Voices 2018 was a Balerno Parish Church project to commemorate the Centenary of the ending of the First World War on 11 November 1918. Its aim was to gather together the stories and recollections of conflict over the past hundred year of people who live in or have a connection with Balerno.
Voices 2018 is made up from papers contributed by people with a connection to Balerno, who set out stories and memories passed on to them by parents, grandparents, relatives and friends, relating to over 120 years of conflicts. These stories and memories are part of an archive of material which was assembled to make up the ‘Stories and Memories’ exhibition displayed in Balerno Parish Church between 7th and 9th November 2018.
We owe a debt to honour those who served in those wars, and in all those other conflicts which have marked the last hundred years. But we also have a continuing duty to recognise that their stories are part of a wider scheme of things. By remembering and honouring the memory of those involved and those to whom memories were passed on, we can contribute to a better understanding of past times, and thereby assist the development of a more humane and generous future from which eventually war may be absent.
Each person’s stories and memories can be read by clicking on their name.
Index of Contents
| Anne Shaw | Evacuation from Malaya February 1942. James Norrie Shaw and his brothers. |
| Beate Dennis | August von Hagen & Emile Barbier |
| Bob Jarvis | My father, Sandy Jarvis. |
| Brian Catley | Growing up in the Second World War and doing National Service |
| Brian Clough | Remembering his father and uncle. |
| Craig Dunlop | Growing up in Auchterarder in WW2. |
| Dougie McKay | My grandfather, and his father William Jack McKay. |
| Elspeth Vicars | My Grandfather Francis Wilkie. |
| George Murray | Evacuation from Edinburgh and memories of the Home Front and of my family from WW2. |
| Graeme Bruce | My Grandfather, Arthur William Bruce. |
| Helen Clerk | My father, Arthur Wiseman. |
| Lesley Henderson | Dr Joan Kennedy Rose. |
| Lesley Henderson | Remembering those who helped to rebuild after the two world wars. |
| Richard M Henderson | My parents T Alex and Hester Henderson. |
| Iain Whyte | My grandfather, George Adamson Whyte. |
| Jack Cranston | My experiences from ARP to the Burma campaign, by way of the Arctic Convoys and D-Day, all before I was 21. |
| Jane Forster | My grandfather Charles Darbishire. |
| Janet McCracken | Memories as a two year old of a night in an aid raid shelter. |
| Jean Barton | World War II from age 9. |
| Jean Barton | Jim Barton and his father Col Arthur Barton. |
| Jim Todd | My grandfather, father and uncle. |
| John Howie | Memories of evacuation to Logierieve, and of my father. |
| Josephine Bisacre | My family’s experiences across two world wars. |
| Kay Latimer | My aunt Agnes Thomson. |
| Phyllis Tait | Singapore and memories of growing up during the occupation as told to me by my son Keith Tait’s father in law. Growing up in Fife Keith in WW2. |
| Ken Wallace | My father Douglas and my uncle Robin |
| Lawrie Wilson | My father Thomas Wilson’s experiences in WW1. Growing up in Dumbarton in WW2. |
| Moira Caesar | My Great grandmother and my father in law |
| Lorna Thompson | Charlie Whittet. |
| Mac Robertson | My father and mother during WW1. |
| Malcolm Fergusson | The Girdwood family. |
| Malcolm Fergusson | The Fergusson family. |
| Margaret Harrison | My grandfathers. |
| Martin Oliver | My father, George Thomas Oliver. |
| Irene McCardle | My father Andrew Leishman and my uncle John Robertson. |
| Myrna Lindsay | Growing up in WW2. |
| Paul Williams | Joe Balfe. |
| Phil Thompson | My uncle Philip Henry Barnley. |
| Ray Wyper | Memories of my father my paternal grandfather and my father in law. |
| Steph Dunlop | My mother, and my father |
| Jean Tracey-Bower | Harry Stoneham |
| Wendy Williams | Mum’s war and Dad’s war. |
| Tessa Catto | Memories of my late husband, William Leslie Catto |
| Dr William Wallace | My maternal grandfather and other memories and thoughts |
| Excerpts from Video Interviews at June Farmers Market | |
| George Burt | |
| Donald Chadwick | |
| Bert Miller | |
| Margaret Pringle | |
| John Stirling | |
| Alistair Weir | |
| Barry Crawford | |
| Helen Webster | |
| Ian Hynd | |
| Gordon MacDonald MSP | |
| Cllr Ricky Henderson | |