Scotland

Early in June we were transferred to Stranraer on the west coast of Scotland.  This was my second time in Scotland.  I had been to Edinburgh on one of my leaves.  This time we were billeted with some Australian airmen.  We had some classes and some flying, but we were mostly on our own.  It seemed they weren’t ready for us.

Great Britain was on double daylight savings time, and here in the far north at this time of the year it was night only for about an hour between 2 A.M. and 3 A.M., so I seldom saw it dark.  We would come back from town on our bikes after midnight, and it seemed like noon.  I went to church in town with a couple of the Australians, and of course we were invited to dinner.  Our hosts were farmers; their home was old and furnished with beautiful antiques.  They and their ancestors had lived in this house for many, many years, but they had never owned the land which they rented.

On one of my leaves while here I took the boat to Ireland and crossed the Irish Sea.  The boat tossed and rolled, and most passengers were sick.  I managed to stay in the wind and held my own.  I was warned not to leave Northern Ireland while there or I would be incarcerated.

©Joseph H. Harrison 1999