Discussion: I am sure that many years ago I read a newspaper article that said the military considered there was a possibility during the Cold War that the Soviets might land on the Western Isles and / or perhaps Northern Isles and use as a base for a later action against the mainland.
They were all lightly defended (if at all) so it would have been easy for them
I think the article said that the Royal Marines had done some beach surveys in case they ever did need to make a landing and that some sort of stay-behind force had been set up though I can't remember whether this was using locals, TA or Special Forces.
Can anyone remember reading this and point me to a reference in an old newspaper or even better online.
I was reminded because I noticed a few days that the Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team have found the WWII Auxiliary Unit Operational Base on North Uist that I was told about when photographing some war graves in that area. They also believe there was a patrol on South Uist and two on Benbecula.
MB |