Hi all, this is an old post but I stumbled upon it whilst researching something.
Recently, I had been researching my step-grandfather’s family and although we are not ‘blood’ he was the closest thing to a granddad that I have ever had the pleasure of. We call him ‘Jim’.
He knew very little about his family and found it very interesting when I was talking to him about my hobby as an amateur genealogist. So, as a surprise, I started to research his immediate family and a number of generations back to show him where he came from. I put it all together for him and gave it to him for Xmas in a nice folder with all the bells and whistles of my finest crafting skills.
Since last year, due to study commitments, my family tree has not changed very much on paper. However, I was approached by a lovely lady on Ancestry who believed she found a photo that may be linked to the father of Jim and said that she would email it to me. I was amazed at what I received.
The image received was of the dragons teeth anti-tank blocks on Newburgh beach in Aberdeenshire, but this one in particular had artwork with the words ‘Hitler’s graveyard’ and was dated ‘1940’ with Jim’s father name and date of birth inscribed in the once wet cement. There is a scribe of Hitler and someone else (Churchill?) looking to the skies seeing bombs falling on them.
Obviously, my suspicion is that Jim’s father was responsible for the placement or forming of the dragon’s teeth at Newburgh beach and this is how it became to be inscribed with what is, in my opinion at least, an awesome relic. There may also be another explanation... who knows!
As part of this ‘find’, I was hoping to read up on the dragons teeth and even find out if Jim’s father is documented as being there - who knows what I may find out. I don’t even know if it would have been done by military personnel or if civilians would have done this work, I assume military because of the strategic placement requirements of them... may be wrong?
I have attached the image (which I need to credit a photographer named Douglas Campbell for). It is well worth zooming in to see the detail!
Does anyone know of any good resources that may aid my research into Louis/Lewis’ presence at Newburgh and also if there is any protection (cultural/listed/military etc) for the blocks?
Thanks,
Jamie.
Author
Topic: Louis Lawson 2nd March 1910 (Read 2113 times)