| Administrative History | Peter Andrew Black was born at Doune Home Farm Cottages, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland on 10 February 1920 the son of William James Black b.1899 and Catherine Henderson Spence b.1896. He was the eldest of four children, Christina (1921) William (1923) and Catherine (1925).
William Black had served in the Great War 1914-1918 and was wounded on at least two occasions. It was whilst being treated for his war wounds at Dunblane Military Hospital, Dunblane, that he met Catherine Spence who was a nurse. Following their marriage and the birth of their children the Black family moved house frequently and lived at Upper Auchinlay, Dunblane (1921), Park Lane, Doune (1922), Roadman’s Cottage, Pitlochry (1923), Killiechangie Home Farm, by Pitlochry (1926), The Pend, Dunkeld (1928) before moving to the Old Inn, Rait (1929). During this time Peter attended a number of schools including Pitlochry, Logierait, Dunkeld and Kilspindie.
In 1930 the health of Peter’s mother Catherine began to deteriorate and she was eventually diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumour.This illness and Catherine’s subsequent death in 1931 brought a number of further changes with the family moving to Seggieden Home Farm and Craignorth, Balnathayock before settling in Cottown, Glencarse. Whilst at Seggieden Peter attended Kinfauns School and after moving to Cottown attended St Madoes School.
On leaving school at 13 years of age Peter was initially employed as a message boy with the Maypole grocery chain at their Perth premises. He thereafter worked as an agricultural labourer and ploughman at Craigeu Farm, Milnathort and Cargates Farm, Madderty before eventually securing a blacksmith apprenticeship at Glencarse. In March 1938, a month after his 18th birthday Peter joined the Territorial Army as a blacksmith in the Royal Army Service Corps (51st Highland Division). His motivation in respect of this was primarily one of finance as opposed to patriotism.
With the declaration of war Peter along with his unit was posted to France and in May 1940 was involved in the British Army’s retreat to the English Channel. The 51st Highland Division was not earmarked for evacuation from France and instead began retreating towards the small port of St Valery en Caux. On 11 June 1940 Peter was wounded during a German ambush, which killed a number of his close friends, outside the village of Paluel a short distance from St Valery. Despite his wounds Peter made his escape to St Valery where he was captured by German forces on 12 June 1940.
Following his capture Peter remained in a hospital in St Paul, Sur Termoise, Pas de Calais. In September 1940 Peter was transferred to a prison camp at Thorn, Poland. He remained in Poland as a prisoner of war until the end of January 1945 when he joined the ‘death march’ westwards as the German Army retreated westward. The march continued to the end of April 1945 when in the small town of Vinclarn, Bavaria Peter was liberated by American forces.
Following his liberation Peter elected to remain in the Army and was eventually posted to Inverness. Upon meeting his future wife Peter left the army and commenced work as a blacksmith at the premises of John MacBain Blacksmith, Inverness. Shortly after his marriage to Rita Macmillan he joined the GPO and remained with them until his retirement as an inspector in 1980. Peter continued his working life retiring finally from a part time post as an assistant council officer at the age of 78. Peter still lives in his adopted hometown of Inverness where he continues to pursuing his hobbies and interests.
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