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.
Short memoir about life on Tiree in the RAF during the 1960s. Ray Murton was part of the RAF detachment during 1961-1964.
Click here to view 2020.57.1
Three fragments of modern pottery found on Baugh Beach in 2020: (1) edge of an RAF plate, (2) Possil Pottery, Glasgow stoneware 1881-1942, (3) Grecian pattern, late 19th century, Clyde Pottery Company.
An ‘Active Service RAF Privilege’ envelope addressed to Mrs V R Harvey, Hastings, stamped 12 October 1942 , Crossapol, Tiree, containing a series of letters from her husband Harry Harvey who served at RAF Tiree during WWII. In the letters Harry expresses how homesick he is, how he misses his wife and child, and his frustration at missing several shots at the island’s wildlife. The letters were opened and approved by the Postal Censorship Authorities before delivery.
Click here to view 2020.50.1 letters
Montage of a photograph of Raymond Hartshorn, a page from his RAF flight log May-June 1945, noting ‘VE Day May 8th’, and a poem written by him about flying. Raymond Hartshorn was stationed at RAF Tiree during WWII, flying with 518 Squadron Meteorological Observers, and was a member of a crew sent out over the Atlantic in search of a missing aircraft: “23/1/45. 1405. Halifax LL511. Pilot: F/L. Eastman. A.S.R. search for W/C Morris and crew – unsuccessful. Flying times: 4.20 day, 1.25 night.”
Small brass eagle mounted on the brass ‘lid’ of a missile shell, probably from RAF Tiree during WWII. Unknown origin and purpose.
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.
