An Unsung Hero 53465 Sgt. Peter Edwards whose address was given as c/o Boyd, Corsehill Head, Kilwinning enlisted in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery on 1st December 1908 at the age of 17. He became a Physical Instructor and by the outbreak of war in 1914 he had been promoted to Sergeant. He served throughout WW1 and was …
Hidden History of the River Garnock
The following guest blog post has been kindly written for us by Heather Upfield of Kilwinning Heritage and it discusses the history of the River Garnock, which she has chronicled in a new article which you can download and read for free by clicking HERE. Kilwinning Heritage has just published a new text about the River Garnock, as it flows …
Accidental Discoveries
Byres Road in Kilwinning probably got its name from bere, a form of rough barley grown in the past. In the 19th century the small community of the Byres at the western end of Kilwinning town centre became a weaving village with long low cottages along its length. In the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland of 1854, the Rev. John Marius …
Local People and the Whitley Bomber Crash at Saltcoats
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. Many people in the Saltcoats area knew about the Whitley Bomber crashing into Saltcoats harbour on the night of 1st/2nd May 1943. A large crowd of people witnessed …
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 …
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, …
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 …