Family, World War II and Place

My mother grew up in Blairninich, Strathpeffer, where her father was a master plumber. She worked pre-war at Glamis Castle, home of the Bowes-Lyon family of the late queen mother. At the beginning of World War 2 she trained as a nurse and went to work in London, where, for the rest of the war, she was in the midst of the blitz and bombing. She had many stories!

One story was that she shared her dormitory with many Irish girls with whom she was friends. She liked being there because she felt safe - they prayed a lot! However, one of them was killed when a German plane shot into the room where they were both standing. Just before he shot her she cried to my mother that she could see his face! Her mother asked her to get her photo taken as they had no remembrance of her at home if she got killed. She got some lovely photos taken at the local photographers, collected them the next week, and the day after the whole group of shops were bombed into extinction.

Millnain Mill, Blairninich

My father came from Rockfield Village and was in the merchant navy throughout the war. He was torpedoed twice, off Buenos Aires. The second time he was left in a little boat after the ship sunk for a fortnight. He was wounded and in hospital in Argentina for a long time and then finally returned to Raigmore Hospital when was then composed of Nissen huts around the main building. My mother had returned there to nurse also and there they met 'again' as they had known each other in childhood when my mother’s family went to Rockfield Village for holidays.

Rockfield itself was developed in 1830s when the pier was built, as a result of Clearances and the Herring fishing development. The predominant surnames were Mitchell, from Balintore, and Patience. The Patience's came to Rockfield from Fishertown of Petty and I reckon as a result of the Clearances. Both these surnames are almost gone now.

My mother-in-law, Elizabeth, left the family farm on the Black Isle to work in the Civil Service and went to London to work in the Ministry of Pensions. When war was declared, she was returned to Invergordon, got digs near the harbour and worked on the Inchindown development where they built, underground, huge oil tanks to accommodate the fuel for the Fleet, anchored in Invergordon's sheltered waters. She worked in a portacabin beside the construction, to which many men came to work from all over Scotland and Ireland. They stayed in digs, many at Castle Dobbie, a local old building.

My father-in-law came from Forres to work at the construction of Inchindown, and they met and married pre-war, after which Elizabeth was born. Her other 3 siblings were post-war! He was in the RN minesweepers throughout the war, and thereafter started work in the Schemes, the Hydro Electric Schemes developed after the war and the brainchild of Tom Johnston 'one of the better Secretaries of State for Scotland.' The bairns went to school in Lochluichart for a short while then, before returning to Invergordon.

It is the story of my family which is the 'spirit' of the Highlands for me. Their stories have shaped my own life and subsequently the stories I tell to others.

We Want to Hear From You!

Share your family stories of the history of the Highlands and Islands

Stories are at the heart of what we do as a project and we are always looking to learn more about what the Highlands and Islands means to people who live, work, and visit here. The Highlands and Islands have a fascinating and remarkable history. We would love to know, do you have a favourite story from your family history that you feel represents the 'Spirit of the Highlands and Islands'? Tell us below, we can't wait to hear from you!

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