Author Topic: War Contracts Fife  (Read 242 times)

Offline LMChapman

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 124
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
War Contracts Fife
« 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.
Murray, McKelvie, Smith, Morrison, Latta, McClelland, Manson, Ingram, Cowan

Offline RJ_Paton

  • RootsChat Honorary
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,498
  • Cuimhnichibh air na daoine bho'n d'thainig sibh
    • View Profile
Re: War Contracts Fife
« Reply #1 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.

Offline ecksdochter

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 537
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: War Contracts Fife
« Reply #2 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
"Scotsman! I am not a Scotsman -- I am a Fifer."

Offline RJ_Paton

  • RootsChat Honorary
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,498
  • Cuimhnichibh air na daoine bho'n d'thainig sibh
    • View Profile
Re: War Contracts Fife
« Reply #3 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


Offline IMBER

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,006
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: War Contracts Fife
« Reply #4 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.
Skewis (Wales and Scotland), Ayers (Maidenhead, Berkshire), Hildreth (Berkshire)

Offline LMChapman

  • RootsChat Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 124
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: War Contracts Fife
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 26 July 23 16:24 BST (UK) »
Thanks for all your advice!
Murray, McKelvie, Smith, Morrison, Latta, McClelland, Manson, Ingram, Cowan