Dr John Campbell (1791-1873) was a doctor and surgeon who served the people of Largs for 61 years. Born in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, he attended the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh before moving to Largs. Following Dr John Campbell’s death, the people of Largs raised money by subscription to build a water fountain in his memory. By September 1874 they …
David Shedden
This post is one in a series of posts on the crash of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362, which crashed in the sea 2-miles from Saltcoats Harbour on the 2nd of May, 1943. David Shedden, Saltcoats fisherman, rescuer and World War 1 soldier David Shedden was a fisherman working out of Saltcoats harbour. After Whitley Z9362 spun out of control and …
John Clifford North-Lewis
This post is one in a series of posts on the crash of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362, which crashed into the sea 2-miles from Saltcoats Harbour on the 2nd of May, 1943. Flying Officer John Clifford North-Lewis (Service Number 109536, Pilot, aged 29) Flying Officer North-Lewis was the pilot of Whitley Z9362. He was educated at Harrow School and Worcester …
Ernest Jack Beer
This post is one in a series of posts on the crash of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362, which crashed into the sea 2-miles from Saltcoats Harbour on the 2nd of May, 1943. Sergeant Ernest Jack Beer (Service Number 1600187, Wireless Operator, aged 29) Sergeant Beer was a pipe and gas fitter when the 1939 Register of every civilian in Great …
Donald Ernest Watts
This post is one in a series of posts on the crash of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362, which crashed into the sea 2-miles from Saltcoats Harbour on the 2nd of May, 1943. Sergeant Donald Ernest Watts (Service No 1250352, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, aged 21) To date, very little information and no photographs have been identified for Sergeant Watts. Efforts to …
Edward Harold George Dyer
This post is one in a series of posts on the crash of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362, which crashed into the sea 2-miles from Saltcoats Harbour on the 2nd of May, 1943. The portrait photograph of Sergeant Edward Dyer in uniform shown above was provided by Vera and Jim Duncan. Sergeant Edward Harold George Dyer (Service Number 1606353, Air …
Titanic Exhibition: Your Last Chance To See It!
Our hugely popular Titanic exhibition is almost done and you only have until the end of the month to see it! Saturday the 27th of May is the final Saturday of the exhibition and Wednesday the 31st of May is officially the final day of the exhibition. If you haven’t had a chance to see it then this is your …
Leslie Noel Atkinson
This post is the first in a series about the crew of Whitley Bomber Z9362 of 24 Operational Training Unit that crashed into the sea, 2 miles from Saltcoats Harbour. The research that has been carried out is extensive, involving contributions from many individuals and organisations across the United Kingdom (UK) and in New Zealand. As new information is uncovered, …
HMS Vandal Has Been Added to the Stories Section
HMS Vandal was a British submarine that was launched on the 23rd of November, 1942 and had the shortest career of any Royal Navy submarine on record, being lost with all hands just 4 days after being commissioned. HMS Vandal was commissioned on Saturday 20th February 1943 and was last seen on Wednesday 24th February 1943 leaving Lochranza bay to undergo several …
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362 Crash at Saltcoats
One of the lesser-known local stories of World War II in North Ayrshire is the crash of a Whitley bomber, which crashed into the sea 2 miles off from Saltcoats harbour in 1943, with the loss of 3 lives. The crew of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Z9362 of 24 Operational Training Unit were being prepared for active service. They were tasked …