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South Queensferry and Port Edgar |
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Recollections 1. Brian Towler Australia |
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Thank you to Brian Towler, now living in Australia, who wrote: |
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1962 "In 1962 I was sent to the UK as a member of the RAN (Royal Australian Navy) and during this time I spent a lot of time at HMS Lochinvar, waiting for our ship, SNIPE, to be finished. HMS Lochinvar was a Shore Establishment at Port Edgar, South Queensferry. It was a Minesweeping Base - as a stone frigate (Navy humour). Like all Bases it had an entrance/guard house etc with an 'HMS LOCHINVAR' sign attached somewhere." |
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"From the depot I took lots of 35mm shots of the road bridge being built and lots in and around Edinburgh but I never thought to take a photo of the depot from outside the gate, something that I now regret. I imagine a gate house, with perhaps a few old inert mines for decoration at the entrance. I would like to find a photo of the entrance, but all I can find on the internet is a aerial shot of the marina, now there, and nothing of it showing it in its prime. Someone must have taken shots outside, during the war even, or later. I am sure that not much would have changed by the 60's. The Base did not close until 1975." |
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I believe that there were restrictions on photography near the Firth of Forth during the war. But that still left another 30 years for photos to be taken. If you know of any photos, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Brian. Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: May 21, 2007 |
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Brian Towler, Currimundi, Queensland, Australia: 18+20 May 2007 |
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Recollections 2. Edward Windle Canada |
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Thank you to Edward Windle, Canada, who wrote: |
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1962 "I was also stationed at HMS Lochinvar for about 9 months in 1962. I was browsing around on Google Earth looking for that location the other day and found that someone had posted some photos of the buildings on Google Earth (only from inside the gate). The gate-house (and cell block) where I kept my watch, can be clearly seen. I had some great times down at the Stags Head in South Queensferry and also on Rose Street in Edinburgh. My wife is from Bo'ness and we now live in Canada." Edward Windle, Canada: February 8, 2010 |
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Photos I don't know what the copyright position is for photos posted on Google Earth, so I've not added them to the EdinPhoto web site. However, if you open Google Earth then key HMS Lochinvar Scotland into the 'Fly to ...' search filed, it should take you to the appropriate aerial photo where you will be able to click on the small blue square and see the photos. Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 8+9, 2010 |
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Recollections 3. Ray Simpson Ambleside, Tasmania, Australia |
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Thank you to Ray Simpson who wrote: |
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1962 "Like Brian and Edward Windle (1+2 above), I spent time at Lochinvar in 1962. I also did a trip as a stoker to Norway and Germany in HMS Wolverton, a Ton class sweeper. At the time, I was in the RAN and awaiting the commissioning of HMAS Ibis at Poole in Dorset." |
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Return in 1995 "I returned to HMS Lochinvar in 1995 with my wife to show her the old depot, but found that it no longer existed and there was a marina in it’s place. However, I did find time to have a few at the old watering hole in South Queensferry with friends from Australia. I am now 73. When I was at HMS Lochinvar, I was at the tender age of 25. Oh to return to those times." |
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Forth Road Bridge "I once had a photo of the entry to Lochinvar which exited under the then new Forth Road Bridge. It showed all the rolls of wire that were fed into the machine that made the suspension cables that held up the bridge." |
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Ray Simpson, Ambleside, Tasmania, Australia: August 9, 2010 |
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Recollections 4. John Gordon Easdale, Oban, Argyle & Bute |
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Thank you to John Gordon who wrote: |
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South Queensferry Post Office "My great aunt, Emily A A Borrowman worked as a sorting clerk and telegraphist for the Post Office. Although officially transferred to Edinburgh in June 1914, it appears that she spent almost all of WW1 at South Queensferry. When the Grand Fleet was in the Forth, this must have been a busy Post Office." |
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Photograph and Postcard Album "Emily kept a fascinating wartime photograph and postcard album which included some images of South Queensferry. Here is one of the photos from her album: Postcard
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Reproduced with acknowledgement to John Gordon Emily has written on the album 'HMS Tyne postmen' Although the date looks like 1914 I have a feeling it might be 1916." Back of the Postcard
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Reproduced with acknowledgement to John Gordon
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Peter McGill's Studio There is no photographer's name or studio name or address on the photo above. However, it seems likely that the photo would have been taken at Peter McGill's studio in South Queensferry. Thank you to John Smith, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, for sending me the photo below with the same backdrop, together with these details that appeared on the back of the photo:
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to John Smith, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: February 10, 2013 |
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John Gordon, Easdale, Oban, Argyle & Bute: February 5, 2013 |
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Recollections 5. John Gordon Easdale, Oban, Argyle & Bute |
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In 'Recollections 4' above, John Gordon wrote about his great aunt Emily who worked at the Post Office in South Queensferry. Here is a photo of the Post Office, sent to me by Frank Hay of Queensferry Local History Group and added to the EdinPhoto web site in 2004. John Gordon tells me that he believes that his great aunt Emily is the 3rd from the left in this photo, and that he might also be able to identify the lady on the left in this group if he could obtain a high definition copy of this photo, showing the faces more clearly. South Queensferry Post Office
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Copyright:
For permission to reproduce, please contact
peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk owner of the original tattered |
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Acknowledgement: John Gordon, Easdale, Oban, Argyle & Bute: February 5, 2013 |
