Copies of the Royal Navy service record, death certificate and list of medals awarded to John Barnard Norton (Bunty) Whyte (1909-1942), son of Balephuil/Oban artists Duncan MacGregor Whyte and Mary Barnard Whyte, who was killed during an air raid on Southampton during WW2. The material includes correspondence from Navy Command to the donor.
Click here to view 2019.68.1
Hardback book ‘Forecast for Overlord’, by J M Stagg, 1971. A first-hand account of the weather forecasting that allowed the D-Day operations to be carried out on June 6, 1944. Written by General Eisenhower’s chief weatherman. Airmen at RAF Tiree collected the weather data that was used to forecast D-Day.
Bound composition titled ‘A Visit to Coll’ by Catriona Smyth, 2002. Contains photographs of gravestones in the old and new graveyards on Coll, and a transcription of their inscriptions. Names include Lightbody, MacDougall, Ferguson, Fainges, Taylor, MacKinnon, MacCalum, MacFadyen and McPadyen. War graves include a Royal Marine of the ‘Viknor’, Harvey or Gibson of the ‘Racoon’, Pontus of the ‘Arandor Star’, and several unamed sailors of the Merchant Navy.
Newsletter `An Tirisdeach`, No. 451, 25/09/2009
Local news: Skerryvore perform in China and win A&B’s Young Entrepeneur of the Year; Alan Reid MP visits Tiree; An Iodhlann’s ‘Sheaves from the Stackyard’ – Tiree at war; Lunch Club remembers 1930s Tiree; new social worker for Tigh a’ Rudha; report of Strathclyde fire chief’s visit; policing Tiree Wave Classic; Tiree-Islay exchange; report of SWRI meeting; forthcoming visit by Tobermory lifeboat; school news – fundraising for Mod trip, healthy eating week, new rugby club; letters to the editor – damage to machair at Caoles; volunteers needed for Meals on Wheels; community Powerdown project – solar hot water; poem about wind power by Nik Rawson; sheep sale results; forthcoming boat restoration course.
Printed images of the memorial to Czech men who volunteered and died serving with British forces in WWII. Built by the British community living in Prague. Includes Leonard Revilliod who died in a mid-air collision of two Halifax aircraft over Island House in 1944, while he was serving with 518 Squadron, RAF Tiree.
