In search of a ghost


Lt. Desmond Arthur, whose death at Montrose
gave rise to the legend of "The Montrose Ghost"

Over the years there have been many reported sightings of ghosts at Montrose aerodrome. Challenged by Montrose Air Station Museum to spend a night on their premises - and live to tell the tale - reporters Julie Currie and Linda Marshall made sure they were well equipped to cope with whatever happened on a snowy night at the Waldron Road site.

WE set off as the snow started, providing the perfect setting for a 'spooktacular' evening. Armed with enough food and drink for a month, we were prepared to come face to face with the ghost.

The famous Montrose spectre dates back to 1913, when Lieutenant Desmond Arthur's aircraft broke up over Lunan Bay and he was killed outright. Buried in Sleepyhillock cemetery, he was said to haunt the air museum dressed in uniform after being blamed for the crash. However, a subsequent inquest cleared his name.

Another ghostly figure said to have walked the museum's corridors is Lieutenant Fergie Waldron. He was killed in battle in France but sightings of the airman have become almost commonplace.

Museum assistant Ian McIntosh said: "Be warned, the place has a very eerie atmosphere. No-one has ever stayed the night in the museum since the second world war when there had to be an officer on night duty. We keep hearing doors rattling as if someone is trying to get in but there's no-one there and footsteps can be heard pacing around. "The last time I heard it was in July this year. It sounded like the door handle was being forced by someone trying to get in but there was no-one there. People have tried to stay the night but packed up and left when the noises began. I would never stay overnight myself."

We camped out in the CO's room and waited for the creaks and groans to start. Trying to take our mind off it, we were reduced to singing the entire score of The Sound of Music. Our own wailings must have warded off the ghost as neither Dezzy or Fergie were anywhere to be seen!

At about 1am, I heard some groans and thought it was the ghost making a late appearance but it was just Julie mumbling in her sleep. While we managed to sleep like logs, I do not fancy doing it again. The place does have a spooky atmosphere with its narrow corridors, old models and flags from the past two world wars. Community education worker Craig Burness took a group of youngsters to the museum as a Halloween treat. He said: "We were there for the witching hour and set up the infra-red sensor in the museum room. It went off and took us all by surprise. I like to keep an open mind and thought it was just a flag fluttering but there was no draught at all in the museum and all bodies were accounted for.

"I work at the museum at the weekends and hear a lot of unexplained noises in the building. The eeriest part is along the corridor."

As for Julie and myself, the interview with the ghost was not to be and we escaped in one piece. So much for things that go bump in the night!

(We are grateful to the Montrose Review Press for permission to publish this article).

Lieutenant Desmond L. Arthur
Desmond Lucius Arthur was born on 31st March 1884 at O'Briens Bridge, County Clare, Ireland, and was educated at Portora Royal School, Inniskilling. He joined the 5th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers (Special Reserve), being gazetted on 27th May 1911. He joined No 2 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps on 17th April 1913, having gained his Flying Certificate, No 233, on the 18th June 1912 flying a Bristol Monoplane at Brooklands.

On 27th May, 1913, Lt. Arthur, dressed in his officer's khaki uniform over which he wore a white Cavalry cover-all, climbed aboard BE2 No 205 for a normal practice flight from Upper Dysart, south of Montrose on the coast road (now the A92). At 7 a.m. the 70hp Renault engine of his aircraft roared into life, and he took to the air heading towards Lunan Bay. Around 30 minutes into the flight the machine was seen descending in a left hand spiral at about 2,500 feet, making a complete turn. The aircraft then banked to the right, and the top right hand wing was seen to collapse from the tip towards the fuselage.

Spectators on the ground reported they heard the engine accelerating and a puff of smoke was emitted from the exhausts. The aircraft pitched downwards throwing Lt. Arthur against his seat strap, bursting the stitching on one side. Lt Arthur fell to his death hitting the ground about 200 yards in front of Lunan Bay Station, his machine crashing about 160 yards away.

This early accident gave rise to the story of 'The Montrose Ghost' during the Great War, when an enquiry accused Lt. Arthur of 'Stunting' his machine. His spectre was seen at the Officer's Quarters, until his name was cleared when the findings of the enquiry were overturned and he was exonerated from all blame for the crash, the accident being due to a botched repair. Lt Arthur is buried locally in Sleepyhillock cemetery. (Montrose Air Station Museum).

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