Tour Scotland Video Starlings Cottage Garden Scone Perth Perthshire

Tour Scotland video of Starlings feeding from a Suet Block in my cottage garden in Scone by Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Smaller than blackbirds, with a short tail, pointed head, triangular wings, starlings look black at a distance but when seen closer they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens. Their flight is fast and direct and they walk and run confidently on the ground. Noisy and gregarious, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks.

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Old Photograph Dundee Road Broughty Ferry Scotland

Old photograph of houses on Dundee Road in Broughty Ferry by Dundee, Scotland. Broughty Ferry, Scottish Gaelic: Bruach Tatha; Scots: Brochtie is a suburb of Dundee it is situated four miles east of the city centre on the north bank of the Firth of Tay. Broughty Castle sits imposingly at the mouth of the River Tay. Built in 1496 on a rocky promontory, it has faced many sieges and battles. Formerly a prosperous fishing and whaling village, in the 19th century Broughty Ferry became a haven for wealthy jute barons, who built their luxury villas in the suburb. As a result, Broughty Ferry was referred to at the time as the " richest square mile in Europe. The area was a separate burgh from 1864 until 1913, when it was incorporated into Dundee. Hugh Malcolm was born in Broughty Ferry on 2 May 1917, and educated at Craigflower Preparatory School near Dunfermline and Glenalmond College in Perthshire. He entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell on 9 January 1936. In January 1938, Malcolm joined 26, Army Co-operation, squadron at Catterick. In May 1939, he suffered a serious head injury in a Westland Lysander crash. By the end of 1941 he had risen to the rank of squadron leader and joined No 18 Squadron as a flight commander, flying the Bristol Blenheim and based in Suffolk, England. Malcolm was a 25 year old Wing Commander commanding 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 4 December, he led a thirteen strong attack on an enemy fighter airfield near Chougui, Tunisia. On reaching the target, however, and starting the attack, the squadron was intercepted by an overwhelming force of enemy fighters from I and II. Gruppen JG 53, and 11 Staffel, JG 2. One by one, all his bombers were shot down, until he himself was shot down in flames. Malcolm's aircraft crashed in flames some 15 miles west of the target. An infantry officer and two other men who arrived at the scene of the crash minutes later retrieved the body of navigator Pilot Officer James Robb. Malcolm, with Robb and gunner Pilot Officer James Grant DFC, were buried in the Beja War Cemetery in a collective grave. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 27 April 1943. His was the first Royal Air Force Victoria Cross to be won in North Africa. History Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to travel and visit one day.



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

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Old Photograph Dungarthill House Scotland

Old photograph of Dungarthill House near Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. This Victorian mansion house was built in 1886 by a prosperous jute manufacturer from Dundee. In the past this area included a Jacobite, a John McEwan, son of the Laird of Dungarthill; the McEwans of Dungarthill were among those descended from the Family of Lorne. History Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to travel and visit one day.



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

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Old Photograph German Prisoners Of War In Scotland

Old photograph of German Prisoners Of War in Scotland. History Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to travel and visit one day.



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

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Old Photograph David Ross Lauder Airdrie Scotland

Old photograph of David Ross Lauder in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. David Ross Lauder VC, born 31 January 1894, died 4 June 1972, was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for bravery and gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Lauder was 21 years old, and a private in the 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Scots Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 13 August 1915 at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, Private Lauder was with a bombing party retaking a sap when he threw a bomb which failed to clear the parapet and fell amongst the bombing party. There was no time to smother the bomb and Private Lauder at once put his foot on it, thereby localizing the explosion. His foot was blown off, but the remainder of the party escaped unhurt. Airdrie is situated about 12 miles east of Glasgow city centre.



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

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