War
Captain Gilbert Rae
During the Second World War, the newly formed BOAC continued flying civilian services to several countries, including neutral Portugal and Sweden. These flights could be of great importance to the war effort and of course, could be very hazardous. In “Captain Gilbert Rae, OBE“, George Beattie discusses this little known aspect of the war and gives us a short biography of one of the brave pilots involved in these dangerous times. Captain Rae was the grandson of Gilbert Rae who founded the well-known lemonade manufacturer in Dunfermline.
Routes to Flodden
This month’s video lecture, “Ways to Flodden, 1513” was given by Dr David Caldwell at the Archaeological Research in Progress Conference, 2016 in Galashiels. His talk puts the battle into it’s military context and is mainly concerned with the build-up. It answers many fascinating questions such as, how many men were involved? How did they get there from all across Scotland? How did they get the cannons over the Lammermuirs? and it ends with a thought -provoking re-assessment of the whole campaign.
Dr Caldwell is an archaeologist who worked in the National Museum of Scotland for 38 years and was until recently President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He is an expert on medieval Scotland, and directed major excavations at Finlaggan on Islay, the centre of the Lordship of the Isles. He is due to speak to us in person in our next season, dates, of course, still to be confirmed.
The Piper of Tobruk
We recently received this invitation to a Book Event in Kirkcaldy.
Thursday, 29 August 2019, 7pm, Waterstones, 175 High St. Kirkcaldy, KY1 1JA
Pipe Major Robert Roy is a legendary figure in The Black Watch. In November 1941, during the battle for the relief of the Tobruk Garrison, he “displayed the most exceptional and outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty” for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Months earlier, he had been involved in the defence of Crete, escaped from a POW camp and made his way to Syria to re-join his battalion. Post-war, Robert Roy continued to live a remarkable life. Alice Soper will talk about her memoir of her father, which tells the story of a courageous and inspiring soldier who, in peacetime and in war, was not afraid to stand up for his convictions.
Tippermuir Books & Waterstones Kirkcaldy are delighted to host an evening with Alice Soper (former Kirkcaldy councillor) author of The Piper of Tobruk based around the publication of this important and timely life of Pipe Major Robert Roy, MBE, DCM a ‘hero in wartime and peacetime’ who made Kirkcaldy his home ‘a book for anyone who is interested in the power of the human spirit over adversity and danger
Refreshments Provided ~ Free Event
RSVP if possible moc.liamgnull@eatrahcmahargnhoj
Alice will also be appearing at ‘Words of War’ the Perth Book festival.
The Battle of the Somme
Tuesday 4th December
Dollar History Society are showing the film “The Battle of the Somme 1916”
Tuesday 11th December
Andy Robertshaw “The Somme Film: Myth and Reality”
Both at 7:30pm at their usual venue of Dollar Academy Dining Hall.
Fife’s First World War
November 2018
Fife Libraries and Galleries are putting on a range of exhibitions and events to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. Full details are available at onfife.com
or by opening this page – FIFE’S FIRST WORLD WAR