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Ina Findlay, Betty Sutherland,
Helen Edwards (or Helen
then Betty?), and Kate Findlay |
The following is a memory posted to the page for Charlesina Findlay Slade (1928-2015) on FamilySearch, written by Charlesina herself. Charlesina, most often called Ina, is Ella's sister.
See also these previous, related posts:
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When I was 11 years old, there was excitement in our branch in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was September 1939 and the Millennial Chorus was in Aberdeen for one week. This chorus was made up of missionaries touring the mission, giving concerts.
At this time, 1939, the Aberdeen Branch was the northernmost branch in the British Mission. It was exciting to an 11 year old to be around that many missionaries at one time. They had concerts booked all week and at the end of the week there was to be a special treat. The mission president, Hugh B. Brown, would also be in Aberdeen. A room in the Music Hall had been reserved and President Brown would speak and the Millennial Chorus sing. But, alas, events in Europe were to interfere with these plans.
September 3, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. This meant Pres. Brown could not leave London. Plans and preparations had to be made for all missionaries to leave Britain and return to the U.S. This was a sad time. The chorus was advised by President Brown to finish their appointments, and go ahead and give the concert at the Music Hall. Since Pres. Brown would not be there, they had to fill in that time and sing twice as long, then they were to report to London.
The withdrawal of the missionaries brought changes in the leadership of some of the branches. My father was made Branch President and mother the Relief Society President. It was a small branch to begin with, but with the withdrawal of the missionaries, this was a test of the faith of the members, and many fell away.
During the six years of war, Aberdeen, one of the four branches in Scotland, was the only branch to remain open all through the war years, with only eleven of us usually in attendance at meetings; 5 adults and 6 children. One family evacuated to the country to get away from the air raids.
Aberdeen is on the northeast coast of Scotland on the same latitude as southern Norway. The German planes had but a short hop, skip and jump from Norway to Aberdeen, and it was easy to find as it stood between two rivers. Radar had not been perfected yet and as a result, the German planes could sneak in and drop their bombs before the air raid siren blew. It was very frightening, hearing the thud of the bombs, and wondering where the next one would land. During the worst raid, a bomb was dropped just two streets away from where we lived.
One member had her apartment damaged in one raid. The members did not have telephones, so Mother, as Relief Society president, had to rely on inspiration to know which sister she needed to visit. One morning after one raid, she felt the need to check on Sister Hendry. When she got to her street, it was blocked and a policeman on guard said a bomb had dropped there. The people had been taken to a Red Cross facility, and Mother found her. She was able to stay temporarily with another member until other arrangements could be made.
With only six children in the branch, it was difficult to have Primary or Mutual. The missionaries had been led to my parents in 1930, but it was two years before they were baptized in the River Dee. I was only four years old then but my sister and myself were also baptized in the River Dee a few years later. The baptisms took place at a secluded place along the river.
It was not until 1948 that Father came to Arizona and the rest of us in 1949.
The faith and testimony of the adults in the branch showed us the way and kept us straight.
Those members were:
My parents, George and Katherine Findlay
Brother Smart
Sisters Eliza Edwards and Mary Hendry
(the children)
Betty Sutherland Houston
Ronald Sutherland
Helen Sutherland
Helen Edwards
Ella Findlay Mitchell
Ina Findlay Slade
To all of them I will be eternally grateful for faith in every footstep.
