Stunning books are tribute to grandad
Art student honours his wartime sacrifice
A Paisley art student has paid tribute to her grandfather’s sacrifice during the Second World War with the production of brilliant books.
Kaitlin Mechan, 23, has produced stunningly-illustrated volumes that tell the story of the soldiers who were captured by the Germans in the beaches of St Valéry, France, in June 1940.
The books – called St Valéry – make up Kaitlin’s degree show at the world-renowned Glasgow School of Art.
She said: “My grandfather, Frank O’Hare, fought with the 51st Highlanders in World War II.
“He was called up to serve having recently graduated from the Glasgow School of Art, and he was far too young to deal with the horrendous ordeal that awaited him and the trauma of what he saw forced him to mature beyond his years.”
O’Hare was one of the thousands of Scots captured by the Germans at St Valéry. Despite their lack of weapons and being vastly outnumbered, the 51st Highlanders fought bravely to hold off the German army.
It was their actions that allowed thousands of British and French soldiers to escape at Dunkirk, thus saving countless lives, but eventually had to surrender to avert slaughter.
“My grandfather, along with many other young Scots, endured forced march thought France and Belgium and was eventually piled into a cattle truck and transported to Eastern Poland,” Kaitlin said.
“He spent five long years as a prisoner of war, mainly enduring hard labour in the salt mines.
“Later, he was transferred to a concentration camp with an incredibly high death rate and his survival was something of a miracle.”
Mr O’Hare returned home aftet the war, changed forever, both physically and mentally.
Kaitlin added: “Despite the desperate conditions which he had endured as a prisoner of war, throughout his life he felt incredible guilt that he had not fought for his country on the frontlines.
“The sacrifice of the 51st Highlanders at St Valéry should not be forgotten, nor the experiences of the young Scots taken prisoner. I hope that the story of the brave men like my grandfather will be kept alive through my books.”
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon David Mundell, visited The Glasgow School of Art for the unveiling of the 2018 Degree Show.
Professor Tom Inns, director of the Glasgow School of Art, said: “This year we have the first showcase from the Innovation School alongside work from the Schools of Design and Fine Art and the Mackintosh School of Architecture.
“After graduation many of the students will stay here, joining the growing community of GSA alumni who have made the city one of the most vibrant centres of the creative production in the UK.
“Others will take the skills they have developed here and apply them in diverse roles and situations all demonstrating the importance and value of creative education in the 21st century.”
The annual showcase of creativity this year features work by more than 700 undergraduate and postgraduate students spread over four buildings
The Degree Shows runs until Friday.