07-05-2025
Woman discovers granny's lost diaries revealing time as student during World War 2
A woman has unearthed diaries penned by her grandmother, detailing her experiences as a university student during WWII. Ruth Mellis, a project manager at the University of Aberdeen, received the diaries following the death of Mary Newland in 2017.
She found the carefully maintained records kept during her gran's time as a student from 1939-1942. Her entries about trips to the cinema and social gatherings gradually became interspersed with increasing references to the war.
Eventually, Mary volunteered to serve as a fire warden, stationed on the roof of Marischal College.
Ruth shared: "Gran was very proud of being a graduate of Aberdeen University and shared the story of her fire marshal duties with many.
"She made lifelong friends during her studies and spoke of her adventures on the roof of Marischal College and the many ladders involved!
"She was very matter of fact about this time and that everyone had to do their bit during the war."
Mary was born on a farm in Speymouth, Scotland and studied English, history, geology and geography at university. Upon starting her degree, she used the green diary provided to each student.
She applied her meticulous nature to her student diary, making concise, neat notes alongside the timetable information, useful phone numbers and details for the student's representative council.
Mary documented her social activities, essay deadlines and debating society obligations, along with glimpses of how life carried on as usual in the early stages of the war, including th.
On February 23, 1940, a campfire was planned. The only hints of the significant societal shifts are found in her brief notes where she mentions that 'countries have to make tremendous sacrifices' and provides addresses for a NAAFI and RAF bases.
However, by the 1940-41 session, the impact of war becomes more evident in her entries, with the diary's colour also changing to blue.
Mary's academic year in 1940 kicks off with a Dance at Udny Green, a Halloween party, Harvest Thanksgiving, and in December, 'a big family party at Aunt Mary's'.
But by January 1941, she records on a home visit 'military clearing the roads', and the next day (Sunday Jan 26), 'military back again, almost landed in a troop train'.
On Thursday, January 30, an air raid warning disrupts her classes in the morning, and by February, she notes friends and classmates being sent to various locations.
By mid-February, the frequency of air raid reports and nights spent in shelters increases, along with references to donning gas masks, and she mentions trying to complete essays after air raids.
On Monday, March 7, 1941, sirens and the need to evacuate interrupt her Geography exam.
Amidst these events, Mary takes on additional responsibilities as a city fire warden while continuing her studies, and on Sunday, May 4, she describes her unique viewpoint from the roof of Marischal College for the first time.
Throughout this period, she describes juggling her duties.
Juggling university studies and fire watching duties, by Wednesday 18 June, she admits to 'falling asleep periodically'. The records of air strikes on Aberdeen underscore the importance of the fire watching roles undertaken by many university students.
Aberdeen bore the brunt of the most air raids in Scotland during World War II, with several significant hits occurring near the University. Loch Street, in proximity to Marischal College where Mary kept vigil on the roof, was hit in February 1941, resulting in the destruction of McBride's Bar and 89 Loch Street.
On July 3, high explosive bombs were dropped on Marischal Street, Regent Quay, Pontoon Dock No. 2 off Albert Quay, Clyde Street & the Lime Company Buildings on Blaikie's Quay.
There was also a concentration of activity near King's College, with multiple attacks on the vicinity around Clifton and Hilton Road.
In 1942, the danger moved even closer with an air raid on Saturday, April 25, causing damage to buildings at the junction of Summerfield Terrace & King Street. Mary graduated amidst bombing campaigns targeting the city, and when Aberdeen faced its darkest day on April 21, 1943, she had commenced her teacher training.
Within a mere 44 minutes, 127 bombs fell, damaging or obliterating over 12,000 homes and claiming the lives of 98 civilians and 27 soldiers. The 'Aberdeen Blitz' significantly affected the streets surrounding King's College, including Regent Walk and King Street where nine high-explosive bombs fell.
At 519 King Street, the corner of the block.
The area was ravaged by bombs, and on Bedford Road, an entire family tragically lost their lives when a row of houses was destroyed.
However, as Mary's diaries demonstrate, life and studies continued despite the chaos. By 1943, she had completed her teacher training and began her teaching career at Clackmarras public school in Moray, going on to teach at both primary and secondary levels across the region for the next 40 years.
The memory of her time on the roof of Marischal College remained with her, according to her granddaughter Ruth.
Ruth said: "I had no idea she'd kept such detailed diaries of her time at University and they're fascinating to read and get a glimpse of what it would have been like.
"She was such a strong lady who was full of fun and she just got on with things which is very much shown in her diaries, she would love that her memories are being shared."
