I have been in Australia for over 40 years. Left Scotland 1959.Was homesick at first but settled down O.K. in Brisbane Old.
I went to School in Scotland in Fettercairn public School during World War 2. I was living with my parents on this Farm at Colstream. During the time of the war in 1939 we young folk thought it was great to watch the Aircraft going and coming from the Overnight Raids in Germany.
The Airport, which was not far from us, was called Edzell Aerodrome, only 3 miles as the crow flies from our home. At night-time the noise was deafening, hearing the Aircraft flying overhead, fully loaded with Bombs.
In the morning we watched the aircraft coming back from the raids with damaged wings and tails, and fuselages. Some of them had damaged engines. There were quite a few that did not make it to the end of the runway, and then they crashed in the fields.
Some crashed on Coldstream Farm, all this occurred in my schools days at the Fettercairn Public School. By the time the war finished, I had left school and started to work. My first job was at Kinkell Farm, Auchnblae, Aberdeenshire in 1945.
The owner was Mr Jim Begg. In 46/47 I was working for Mr.Garvie at Westcairnbeg, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire. In 1950 I worked at UpperCoulie, Auchenblae for Mr. Alexander Reid.
Mr James Gamie of Cairnton Farm was also one of my employers. Now I believe his son George Gamie owns the farm.
That is a portion of my life in the early days in the How of the Mearns.