At HMS Tern, we are frequently asked about the events around our islands, not just at the airfield, but also on the Home Front. What was life like during that time?

We are organising a temporary exhibition focused on the Home Front, featuring documents, clothing, and equipment from Orkney. We have already secured some loans and donations, but we are looking to expand our appeal for additional items specifically related to the Orkney Home Guard. If you have any items available for loan, we would greatly appreciate your contribution to enhancing the exhibition.

But first a bit of context…there are a group of us, volunteers at Tern, from the Vintage Club and the NHS Orkney Photo Group who have, as part of a photo recreation project, and for a bit of fun, dressed in 1940’s attire.  As a photographer I have dressed as a war correspondent in both British and American uniforms.  One question often asked was “Were there any Americans and photographers here during the war?” 

There were numerous and sometimes quite lengthy deployments for US ships, including battleships and aircraft carriers. As for photographers, the video link below shows that there was a film and photographic unit from the US Navy in Kirkwall during the war.

During the video, as well as seeing the US Sailors we also see how civilians dressed, the shops, the Big Tree, the Earl’s Palace and quite interestingly a number of members of the Orkney Home Guard are seen quite clearly.  

Our appeal is this…Do you know the men in the pictures?  The quality from digitised movie stills is not always the best, have a look at the video as the moving pictures may be clearer.  We hope to find out who they are and if we can tell their story and their contribution to the Home Front here in Orkney. 

If you have any information, stories, photographs of relatives, clothing or anything you could loan to the museum for an exhibition, please get in touch!

You can contact us through our Facebook page or via email hmsternadmin@birsay.org.uk

Video credit: WWII Public Domain