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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: LMChapman on Thursday 20 July 23 16:22 BST (UK)

Title: War Contracts Fife
Post by: LMChapman on Thursday 20 July 23 16:22 BST (UK)
I am interested in the building of coastal defenses in Fife during the Second World War.

Does anyone know is it possible at all to find out which local businesses/people were involved in the planning and construction of such defenses?

I doubt such things would have been mentioned in newspapers?

Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: War Contracts Fife
Post by: RJ_Paton on Thursday 20 July 23 16:55 BST (UK)
Have a read at
https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2009-0847-0856_Potts.pdf

The author Keith Potts goes into quite a bit of detail about various contracts (although I didn't spot anything mentioning Fife) - the problem may lie in identifying which of the then existing Government Ministries had overall responsibility for Coastal defences.
However from what I have read it appears that any of these contracts which still exist are held in the National Archives at Kew.
Title: Re: War Contracts Fife
Post by: ecksdochter on Thursday 20 July 23 18:49 BST (UK)
     Not the Aberdour area but is the information on the following Canmore website any help?
     Regards,     Dod.
     http://canmore.org.uk/event/588252
Title: Re: War Contracts Fife
Post by: RJ_Paton on Thursday 20 July 23 19:28 BST (UK)
Although referring to the Clyde area this article
https://blog.historicenvironment.scot/2018/04/defending-the-clyde/
does refer to the National Archives holding the records of building work undertaken
Title: Re: War Contracts Fife
Post by: IMBER on Friday 21 July 23 15:08 BST (UK)
There's an excellent book about defence construction in Scotland:

If Hitler Comes - Preparing for Invasion Scotland 1940. Gordon Barclay, Birlinn 2013

Very detailed indeed although little about civilian input. There are, however, full references given which might lead to further reading. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: War Contracts Fife
Post by: LMChapman on Wednesday 26 July 23 16:24 BST (UK)
Thanks for all your advice!