‘Tartan Pimpernel’ bible returns to war hero minister’s French church
A Gaelic Bible that belonged to a heroic minister known as the “Tartan Pimpernel” who helped save more than 2,000 allied service personnel during the Second World War has been returned to his former church.
Rev Dr Donald Caskie was working at the Scots Kirk in Paris when the Germans invaded France in 1940.
His nephew, Tom Caskie, 76, revealed that his uncle, who used the leather-bound bible when he worked in France, often used the Gaelic language to hide information he did not want to fall into enemy hands.
Mr Caskie is giving the bible to the congregation which is creating a permanent exhibition in honour of the war
Raised on Islay in the Inner Hebrides, the Scots minister denounced the Nazis from his pulpit and had to flee Paris when the Germans invaded the city.
He then led a double life helping British and Allied solders to get to freedom, and was recruited by British Intelligence before being imprisoned by the Gestapo and sentenced to death.
A German pastor intervened and he spent the rest of the war in a prisoner of war camp.
Mr Caskie said: “He was a very gentle person and clearly he loved humanity and would help anyone he could.
“Donald rejected the chance of personal safety and risked his life time and again to ensure others could be safe and free.”