Meeting October 18th 2018: The Yankee Mining Squadron — Impact on the Inverness Firth in 1918

Richard Jenner, Chanonry Sailing Club

Cromarty History Society’s October talk is given by Richard Jenner, whose research produced documents that comprise ‘Harbouring Heritage’, charting the history of Fortrose Harbour and surroundings from the 1600s right up to the present time.

These documents, first posted in March 2012, were revised in 2015 and again in 2017 to co-incide with the Harbour’s bi-centenary and included further research and contributions from others. It was during this research and further work undertaken for the 2018 WW1 project at Groam House that Richard first became aware of the US Navy mining operations in WW1, which has all contributed greatly to this talk.

“The USA was famously ‘late’ in joining-in with both World Wars. The exploits of their army in WW1 are well known but less is known about the contribution of the US Navy to something that became known as the Northern Barrage. Similarly, the Cromarty Firth is famous as a major naval anchorage but less is known about the Inverness Firth which played a large part in hosting the US Navy. The talk to the Cromarty History Society will focus on the impact the US Navy had on that firth”. Richard Jenner

Following a full career in the RAF as a Fighter Controller, Richard retired in 2004 on completion of a 5 year tour at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE, Belgium) where he was Chief Air Command & Control. Richard and his wife Helen then moved to the Black Isle and as keen dinghy sailors joined Chanonry Sailing Club. Richard is the Training Principal at the club and the chief instructor (dinghy).

Cromarty History Society meets in the West Church Hall, Cromarty at 7.30pm on the the third Thursday of each month, September - April.