Military History


Air Mechanic 3rd Class Robert Alexander Duff

Robert Alexander Duff, T4/083084 Royal Flying Corp was son of Mr Duncan Duff, farmer, and Mary Ann Douglas Duff, Woodend, Logierait, Ballinluig. Before his attachment to 22 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, Robert had joined the 8th Royal Highlanders in 1908. The following year his battalion changed to become […]


Second Lieutenant Robert Leonard Grahame Skinner

Second Lieutenant Robert Leonard Grahame Skinner was a pilot with RAF 46 Squadron attached to 1st/2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). Robert Skinner was the son of the Rev. Henry Leonard Skinner and Susanna Maria Skinner, of The Rectory, Callander. Perthshire. Most of this personal information below was researched by […]


Fireman James Summers

Fireman James Summers was involved in two major events of the Second World War, his ship was sunk by the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Graf Spee and he was being held as a prisoner the sequel event, the freeing of prisoners by the Royal Navy from the Graf Spee’s supply […]


Second Lieutenant Ian Dermid Campbell

Ian Dermid Campbell was born 12 October 1898 to John Stuart Campbell, South African Merchant, and Mary Ann Campbell. Ian’s birth certificate states that he was born at 13 Lonsdale Terrace, Edinburgh, but his birth was registered in the parish of Dunning, the family home being, Innerdunning House. Ian was […]


Flying Officer Hermone Alexander Innes DFC

Flying Officer Hermone Alexander Innes DFC, RAF 149 Squadron was the son of Colonel Sydney Armitage and Mrs (nee Blain) Innes, Fairmount, Barnhill, Perth. Hermone was educated at Rugby and then joined the staff of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation as a trainee at the Perth Head […]


Major William Davidson Bissett

William Davidson Bissett was born on 7 August 1893 at Bauchland, St. Martin’s near Balbeggie. He was the eldest son of John (Plumber) and Helen Bissett, 18 Strathmore Street, Bridgend, Perth. Cadet William Davidson Bissett was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 19 December […]


Flight Sergeant George Thomson VC

George Thomson, VC: George Thomson was born 23 October 1920 at Borestone Cottage, Trinity Gask, about 12 miles west of Perth. At the age of 15, after schooling at Portmoak Public School and Kinross Higher Grades School, Thomson began an apprenticeship with a Kinross grocer. During the Second World War, […]


Lieutenant Alastair Lorimer Cram MC

During the Second World War, escaping from enemy capture was a remarkable achievement. Lieutenant Alastair Lorimer Cram MC, once referred to as the ‘Harry Houdini’ of WWII managed to achieve this feat 21 times, finally succeeding in April 1945. During the war, he was imprisoned in ten Prisoner of War […]


Flying Officer Ronald Scott Baillie

Flying Officer Ronald Scott Baillie was the son of Major and Mrs James Baillie of 23 Barossa Place, Perth. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in December 1945. His citation describes Ronald as possessing “fine fighting spirit and outstanding efficiency.” Flying Officer Baillie of RAF 61 Squadron was […]


Sergeant Jonathon G. Marnoch

RAFVR Sergeant Jonathon G Marnoch 3021911 was the son of Jonathan James Marnoch and Mary Marnoch, of Coupar Angus. Sergeant Marnoch was serving with RAF 12 Squadron as an air gunner on board Avro Lancaster Mk I NN741 PH-O operating out of RAF Wickenby, northeast of Lincoln. On 9 February […]