Our town will honour brave trio of heroes

There can’t be many towns in Scotland with three Victoria Cross recipients hailing from within its borders, as Carluke has.

Thomas Caldwell was awarded his VC for conspicuous bravery in Audenarde, Belgium on October 31, 1918. While in command of a Lewis gun, Caldwell came under fire from a nearby farm and rushed toward the enemy position, single-handedly capturing it as well as 18 prisoners.

William Angus was also honoured for his actions during the First World War, when he darted into no-man’s land to rescue an injured comrade, fellow Carluke man James Martin. Angus sustained some 40 wounds in the process, including the loss of an eye.

Donald Cameron meanwhile earned his in the Second World War for commanding the midget submarine X6 during Operation Source.

Cameron’s craft evaded German anti-submarine nets and attacked the feared German warship Tirpitz while it lay hidden in the Norwegian fjord of Kafjord. – George Mair, Carluke Historical Society.

Mortar bored

Reading in The Sunday Post about the bored boys from Hull playing with an unexploded mortar (Memories, November 4).

During the 1960s an area of moorland above Bankfoot, Perthshire, was a play area for youngsters, including myself. One day an object was found protruding from the ground. A closer inspection revealed a mortar bomb. When the Army came, the entire moor was searched and about 30 were found.

Unbelievable to think we kids played there. Today the moor is a wood with an attractive local walk. – Thomas Brown, Bankfoot.

Peeved prof

Mark Boyle makes the observation that in my book, Picture-Book Professors: Academia and Children’s Literature, I have missed the female professors in Harry Potter (Your View, October 28).

However, I mention the professors of Harry Potter throughout the book. My method was to look at illustrated professors (hence Picture-Book Professors), and although Harry Potter is “riddled” with professors... the illustrations featured in the American editions of the Harry Potter novels concentrate on the male academics.

I understand it is very predictable that a woman who has written about the lack of representation of women in the media has been targeted by a “man who knows best”, who has not taken the time to read a freely available text.

I urge Mark and your other readers to download my freely available research, and make up their own minds: after reading, but not before. – Professor Melissa Terras, via email.

Betty Boots

I cannot believe 77-year-old Betty Humes believes she is not taking a job from a young person.

I admire her determination to continue to work for Boots but not in a position of paid employment when there are so many unemployed people desperate for work. – Name and address supplied.

Female hero

Your report suggests that Annie Campbell Reid is the only woman named on a Scottish war memorial. Please note that Sister Violet Fraser, who died in Serbia in 1919, is named on the Dunbar War Memorial. – J Thompson, Dunbar.