Residents of a tiny village who were killed during the Second World War are to be honoured at last.
While the names of the 14 men of Dairsie who gave their lives in the First World War are listed on a memorial plaque in the village there is nothing to record those who died in the later conflict.
All that is about to change, however, thanks to the efforts of a committee which has spent months researching the topic.
It now plans to add a further five names to the plaque at Dairsie War Memorial Hall.
They include four servicemen killed in action and a 13-year-old girl who died of fright when a bomb exploded near her.
Margaret Young Johnstone from Cupar suffered from a heart condition and fell at her mother’s feet when the incendiary device blew up at Craigfortune on November 1 1940.
The others who died were Robert Leslie Gordon, 29, a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps who died on May 29 1940; Walter Davidson, 34, a private in the sixth battalion of The Black Watch killed on May 31 1940; Philip Lindsay, 22, a private in the second battalion of The Black Watch killed on November 21 1941, and William George, 20, a sergeant air gunner in 158 squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on May 30 1943.
Committee member Blair Littlejohn has urged family members of any of the fallen to get in touch so they can attend an unveiling ceremony next year.
He would also like to hear from anyone who knows of anybody else who died as a result of the conflict but was not uncovered by the committee.
“We did research at St Andrews University and also through the War Graves Commission,” Mr Littlejohn said.
“We then took the names to Cupar Library and read through several years’ worth of Couriers and Fife Heralds to see what we could find out.
“The story of the young girl is tragic. She lived in Bonnygate in Cupar and was scared to death when the incendiary device landed near her. She fell at her mother’s feet on her aunt’s doorstep.”
He added: “Fourteen men from the village were killed in the First World War and they are honoured on the plaque at the War Memorial Hall.
“There is plenty room for more names. We were hoping someone would read the article and recognise a name as their father or uncle or someone.
“It would be nice if we could attract some of the relatives to the ceremony.”
Anyone with further information should contact Blair Littlejohn, 14 Osnaburgh Court, Dairsie, phone 01334 870007, or Sarah Whitson, phone 01334 871414.
Picture by George McLuskie