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Date 23 June 2004

Wartime memories as told to David G. Orr.

Remembers the air raid shelter in Bank Street,Kirriemuir it was brick built and had a concrete roof. Vehicles could travel either side of the structure.

Remembers the petrol rationing but as he had to travel to inspect the forests to price the timber he always had plenty of petrol. On one occasion he had to go to an estate at Glenmorriston and he got lost. [Road signs removed] He called in at a cottage and asked for directions, but the Highlanders were suspicious of him, even although he showed them his documents and they gave him wrong directions so that the police could pick him up, for questioning, which they did.

Remembers being in the Home Guard. He had an old rifle – but no bullets.

Donald remembers that the three main groups of men stationed in and around Kirriemuir during the war were the Newfoundlanders who lived in a hut in Glen Moy, the Polish army based in the town and the Green Howards. However many men were stationed in or near Kirriemuir there was never any trouble between them.

He remembers bombs being dropped at Philpie (Mrs Ruth Young’s father was policeman at Airlie at the time) and also at Craigeassie, the one at Craigeassie did not explode and had to be defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad. It was thought to be from a German plane, which had been at the Clydebank Blitz.

Donald remembers the Italian Prisoners of War who were based at Balharry Camp at Alyth.

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