Just an interesting note to see that two Dutch pilots stationed at RAF Leuchars, who died in 1941when their bomber, a Lockheed Hudson, crashed in the grounds of Gilmerton House near St Andrews, were honoured with a memorial ceremony this week.

Members of the Dutch 320 Squadron, Anton Marie ten Herkel and Willem Hijkoop are buried in the graveyard at Leuchars, and the service saw a commemorative plaque placed at Gilmerton, attended by Mr Hijkoop's niece, Marja van den Boogaard-Hijkoop.

The reason for the crash is not clear, but may have been the result of a problem with the aircraft.

Memorial honour for Dutch airmen

Talking of odd memorials - did you catch the bbc news item on Bemse the newfoundland dog from the Norwegian Naval Base at Peterhead?  Seems he used to go round the pubs and shepherd the sailors back to the base.  There is a statue of him in Peterhead.  Could be worth a mention on the page.  

Needs detail.

Is this statue new?

I know the place almost at brick level, and don't recall falling over anything like this, which I presume would be somewhere at least semi-noticeable.

He'd have been handy when the sea mist rolled in. I was staying on board a vessel once, and got bored and decided to wander into town and find a pub - literally. The mist was so thick, for once, I'd have believed it if there had been stories of people walking off the harbour walls into the water - really was close to being "Can't see hand in front of face" stuff. I only realised how thick it was when I sat down and noticed I was dripping into my pint, and found that just from walking through it I was soaked through as if I had been out in the rain - and it wasn't raining. Getting back on board later was even more fun, as they had raised the harbour bridge for the night - and I had to find the long road back to our berth in that mist, and we were moored almost at the beacon at the harbour entrance.

I had a look at the website but I could not find it.  There was an item on the BBC Scottish News a few days ago.  Apparently the statue has been there for a few years.  The interest was sparked off because someone was writing a book about the Norwegians.

It is possible I have the name wrong it might have been Memse.  Definitely ended in se according to the bbc graphics.

Ta, I'll have to have a try at finding too.