Emma’s great grandfather, James Ross was one of the many men from the village of Inver who were in the Seaforth Highlanders. They spent most of the war as prisoners in Germany. They felt let down by the government, as they had been fighting to keep the Germans away from Dunkirk so that the soldiers could be taken safely from the beaches and they thought they were then going to be picked up. They couldn’t believe it when they were told too surrender. Some of the sailors at Dunkirk thought they were going to pick them up too but they were then told no. Some even had relatives that were to be left behind.

Seaforth Highlanders, back row 1st right James Ross, back row 5th right Walter Ross, middle 4th left William Skinner

Seaforth Highlanders, picture taken in 1941. James Ross is first right in the front row kneeling

The picture of James Ross that appeared in the People’s Journal, which was the first news that many people had

Emma