Account of a supernatural event in 1979 witnessed at the scattering of the ashes of Captain James Campbell, skipper of the sunken ship ‘MacDhui’. James Campbell (1900-1978), Tiree emigrated to Australia in 1926.
Click here to view 2020.38.1
Photocopy of the UK Court of Inquiry Report into the demise of the Fokker XXII aircraft ‘Sylvia Scarlet’, which crashed at Loch Tarbert after taking off from Tiree in 1943. The crew of four, including pilot Flight Lieutenant Knox, and 15 passengers were all killed.
Click here to view 2020.24.1
Small brass eagle mounted on the brass ‘lid’ of a missile shell, probably from RAF Tiree during WWII. Unknown origin and purpose.
Fabric-covered book ‘Seeing London with my Young Friends’ by Charles A Puncker, published in around 1930. On the inside front page is handwritten ‘Presented to Archie Jonston for Attendance Ruaig Sunday School, March 1945’. Archie’s family were from Ruaig, and he was evacuated to Ruaig from Rochester, Kent, during WWII.
Porthole from the WWII warship, HMS Sturdy, which was wrecked on rocks off Sandaig during a storm in 1940. The porthole has been re-painted by Donald Brown, Vaul, and decorated with a sketch of the ship. The stainless steel bolts and backing (made from an old fish box) were added by Donald.
Dainty, brass, lady’s cigarette lighter from WWII.
Small, round, hand-held voltmeter for testing batteries. Probably used at the airfield during WWII.
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
