William Findlay BLACK
FAMILY HISTORYBLACK
Three Killed in Mystery Explosion on Stonehaven Beach
Transcribed from The Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Mail, published Friday, 31st January 1941.
William Findlay BLACK
During World War 2 when many fighting age men were called up, certain occupations were known as “reserved occupations”. This included farm labourer, amongst others. William Findlay BLACK found himself in a position where he was not permitted to go to war because he was in a reserved occupation. Like many adult men in this position, he took it upon himself to join the Auxiliary Coast Guard in the local town of Stonehaven. Many other young military aged men, in reserved occupations, would have joined what is affectionately known as Dad's Army. In the early part of World War 2 the great fear was invasion. The East Coast of England and Scotland was close to continental Europe, and afforded many sheltered coves, beaches and harbours, just right for invaders to get ashore. These access points were mined. This was to prevent any invader getting ashore easily. So, it was in this context that the following story from the local newspaper is told.
THREE KILLED IN MYSTERY EXPLOSION ON STONEHAVEN BEACH
Following an explosion which occurred in a coast-watcher’s hut at Stonehaven beach on Sunday afternoon a married man and two youths were killed. Other people who were on the beach at the time had miraculous escapes from death.
The victims were William Findlay Black (39), 1 Links, Cowie, Stonehaven, auxiliary coast watcher, who was married and leaves a widow and a young family of four; Norman Leiper, eighteen-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Leiper, 10 King Street, Stonehaven, who was an apprentice mason with Messrs Wm. Smith and Son, Stonehaven; and Robert Masson, seventeen years old, a message boy with the Northern Co-operative Society Butchery Department. He is the son of Mr and Mrs Masson, 5 Cowgate, Stonehaven.
Robert is the second son of Mr and Mrs Masson. Their eldest son was reported missing at sea some time ago.
Mr Black belongs to Ellon, and he came to Stonehaven when he was very young. His father and mother reside at Gate Lodge, Redhall, Fordoun.
OBJECT ON BEACH
William Leiper, 10 John Street, Stonehaven, who was on the beach at the time, found an object which is thought to be the cause of the explosion. He told a “Mearns Leader” reporter that the two youths came along and said they would take it to the coastguards hut.
Two women, Miss Elizabeth Stephen, 24 Macdonald Road, Stonehaven, and Miss Mary McGregor, Burns Terrace, Stonehaven, who were standing on the promenade when the explosion occurred, had a lucky escape. “We were just five or six yards away,” said Miss Stephen, “and were walking on the concrete part, when all of a sudden there was a loud bang.” When they saw what had happened they ran for assistance to a number of soldiers in the vicinity.
Members of the Lads’ Club were among the first on the scene. Both youths were members of the club.
Dr H. Grant McPherson was called to the scene and found Black and Masson had been killed outright. Leiper died in hospital an hour later.
GUARD OF HONOUR
Many people paid their last tribute to the explosion victims by attending their funerals. Much public sympathy has been shown by towns people.
The funeral of Mr William F. Black, 1 Links, Cowie, Stonehaven, took place to Fetteresso Cemetery on Tuesday. At the funeral there was a guard of honour of sailors from Aberdeen, who walked on each side of the cortege. Chief Constable Robert Mitchell, Captain G. T. Clark, coastguard officers, and auxiliary coastguards were also among the mourners.
The funeral of Mr. Robert Masson, 5 Cowgate, Stonehaven, to Dunnottar Cemetery, also took place on Tuesday. There were present Inspector W. F. Thom, president of the Lads’ Club, and Councillor C. L. Low, vice president; members of the club; Mr Shirras, manager of the Stonehaven branch of the Northern Co-operative Society; and Mr W. Ross, manager of the butchery department.
Bailie Leslie, Inspector Thom, Councillor Low, Mr Wm. Smith, builder, Stonehaven, and members of the Lads’ Club were among the mourners at the funeral of Mr Norman Leiper, 10 King Street, Stonehaven, to Dunnottar Cemetery on Wednesday.
All the services were conducted by Rev. J. C. Campbell, Dunnottar.
Authors Note: William Findlay BLACK was my wife’s paternal grandfather. Following his father’s death, my father-in-law became, at the age of 14, the head of the household. Over the years we spoke occasionally about the incident and importantly, how he felt about that and what had been the consequences for both him, his mother, and his younger brothers and sister. As the newspaper report attests, a widow and four children were left: Jane Ann CRABB, William BLACK, John Taylor BLACK, Alexander Smith BLACK and Jane Ann Crabb BLACK.
Authors Note: The original newspaper article has small, low quality images of both Mr BLACK and Mr LEIPER.
