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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: alanatabz on Thursday 25 October 18 13:29 BST (UK)
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Trying to determine some info about Fountainbleu, Cruden Bay.
During 1941 I know there was a daughter called June (Possibly born 1926/7 as at the time of a paper interview in 1941 was quoted as being 14.
The name might have been June McGarrol.
Farmers wife ,her Husband and Son were out in teh fields, and June (age 14) was at home.
Trying to establish if the surname was McGarrol, nearby family at a croft adjacent were William Gall and Family.
It relates to an Airman killed on 1st March 1941 by debris from a bomb.
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Hi alanatabz
McGarrol does look to be the surname. Birth in Cruden in 1926 as you thought.
Monica :)
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Thanks Monica,
I was trying to establish her parents names as the mother witnessed a ww2 accident at the farm.
It looks like June McGarrol was married in 1945, and perhaps moved to Perth at some point.
Alan
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You can order the birth certificate for the parents' names, surely?
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Hi
ordering adds extra cost to my project.
The main focus is on the Airman who was killed on the farm. I was trying to populate names of those that were involved in the event rather than just use "farmer's wife and 14 year old daughter June". I am not 100% convinced McGarrol is the name so local knowledge is what i an trying to pick up on before buying certificates without wanting to deviate away fromthe main story.
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Alan, Scotlands People have Valuation Rolls online up to 1935.
The 1935 Valuation Rolls show a few entries for a John McGarrol
John MACGARROLL
Tenant Occupier
FARM AND HOUSE FONTAINBLEAU
CRUDEN
1935
VR008700135-
Another entry for a John McGarrol showing as:
John MACGARROL
Proprietor Occupier
FARM AND HOUSE PATH HEAD
CRUDEN
VR008700135-
Same refs it seems.
Maybe clearer on the actual image.
Fountainbleau photo from 11 yrs ago www.geograph.org.uk/photo/504417
Monica
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Sorry to disappoint but the Fountainbleau you found is not the one the McGarrols lived at!
"Fountainbleau photo from 11 yrs ago www.geograph.org.uk/photo/504417" in actual fact, is of South Farden, a farm a couple of miles from Fountainbleau, Newburgh.!
Monica, you have found the correct place. If you search for Path Head Cottage, Cruden Bay, you'll note that it's beside the Bullers of Buchan.
Alanatabz, you're quite right about local knowledge. I lived near Fountainbleau & my husband knew of Path Head!
Hope this helps,
flst
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"It relates to an Airman killed on 1st March 1941 by debris from a bomb."
Is your query in relation to airman in charge of the local mobile beacon, "Henry Ferdinand Johnson". The family living at the farm at the time of the incident had the surname "Gall".
The Gall children, Jimmy aged 12 and Betty aged 8 were at home at the time and had a lucky escape.
Malky
Modified.
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I'm wondering if alanatabz has checked out the local Peterhead newspaper, The Buchan Observer? It is most likely to give full names of those involved. Peterhead Library has the local papers on microfiche & requests can be made for a lookup.
flst
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Local knowledge beats all, flst!
Malky, searching the Valuation Rolls for 1935 also brings up:
William GALL
Occupier
HOUSE FONTAINBLEAU
CRUDEN
1935
VR008700135-
A Percy A Harvey shows as Propietor of the Fontainbleau Farm and House.
So, we have Percy Harvey as owner.
William Gall as occupier of House
John McGaroll as tenant of Farm and house.
Monica
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"It relates to an Airman killed on 1st March 1941 by debris from a bomb."
Is your query in relation to airman in charge of the local mobile beacon, "Henry F. Johnson". The family living at the farm at the time of the incident had the surname "Gall".
Malky
There is this:
Meanwhile the third bomber flew inland and dropped four HE bombs one minute later on Fountainbleu Farm, Cruden Bay, killing Henry F. Johnson, airman in charge of the RAF mobile beacon close to the farm. Jimmy Gall (aged 12) and his younger sister, Betty (aged eight), who lived at the farm, had a miraculous escape
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/17/a1124317.shtml
So, is there further reporting on this story that makes a reference to a 14yr old June and family at the farm?
Monica
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I wonder where he is buried? He came from Stoke on Trent, England and left a widow, Ruth Barber.
Malky
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He was taken home for burial, Malky www.findagrave.com/memorial/175434634/henry-ferdinand-johnson
Added: Surprised there is no reference to his burial here www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2713647/johnson,-henry-ferdinand/
Monica
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Hi all, thanks for the info
Did look in the BNA and very little info for Buchan Observer. Like most wartime new places are not listed and very limited info. Most info in Aberdeen Press and Journal
Sources so far :-
Report on Airman Johnson's death in RAF file from National Archives. Simply says enemy action, Bomb RAF Dyce and in there "Cruden Bay"
Mr Gall stayed at the cottage near the farm, His kids were collecting water from the farm (suspected owned by McGarrol) where the airman was killed.
Press and Journal had a story about the raid, listed the Gall's, but "farmers wife and daughter June"
City and Shire archives have the attack listed and that an Airman manning a beacon was killed
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Ah mobile beacon, that answers one of my questions from the BBC links you listed.
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alanatabz, here is the telephone number for Peterhead Library; 01779 477778.
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Thanks everybody.
Slowly building up a better picture.
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Hi All
update, got info from Buchan Observer via the Library , basically mimics Press and Journal reports. Based on info....
Fountainbleau Cottage
William Gall
Cecelia Gall (2)
Betty Gall (8)
Jimmy Gall (12)
Fountainbleau Farm
John McGarrol
His Wife (no name)
Son (no name)
June McGarrol (Age 14)
I'm still trying to find names of farmers wife...
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I have found this a very interesting post and have been doing a bit of checking on Scotlandspeople and this is what I found - Starting with June McGarrol.
As you said June married in 1946 to a gentleman named Edward George Leslie - SP Index only.
June Leslie died in 1999 in Perth and from the SP Index her mother's maiden name is given as Robertson.
There is a marriage for a Jessie Robertson to a James McGarrol in 1925 and James's parents are given as John McGarroll and Christian Angus. To back this up there is a birth in 1899 for a James McGarrol with the same parents.
From this the residents at Fountainbleu Farm would be -
John McGarrol - he died the following year
His Wife - Christian McGarrol nee Angus
Son - James McGarrol
June McGarrol - aged 14 - daughter of James McGarrol and grandaughter of John and Christian.
Hope this helps with your research.
Dorrie
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That is great additonal info, Dorrie ;)
Monica
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Many thanks Everybody that helped with this.