Old photograph of houses on Abbey Road in Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland. The name “Auchterarder” derives from the Scottish Gaelic roots uachdar, ard, and dobhar; it means " upland of high water. " Alastair Donald Mackintosh "Sandy" Gunn was born on 27 September 1919 in Auchterarder. He was the son of surgeon James Turner Gunn, MB, ChB, FRCS and Adelaide Lucy Frances. He was reportedly a fine athlete at school, being a member of 1st XV rugby & 1st XI cricket team. He attended Fettes College, Edinburgh, and was a school prefect. After leaving school, Gunn became an engineering apprentice at the Govan, Glasgow shipyard of Harland and Wolff. After a year he gained entry to Pembroke College, Cambridge to study mechanical sciences hoping for a career as a diesel engineer. Gunn enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 22 February 1940 and commenced active service on 22 June 1940 as an aircrew candidate (airman 2nd class). On 18 January 1941 he received his pilot's brevet and promotion to sergeant. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 25 January 1941. He became Supermarine Spitfire photo reconnaissance pilot who was taken prisoner during the Second World War. Gunn took part in the "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft III in March 1944, and was one of the men re-captured and subsequently executed by the Gestapo on 6the of April 1944.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.
No comments:
Post a Comment