How The Courier reported the air raid

The Courier’s account of the Forth raid, published on October 17 1939, told how a series of bombing raids began around 2.30pm after circling aircraft were spotted above the outer Forth estuary that morning.

One bomb “glanced off” the cruiser Southampton, causing slight damage near its bow, and sank the Admiral’s barge and pinnace, which were moored empty alongside.

There were three casualties on board the Southampton, and seven on board the cruiser Edinburgh from splinters.

Another bomb fell near the destroyer Mohawk, which was returning to harbour from convoy escort.

Golfers playing in the East Neuk gave a dramatic account of an aerial duel unfolding above their heads.

Mr J McNaughton, a greenkeeper, was one of those who saw the German machine brought down.

He said: “There were three machines and they were not very high.

“One was a big black plane, apparently a German bomber. It was being pursued by two British fighter machines.

“The black one was swerving and dodging but the two fighters kept following and I heard the noise of machine guns in the water and saw spurts of flame.

“It crashed into the water and in a few moments it had disappeared.”

An aerial duel was also seen near Dunfermline about four o’clock.

A motorist said: “We were travelling towards Dunfermline when we heard anti-aircraft gun fire. We stopped and saw two aeroplanes travelling towards the sea.

“Both were diving and twisting, while the rattle of machine gun fire could be plainly heard.

“It only lasted a few minutes, then we saw one of the planes nose-diving towards the Forth.”

Passengers on the 2.30pm Edinburgh to Dunfermline train saw part of the raid when the train was about halfway across the Forth Bridge.

Questions were raised in Dunfermline and other Fife coastal towns, however, as to why air raid sirens did not sound until anti-aircraft guns were in action.

Reports told how shrapnel from anti-aircraft guns fell on Dunfermline, where a nose cap of a shell landed in the street.