A family’s history of war
Ian McNeish, this month’s speaker at Inveraray History Society, shared his intriguing insights into his own father and father-in-law’s experiences during the Second World War.
Ian (pictured) was born just after the Second World War and grew up knowing that his father had been a prisoner of war, but not realising any further details until later in life when he overheard his father chatting to his army mates.
Ian himself has led an interesting life and has written several books about his 30 years in the police, his passion as a mountaineer and unpublished memoirs about his relatives’ experiences of the war and chose to speak about “The Getaway and the Captured”.
His father, Thomas Barbour McNeish, joined up at the beginning of the war to serve with the Seaforth Highlanders, while his father-in-law, Alexander McDonald Goodsir, joined up with the Argylls.
Their memories of arriving in France in 1941 were similar in that it would be a short war and they would drive back the Germans armed with a LeeEnfield 303 rifle and 300 rounds of ammunition.
While much has been made of Dunkirk, these two soldiers and their battalions were busy fighting at St Valery, with the 51st Highland Division, outnumbered and outmanoeuvred by the advancing German forces. Untrained and unprepared, Ian’s father had the sense to work out some of the German tactics and managed to escape the carnage with a head wound, chased by German gunfire. He headed for Le Havre, but was soon captured and put into a cattle wagon with 70 others.
They were taken to Torun in Poland, having endured four days without food or water, On arrival, they discovered that those who lay down had died, whilst others were racked with dysentery.
Thomas did not believe he would have survived the four years in Torun camp without Red Cross parcels.
When the Germans realised the Russians were advancing, they forced the weak and starving prisoners to march 20 miles a day towards Hamburg, 370 miles away. One memorable day, the prisoners were about to enjoy their best meal for years, comprising a stolen turnip, fish bones, herbs and plants, when American troops arrived to rescue them.
Meanwhile, Ian’s father-inlaw, Alex, on duty as a dispatch rider, had been shot in the leg. He was treated in a medical centre near Le Havre, and was able to escape and catch a ride back to Scotland on the steamship “Duke of Argyll”.
Once back on home soil, Alex was so keen to get home he went AWOL, but was arrested and taken to Inverness, where he was given the choice to be court marshalled or join up with the Cameron Highlanders.
He chose the latter and was sent to Aruba for 18 months, an island off Venezuela, where his new regiment was posted to protect the oil refineries being used for aviation supplies. A spell in North Africa and at Monte Casino followed.
Alex died in 1995 aged 75, whilst Ian’s father died in 1974 at the age of 54, having never collected his Somme medal. But he remained non-judgmental and taught his son to work hard, live simply, always be honest and ethical.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday April 9, at 7.30pm in the Church Hall, when the speaker will be Rev Dr Roderick Campbell on “James Chalmers – Inveraray Missionary and Explorer”. All welcome, visitors £5.