Orkney Image Library

My father was stationed there in 1945 ( I think it was 1945)

This photo has mixed emotions for me as my grandfather farmed Lopness at the time and the war department took over a large part of the farm for the radar station and a lot of the best land was lost.

My Great Grandfather, Frederick Ford was killed here 8th March 1941 during a German air raid. It was an ironic tragedy that he actually survived 4 years at the front 1914-18 only to meet his end on a remote Scottish island. This was part of a double family tragedy, Frederick was my Grandmothers Father, only 3 months earlier she had also lost her husband on active service in the Royal Navy on convoy protection duties. I did not realise there was a war memorial at Sanday, I would like to plan a trip to visit. I was in the area in the early 80s bizarrely enough whilst serviving in the Royal Navy myself but had no idea at the time that my Great Grandfather had met his demise on Sanday. I am still not sure if the German attack was planned or if they were just jettisoning bombs after being fought off from Scapa Flow? Kind Regards Greig Andrew Cunningham

This is new. Anybody know about this?

Frederick Ford, Civilian, died,08.03.41,aged 54, whilst working on the construction of the R.A.F. Camp at Lopness, Lady Parish, Sanday He is commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour,located near St.George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.

Frederick Ford was the second civilian air raid death on Orkney soil, when a Junkers 88 aircraft bombed the camp mortuary at Langamay, five were also injured. It was thought that the pilot was jettisoning his bombs before heading home. Sources for this information can be found in "The Orcadian" newspaper of the time and the 2009 publication of "Sanday at War".