Scanned copy of the front cover of a Welsh 1942 calendar used by LAC John Roberts, Wales, when he was stationed at Tealing and Kinnell during WWII. Notes written inside include his days off and when parcels were received. John was stationed at RAF Tiree during 1944-45.
Scanned copy of an RAF Certificate of Service and Release for Leading Aircraftman John Roberts, Wales, who was stationed at RAF Tiree in 1944-45.
Scanned copy of a Christmas card posted from RAF Tiree to Wales in 1944. It reads “From daddie with love to little Heddus [who was born only 8 weeks previously] and Mum”. The poem in Welsh translates roughly as “With hope that your Chirstmas will be full of song / To snow, or not to snow, may your world be purely white”. LAC John Roberts was stationed on Tiree in 1944-45.
Scanned copy of a telegram announcing the birth of the daughter of Leading Aircraftman John Roberts, Wales, who was stationed at RAF Tiree during WWII.
Black & white photograph of Leading Aircraftman John Roberts and his wife during WWII. John served at RAF Tiree in 1944-45.
Black & white photograph of Leading Aircraftman John Roberts, Wales (front row, far right), with his RAF squadron during WWII (unknown location). John served at RAF Tiree in 1944-45.
Black & white photograph of Leading Aircraftman Richard Roberts, Wales, (left) and an unidentified friend. Both served at RAF Tiree in 1944-45.
Black & white portrait photograph of Leading Aircraftman Richard Roberts, Wales, who served at RAF Tiree during WWII.
Robert John Roberts, service number 1406025, was on Tiree when his daughter was born in October 1944, and was still there at Christmas time of the same year.
Emailed information about the HF/DF Station at Kenovay. Built in the utmost secrecy during WWII, it was used to track aircraft and German U-boats, and was key to D-Day operations. After the war all traces of it were carefully removed.
“It was certainly in use on D-Day! Its exact location I cannot be sure of but its intended location was MKJM 06593073 using the Georef system which places it at latitude 56 30 43.8N longitude 006 53 24.6W and its role was vital in securing the return of Coastal Command weather recce aircraft. D-Day was to have been 4 June but Gp Capt Stagg advised General Eisenhower that the weather was a no-no but he had reports from a weather ship that indicated that rising pressure and temperature were likely to push the worst weather North. An elite crew from 518 Sqn on Tiree were tasked to probe into the weather patterns and establish whether or not this was true. They signalled back to the disbelief of the boffins at Dunstable who said “Rubbish!” but the Polish Met observer put them straight and after nine and a half hours the aircraft returned safely thanks to the brilliant crew and also the radio fixes from Tiree. The flight data was absolutely crucial to the D-Day plan. Well done 518 Sqn!!! It was a true team effort by a marvellous crew of eight, Stagg was right, Eisenhower trusted him and D-Day went ahead.”
Obituary for Major John Campbell (1921-2015), owner of the schooner ‘Oceana‘, which ran aground and broke up on the Baugh end of Crossapol Beach in 1949 under mysterious circumstances. Major Campbell survived shellfire and swamps as he advanced through Italy with Popski’s Private Army during WWII.
Click here to view 2018.13.1
First published in The Telegraph newspaper, 3 September 2015 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11842074/Major-John-Campbell-obituary.html
