9th November 2026, The Foreign Soldiers in East Lothian WWII, David Haire, Historian (All talks held at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Haddington at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm)
David is a long time a resident of Haddington (c50 years) and a former chair of HHS. He has been active in many other local groups and charities including the Scouts, Probus and the Messenger. Taught history in Secondary schools in East and Midlothian. His main interest has been in military history, especially in the psychological reactions of humans to combat and wartime’s associated stresses.
David has given a number of talks to the society on the events which took place in East Lothian during the Second World War but has shifted focus to examine the experiences of those who took part in these events and experienced other theatres of the war. Initially in making up this talk, he found I had 140 slides and far too many individuals to cover in forty minutes. He has therefore narrowed the focus and will concentrate on foreign individuals: namely a German Kindertransport Jew; Jewish Commandos, a Polish soldier; an Irish Wing Commander; an American airman; a Czech Test Pilot; a female Canadian ATA pilot and, assuming there is time, some PoWs.