John Manson Craig was born on 5 March 1896 to a family residing at Innergeldie in Glen Lednock, northwest of Comrie. After attending Morrisons Academy, an independent school in Crieff (est. 1850), he went up to Cambridge to study science. After graduating, Craig joined the Cameron Highlanders (6 April 1915) […]
The co-operative movement in Perth and its relationship with the labour movement, 1871-1918
Francis Buchanan was born on 23 March 1825 in Bridgend, in the parish of Kinnoull, Perth. His father was James Buchanan, a master joiner and cabinet maker from Callander. His mother was Catherine Ewan from Kinfauns. His parents, and four siblings who died in infancy were buried at the Old […]
William Ballantine (b. 1905) was due to stand in the 1932 council elections in Perth for the Independent Labour Party (ILP), which had split from the Labour Party a short time earlier. He stood outside ILP policy in doing this and received criticism for his actions. Born into a rural […]
When Bill Knaggs retired at the age of 60, he moved to Stanley to spend the last 23 years of his life. Bill was shot down over Northern France in 1944, only one of two crew members of his Avro Lancaster bomber to survive; Knaggs not only survived the crash, […]
Both Ian and David were born 1920 Georgetown British Guiana and both attended Morrisons Academy, Crieff. Pilots who had not completed their courses at RAF Cranwell were enlisted in the regular RAF as airmen under training pilots. Ian MacDougall passed out on 21 October 1939 with a permanent commission and […]
William Reid was born in Baillieston in Glasgow on 21 December 1921, the son of a blacksmith. He attended Swinton Primary and Coatbridge Secondary School. After training with the RAF in Canada, Reid gained his wings and was commissioned on 19 June 1942 as a pilot officer on probation in […]
When Germany was preparing to invade Britain, their military preparations included the production of a series of military/geographical assessments, showing what might be found by those arriving. This material was to be used in a military evaluation of the regions of the British Isles and considered each from the viewpoint […]
Twin-engine, medium bomber, Avro Manchester 679 L7303 EM-P of RAF 207 Squadron from RAF Waddington took off at 19.30 hours on a mission to attack Düsseldorf, Germany on the night of 27/28 March 1941. At around 22.30 hours, they bombed the target, making two approaches and dropping a stick of […]
Douglas Cameron completed four tours of operations, 122 flight bomber missions over enemy territory as a rear gunner during the Second World War. He flew with three VC recipients and bailed out of two aircraft. Two of those pilots were both awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions when they […]
