Relatives of a Perthshire man who died in a daring bombing raid over France have made contact with a man who lost his father in the same tragedy, thanks to The Courier.
Michael Bailey, from the Isle of Man, whose 34-year-old father Joseph was killed in the Second World War incident, was searching for relatives of the crew to see if they might like to join him in marking its 70th anniversary.
It was on the night of August 4-5 1944, on their fourth mission of that day, trying to prevent the German tanks and armaments retreating through the Falaise Gap, that the plane was shot down and all of the crew were killed.
The four crew were laid to rest in the same graveyard and included Alexander Dow from Scone, who was the plane’s pilot, and wireless operator Robert Francis Rosemond, from Dundee.
The article immediately brought back memories for Robin Valentine, 81, from Bridge of Earn, and his cousin Isabel Traill, 75, of Perth.
Both of their mothers were sisters of Mr Dow, and Mr Valentine, who lived in Craigieknowes Road in Perth at the time, vividly remembers the news being broken.
“It was one week short of my 12th birthday,” he said. “I remember coming home from school and my mother was sitting at the bottom of the garden crying her eyes out. She was very close to him.”
Mr Valentine said because of the war he had only met his uncle a few times before he went away to America to receive flying training.
Prior to that, Mr Dow served his apprenticeship with McMurray and Archibald as a motor coach builder.
The Courier revealed at the time that he was reported missing in action and presumed to have been killed.
Miss Traill said her mother was eighth out of a family of 10 and Mr Dow was number nine.
“I was five when Alex died, I only faintly remember him,” she said. “My mother was always upset when the anniversary of his death came around.”
Miss Traill and Mr Valentine have been in touch with Mr Bailey.
Over 20 descendants of Mr Bailey’s father including his seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren plan to visit the graves in August.
Miss Traill said that other members of their family had visited the grave at Cahan in the past, but unfortunately neither she nor Mr Valentine felt up to accompanying Mr Bailey to France in August.
However, he has kindly agreed to lay flowers on the grave on their behalf.