Day 6
Leithers Remember
People of Leith:
Leith Residents share memories of loved ones who went to war.
“My Uncle Jack from Leith who was shot down in his spitfire over Malta at the age of 21 in September 1944.”
—Roy Brown
“This is my great grandfather, Robert McLaren Gunner, Royal Field Artillery from 75 The Shore. Someone kindly sent me this photo of him some years ago and the other is of his grave in Duisans Cemetery when I visited in July 2017. He and his wife Margaret Ross lived at 75 The Shore and she continued to live there with her four children. Great Gran remarried in 1919. Great Grandad was a docker/stoker in the docks. I’m descended from his eldest daughter Sarah McLaren who married James Kelly also from Leith.”
“This was my Nana’s younger brother, sadly didn’t return. She never liked to speak much about it. He is buried in Italy. I hope one day to be able to visit his grave on her behalf.”
—Alison Grubb
“My father from Bangor Road, joined up in 1941 aged 19, served in the RAF in the Far East, demobbed in 1946 having been hospitalised for 6 months with malaria on his return after the war.”
—Jim Hepburn
“My Mother’s family were all born and brought up in Leith and my Dad’s were born in Blackridge but moved to Leith when my Grandfather was killed in a mine in 1932. They ultimately moved to Portobello. My Dad was in the Royal Scots in Burma and he was sent back as “wounded in action” and he, too, had bouts of malaria on his return. ”
“They are my Mum and Uncle on the left and if anyone recognises the other two people, I'd be interested in knowing who they were.”
—Lesley Allan
“This is my Mum (centre pic) and her brothers and sisters who lived in Bothwell Street. This article appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News circa 1940 and speaks for itself. Sadly her brother George never returned. He was killed in action, while serving as a Chindit behind enemy lines in Burma, on 18th April 1944. Although I never met him I was proud to have been named after him.”
—George Goodall Quinn
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My grandfather, Robert Harcus. 2nd Lieutenant RASC. He was born 21 April 1885, North Leith. He later emigrated to South Africa.”
—Karyl Ann Harcus-Brettenny
“Alexander (Sandy) Davidson, on the right with two of his army buddies in 1917. Enlisted for the Motor Machine Gun Corps due to his keen interest in motorcycles. He managed to survive the war, married Mary Blair of Leith & fathered 4 girls - May, Irene, Ciss & Georgie (our mum). After the war he became a carpenter with the Davidson Joinery Business in Pirrie Street. Sadly he died from an asthma attack in 1955 at the age of 64.”
—Brian Read