Helensburgh Heritage
Helensburgh Heritage Trust
A HELENSBURGH airman who died when his plane was shot down over France during the Second World War is commemorated on the war memorial in Hermitage Park.
Much is known about the last two months of the life of Sergeant (Air Gunner) Campbell Lowrie, who was born in 1912, the son of John Lowrie and his second wife, Jessie.
A REAR gunner from Helensburgh, Drew Gibson, died on active service, in February 1941.
His nephew, the late Councillor Ronnie Kinloch, chairman of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee of Argyll and Bute Council, recalled: “Drew's home was in East Clyde Street, near Craighelen Tennis Club, and his eldest daughter, Donella Smith, still lives in the town.
AN eagerly waited seaplane landed on the Gareloch in 1940 . . . then tipped over and sank.
It was a captured World War Two Arado 196a floatplane, which was being brought to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Helensburgh and Rhu.
Flying Officer Hew Morrison was killed in a Hurricane aircraft on July 27 1944 over Ollerton Park and is buried in Faslane Cemetery.
THREE prisoner-of-war camps on Garelochside were an important feature of life in Helensburgh and Garelochside during World War Two.
Camp no.582 was at Blairvadach, more or less on the site of the existing outdoor centre but south of the existing road — although it was north of the original shore road. Not far away was another camp at Stuckenduff, and there was a third at Whistlefield.
MORE information is being sought by the author of a book on a comparatively little known World War Two activity in the Helensburgh area — the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment.
Robin Bird wrote ‘Top Secret War Bird of World War Two’, which is about his father, photographer Bob Bird.