Old Photograph Bentfield Charles Hucks Scotland

Old photograph of pilot, Bentfield Charles Hucks near Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Bentfield Charles Hucks, born 25 October 1884, died 7 November 1918, was an aviation innovator in the early 20th century. As well as test flying numerous aircraft types, he was the first Briton to perform a loop in an aircraft, which he performed in his Blériot at Hendon airfield in September 1913. He is also credited with the Hucks starter and many feats of test flying during the First World War, while working at Hendon for Airco. He was born on 25 October 1884 at Bentfield End, Stansted, Essex, England, the son of William and Kate Hucks. Hucks gained his Royal Aero Club certificate in May, 1911, flying a Blackburn monoplane. He joined the Royal Flying Corps when war broke out in August, 1914, and was sent to the Western Front. But he was sent home invalid after an attack of pleurisy before working as a test pilot at Hendon, north west London. He died on 7 November 1918, just days before the end of the First World War, of double pneumonia. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery.



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Old Photograph Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurses In Ladybank Fife Scotland

Old photograph of Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurses during World War I in Ladybank near St Andrews and East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. The Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) referred to a voluntary unit providing field nursing services, mainly in hospitals, in the United Kingdom and various other countries in the British Empire. The most important periods of operation for these units were during World War I and World War II.

Famous VAD nurses include:

Enid Bagnold, British author of the novel National Velvet, on which the 1944 film with Elizabeth Taylor was based. Her account of her experiences are related in her memoir A Diary Without Dates published in 1918.

Mary Borden an early 20th century, Anglo American novelist.

Vera Brittain, British author of the best selling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth, recounting her experiences during World War I.

Agatha Christie, British author who briefly details her VAD experiences in her posthumously published Autobiography.

Amelia Earhart, American aviation pioneer.

Violet Jessop, British ocean liner stewardess trained as a VAD nurse after the outbreak of World War I. She had been a stewardess aboard the RMS Titanic when it sank in 1912 and was also aboard the hospital ship HMHS Britannic, the Titanic's sister ship, as a Red Cross nurse when it sank in 1916.

Jessie Traill, Australian painter.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Re-opening of Auld Brig O' Ayr Scotland

Old photograph of the re-opening of Auld Brig O' Ayr in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. Ayr's most famous landmark, the Auld Brig. Built in the 15th century, the bridge featured in Robert Burns's poems " The Brigs o' Ayr " and " Tam o'Shanter ". By the start of the 20th century the bridge was in poor condition and was almost demolished. However, a campaign led by architect and local historian James Archibald Morris, born 1857, died 1942, and supported by the Earl of Rosebery, was successful in raising funds for restoring the Auld Brig to its former glory. As the cover of the album informs us, £11,000 was raised from subscribers around the world, with the restoration work taking place between 1907 and 1910. The Earl of Rosebery re-opened the bridge on 29 July 1910.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Royal Mail Ship Plover Loch Alsh Scotland

Old photograph of the Royal Mail Ship Plover approaching Balmacara village on the north shore of Loch Alsh near Kyle of Lochalsh across from Isle of Skye, Scotland. Plover was built in 1904, was a hard working vessel used during World War I on the mail route between Oban, the inner and outer isles, and Kyle of Lochalsh. Later it was refitted, renamed the Loch Aline, and was requisitioned as an examination vessel during World War II. Sold again after the war to Irish owners, she reverted to carrying cargo, and was scrapped in 1951.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Fire Station Springburn Scotland

Old photograph of the Fire Station in Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland. Springburn Fire Station was located at 321 Springburn Road from 1893 until 1987.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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