July 1742. A small ship hove to for 2 hours off Cadboll, during which 50 men appeared on her deck, she appeared in the same place 3 days later. She is certainly a privateer waiting for East Indiamen taking the north passage. July 1788. John Tarrel was born in Hilton on the 17th, his father was also John Tarrel, a fisherman, the name of his mother is not recorded. June 1797. The kelp on the shore at Balintore, which extends for 2 miles, is available to be let for a number of years, contact Mr. MacCulloch of Glastullich. January 1807. The ferry boat at Foulis, loaded with goods, was driven from her moorings at the Ness of Invergordon during the late storm and was found the next day dashed to pieces on the shore Cadboll, the cargo has been lost. March 1818. In the village of Balintore, feus will be granted to tradesmen inclined to settle there. Mr Rose, the owner, has had a school house built which will have a qualified teacher. Mr. Rose has also entered into an agreement with a respectable company to carry out herring fishing this season. August 1832. Outbreak of Cholera in the villages. July 1842. Birth of John Ross, the missionary to China. October 1842. The Linnet runs aground on Cinn a Bhairt below Cadboll House. January 1843. The Linnet, bought and refloated by men from the villages is lost in a storm while trying to get her to Balintore Bay, 4 men from Balintore, William, John, George Morrar or MacKenzie and Finla Skinner were lost, and 3 men from Hilton. August 1843. MacLeod of Cadboll will grant no permission to shoot or course this season on his estates, poachers trespassing will be prosecuted. October 1843. A feeble old fisherman, Alexander Morrar or MacKenzie, Balintore, left his cottage to fetch a pail of water from a nearby well. It is thought while descending the steps of the well he slipped and fell into the well, he was found face down in 2 feet of water still clutching the pail, life extinct. One of his son’s had lately perished on the ill fated Linnet. Alexander was highly respected in the village. June 1844. Alexander Vass charged with assaulting Walter Skinner with a bottle, found not guilty as it was proved he was acting in self defence. June 1844. John Vass, Alexander MacKenzie and Alexander Skinner, changed with assaulting Andrew Ross and his wife, to the effusion of blood, at a wedding. John Vass was found guilty and sentenced to 40 days in prison or a £8 fine, he chose the 40 days. The other 2 were found not guilty. August 1844. David Vass, Shandwick, around 18 years of age, was thrown into the sea while shifting sail near Tarbatness, before his crew mates could rescue him he had sunk to the bottom and was seen no more. August 1844. The son of Hugh Vass, Shandwick, was thrown into the ‘great waters’ but with many boats on hand he was safely rescued. August 1844. About 27 French luggers have been seen off Shandwick. The Frangaich as the Highlanders call them are not lying lazy, these French fishers pay no attention to Parliamentary law and act as they will and by their bribery and brandy and Sabbath carousing and concerting they are affecting our thoughtless youth. Something should be done by our Ministers to stop their encroachments to our rights and our rules of morality. March 1847. A party of farm servants went to the public house in Shandwick, amongst them was George Murray, a 19 year old youth from Beachanlochan in the Parish of Fearn. George was of weak intellect, the others started to ply with whisky. It is thought he drank 15 whiskies and became insensible. He was taken home in his master’s cart but never recovered and died on Sunday morning. The police are looking at the circumstances of his death. April 1847. Shandwick Stone blown over in a hurricane and broken into three pieces. April 1848. The school at Balintore, which is supported by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, the pupils were tested by a committee of clergymen on their knowledge of Latin, English reading, grammar, geography, arithmetic and bible knowledge. The school role has 102 pupils of which 72 were present, the rest were absent due to the prevalence of influenza and hooping cough in the area. The Reverend gentlemen found themselves ‘highly satisfied’ with the pupils abilities. November 1848. Hilton of Cadboll woman found frozen to death, she had helped walk her husband, who was drunk, home from Tain and it is thought in a state of exhaustion on a very cold night she lay down to sleep and succumbed to the cold. August 1849. Farmer James Anderson, Balintore, was tried for assault on fisherman David Vass, Balintore Park. It would appear that some fishermen were trespassing on Mr. Anderson’s land and after chasing them and confronting them, somehow the rake he was carrying struck Mr. Vass on the head causing serious injury, from which he has now recovered. Mr Anderson pleaded not quilty and was acquitted. September 1849. Peter Ross or MacWilliam, Balintore, over 6o years of age, married, a sawyer to trade. Appeared at Tain Court charged with forgery. He presented himself at the Commercial Bank of Scotland, Tain, with a letter purported to be from the Rev. David Fraser, Nigg. The letter was addressed to the ‘Commeil bank of Seland, tain’, and said ‘ Sur I want the sum of 60 pounds sterling and 12 shilins inclosed and giv it to my berer and put it into my account for a munth’ it was signed Davan Fraser. David Fraser has no account at this bank. Peter Ross’s defence argued that nobody in their right mind would accept the note as genuine. The prosecution argued fraud is fraud no matter how bad the documentation, the Judge, Lord Cockburn, agreed and told the jury the defence’s argument had no place in law. The foreman of the jury announced a guilty verdict without retiring, moments later other members of the jury said they had not been asked their opinion. Lord Cockburn asked them to retire, they returned a few minutes later with a verdict of guilty by majority. Lord Cockburn in sentencing the accused to 1 year imprisonment pointed out that not that long ago he would have been hung for this crime and if he appears before him again he will be transported to Australia. November 1850. Active steps have been taken to erect a harbour at Hilton of Cadboll. The subscription list already amounts to many hundreds of pounds and the Board of Fisheries are to advance the remaining sum required for the project. July 1851. A company from Glasgow are making arrangements to commence the manufacture of lime on the Shandwick Estate near Balintore, Ross-Shire. It is thought that coal will be in abundance near the limestone. December 1853. Walter MacKenzie charged with assault and breach of the peace, breach of the peace was not proven, but guilty of assault, 10 days or 30 shillings [£1.50p], find paid. June 1854. The wedding took place at Hilton of Cadboll of Margaret, second youngest daughter of Captain Donald MacKay, late of the 21st or Royal Scots Fusiliers, to Robert Brown Turnbull of Balnaha. January 1855. Death at Invergordon of Isabella Reid, wife of the late Walter Aird, Walter used to be the schoolmaster at Balintore. October 1855. The village of Hilton of Cadboll now contains 23 herring boats and 12 haddock boats. The harbour is no longer large enough for the trade but it is expected to be improved to accommodate boats calling in the future. Hilton of Cadboll sits halfway between the Cromarty ferry and Portmahomack and with these advantages fish curers would have little difficulty in converting it into a valuable station. August 1856. Lexy MacKay, Hilton, sentenced to 50 days imprisonment for theft. May 1857. Case of Witchcraft in Hilton, fisherman Donald Ross had an attraction for a young lady which was recipricated, when his feelings towards her cooled he suddenly became ill. He decided she had put a spell on him in revenge and a way to stop that spell was to cut a cross into the girl’s forehead. He attacked the girl, throwing her to the ground he managed to cut her cheek before she fought him off and escaped. The Sheriff wondered in this day and age how people could still believe a girl had the ability to cast a spell and make someone ill. Fined 20 shillings [£1] or 12 days in prison. April 1860. Andrew Ross, a Shandwick fisherman, was tried for violent assault on 12 year old Jessie Ross, a servant at the inn, by, without provocation throwing her down 4 stone steps. The case was proven and Ross was fined 5 shillings which he paid immediately. November 1860. Bella Mitchell, an old woman belonging to Balintore, was attacked by a ruffian near Broomtown, she was dragged off her cart and kicked violently, her pocket was torn off but only contained 8 pence, she had other money concealed on her person which was saved. Highway robbery is very rare in the district. August 1861. At Hilton of Cadboll, the death of George D. MacKay, aged 34, son of Captain D. MacKay. June 1863. The wife of Robert Ross, farm servant, Balintore, gave birth to triplets, 2 boys and a girl, 1 of the boys was still born. June 1863. New Schoolhouse at Hilton opened by Mr. MacDonald, F.C. February 1864. A fishing boat from Hilton of Cadboll with a crew of 3 adults and 2 boys were caught in a severe gale, this was spotted from the shore and a herring boat was sent to it’s rescue. The rescue crew were William Tarrel, Hugh Sutherland, Alex Ross, Alexander Tarrel, all Hilton and Donald MacKenzie, Daniel Skinner, Donald MacKenzie, all Balintore. Everybody safe. May 1864. At Cadboll House, MacLeod of Cadboll, presented, from the National Lifeboat Institution, £1 to each of 12 fishermen who went to the rescue of small boat in distress in a violent storm. Each also received 6 shillings from a collection in appreciation of their deed. The 12 were Hugh Sutherland, Donald MacKenzie, Hugh Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Alexander Tarrel, Alex Ross, Hugh MacInnes, Hugh Sutherland, Alexander MacKenzie and William Tarrel all Hilton and Donald MacKenzie, Daniel Skinner and Donald MacKenzie all Balintore. August 1864. A herring boat from Hilton of Cadboll was broken to pieces at Portliach, no lives were lost. August 1864. John Wilson, fisherman, Hilton of Cadboll, fined 5 shillings for assaulting James Munro, carrier, and William Ross, shoemaker, at Tain market. January 1865. There has been at great storm in Scotland, in Balintore the barometer was seen to drop as low as 28 37. November 1865. The sloop, William and Alexander of Inverness, sailing from Helmsdale to the Caledonian Canal, loaded with herrings, was driven onto the rocks east of Balintore and has entirely broken up. About 40 barrels of herrings were saved and part of the wreck was rouped. May 1866. George Ross, society teacher at Balintore dies at the age of 82, he taught in Gaelic and English. December 1866. James Finlay, innkeeper, Balintore, found guilty of allowing 10 Balintore fishermen to be still drinking in the bar 40 minutes after the 11pm curfew. Fined £1 or 10 days imprisonment. January 1867. A vessel from Jersey on route from Malta to Leith and driven north by strong winds was wrecked at Balintore, the crew were saved by Balintore fishermen but it’s cargo of oranges were washed up on the shore and were sold for marmalade on the streets of Tain and Invergordon by fishwives. The fishwives attempts to pronounce marmalade in the Gaelic caused much hilarity in the towns. February 1867. William McAngus and Jessie McKenzie, from Hilton, who are engaged to be married, arrive in Galveston, Texas. They marry and settle in Travis County, Texas, the marriage produces 11 children, Daniel, Jessie, Barbara, David, Andrew, Laura, William, Alexander, Hugh, Annie Belle and Murdow. William is the son of Donald McAngus and Barbara Vass of Hilton.

Picture courtesy of Larry Jackson.
April 1868. James Ross, Balintore, awarded a degree, Master of Arts, from Aberdeen University. October 1868. A small sloop the ‘Jessie’, out of Fraserburgh, was wrecked on rocks east of Hilton of Cadboll. The ‘Jessie’ had delivered coal to Brora and was on her way home when a gale sprung up from the north-east, the Captain made for the Cromarty Firth but on a dark night mistook the the lights of Cadboll House for the Cromarty beacon. No boat could be launched but 3 Hilton fishermen, John MacAngus, John MacDonald and Alexander MacKenzie courageously volunteered to enter the water and caught a rope thrown from the ship and brought the crew of 2 men and a boy ashore safely. February 1870. Murdo MacLeay, a flesher of Hilton of Cadboll, found guilty of stealing sheep from Kiltearn, sentenced to 9 months in Dingwall jail. February 1871. The schooner ‘Driver’ belonging to William Ross, wrecked on the rocks at Hilton of Cadboll, was put up for auction. The hull was sold for £6 and 5 shillings and the whole sale realised a considerable sum. August 1872. The missionary John Ross and his wife Mary A. Stewart arrive at the missionary station Chefoo, Shantung Peninsula, China. February 1873. Mary, the wife of John Ross the missionary, dies not long after giving birth. March 1876. Catherine Sutherland Ross, daughter of Hugh Ross, Broomton Cottage, marries the Rev. John MacIntyre, U.P. mission, Manchuria, at Newchwany, China. Catherine’s brother, the Missionary John Ross conducted the service.

John MacIntyre [1836-1905] and his wife Catherine Sutherland Ross of Balintore, sister of the missionary John Ross.

Hilton School. After 1911 when new room [on right as viewer looks] was added.


Balintore Harbour, circa 1912. Picture courtesy of Tain and District Museum.
August 1912. The SS Gleno of Newcastle is discharging coal for Messrs. James Ross and Coy., merchants, Balintore.

Balintore harbour circa 1912. The SS Gleno, Newcastle, in the foreground. She sank in 1917 on route from Barry to Falmouth carrying bags of flour.
August 1912. The second squadron of the Channel Fleet is anchored of Balintore. August 1912. Another heavy storm of wind and rain was experienced, several of the salmon fishers nets were cast ashore and exciting scenes were witnessed as the Balintore and Hilton fishing fleets landed at Balintore. The boats made it ashore without mishaps and with good catches. August 1912. The close of the net salmon season. This year was a record one. The stations at Balintore, Port- an- Righ [leased by Mr. Strachan], and at Hilton, Port-an-Larg, Portmahomack and the Mhorrich Mhor, tenanted by Messrs. G. and J. Paterson, yielded large catches, sometimes over 100 fish a day were landed. The closing day price was 1shilling and 10pence per pound. September 1912. Alexander MacKay [Sensie], Hilton, is the only survivor from the Hilton boat the Ella Brewster, lost off Fort George loaded with mussels for bait, the other crew members, Charles MacKay, body not recovered, John Patience, body not recovered, John [Fillie] MacDonald [Tarrel], body found on the shore at Kintradwell, Loth, Sutherland, Hugh [Billy] Sutherland, body found on the Moray coast. All were from Hilton. October 1912. The death has occurred of Miss Jessie McRae, aged eighteen, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Murdoch McRae, Commercial Hotel, Balintore, after a few days of illness. Jessie was buried at Balintore cemetery with a large attendance present. A service at the house was conducted by the Rev. Charles Robertson, Abbey Parish Church and the Rev, MacLean, Chapelhill United Free Church and at the graveside by the Rev. Kerr, Fearn, United Free Church.

Jessie McRae, Commercial Hotel.
November 1912. Salmon fishing at Porst-an-Righ, Balintore, property of Charles Ross of Balnagown, has been leased to Mr. John Paterson, licensee of fishing at Hilton, Cadboll, Portmahomack and the Mhorrich Mhor. December 1912. Jessie Ann MacAngus, youngest daughter of Mr. John MacAngus, carter, Hilton of Cadboll, has died at the early age of seventeen. The funeral was one of the largest seen in the district, Jessie Ann was interred in Balintore cemetery. February 1913. John Ross, born in Shandwick 1863, is lost overboard in the North Sea from the Aberdeen trawler Strathdon, John was a deckhand, married and lived at 6, Donald’s Court, Schoolhill, Aberdeen. September 1913. The community of Balintore were shocked by the sudden death of William Skinner at the age of 35 years. William, a stonemason to trade, was known all over the Northern Counties as an excellent tradesman and was in continuous employment. In 1907 he emigrated to the USA, to Buffalo, New York State, his travel record states, he was 5ft 7ins, blue eyes, brown hair, scar over left eye and had a wife Catherine at home. He returned home and was in the process of building a house for his wife and young family in Hilton of Cadboll at the time of his death. The funeral took place at Fearn Abbey. June 1914. James Ross, merchant, Balintore, has purchased the sailing schooner Lochranza Castle, his new ship arrived in Balintore harbour with a cargo of coal for him.

Lochranza Castle on the beach at Nairn.
June 1914. Alexander Vass, 8 New Street, Shandwick, claimed £20 lose of wages against Peter Reid, skipper of the steam drifter Faithful, Vass claimed he was hired for the 1913 herring season at Lossiemouth and Yarmouth but was dismissed after Lossiemouth and therefore missed the wages for Yarmouth. Peter Reid claimed that Vass had left of his own free will and he had lost 4 days fishing while trying to replace Vass and put in a counter claim of £20 lose of earnings. When the Sheriff said he was leaning towards Reid, both claims were withdrawn and the case was dismissed. June 1914. The Highland Brigade, camped in Tain, had a rude awakening, reveille at 4.00am. they were on call to repel an invasion of 1750 Royal Marines put ashore from battleships at Balintore, Tarbat Ness, Portmahomack, Nigg and other suitable points of advantage. The defending force found the attackers located on the heights beyond Locheye, the marines had managed to drag a 4.7 gun to a point 700 feet high and the big gun opened fire as the defenders deployed. The battle went on for 6 hours before a cease fire was called, the Naval Brigade having the best of the encounter. October 1914. David Vass, Shandwick, Donald MacKenzie, Balintore, and John McAngus, Hilton, all Royal Navy, interned in the Netherlands for the duration of the war after escaping the German advances around Antwerp, 4 years in HMS Timbertown.

John McAngus, born 1891, Shore Street, Hilton.
October 1914. Bo’ness Sea Scouts arrive at Fearn Railway Station, a patrol are to be stationed at Shandwick Bay. They carried their full kit and each scout had been presented with a thick winter jersey. Under the watchful eye of the local coastguard they will patrol the coastline.

Sea Scouts, Hilton, circa 1914
November 1914. William Sutherland, RNR, son of William and Annie Sutherland, 21 Shore Street, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Monmouth was sunk by gunfire off Chile. He was 26 years of age. December 1914. Andrew Vass, Seaforth Highlanders, son of Nicholas and Christina Vass, 1 Mid Street, Shandwick, Killed in Action in France. He was 22 years of age.

Andrew Vass
December 1914. Donald Skinner, 12 Main Street, Balintore, while serving with the Seaforth Highlanders at La Bassee in France, is shot in the head, he is carried from the battlefield paralysed in both legs and one arm, he is returned to Britain for hospital treatment. In 1916 Donald is returned home to Balintore, deemed unfit for military service or any general labour.

Donald Skinner circa 1928.
June 1915. The dwelling house of Alexander Skinner, shoemaker, of Hilton was broken into and a purse containing a sum of money stolen. June 1915. Eight men from Hilton were serving on HMS Triumph when she was torpedoed and sunk in the Dardanelles. When the news of the sinking reached Hilton great concern was felt in all the wives and families until a telegraphic message was received that all were safe. August 1915. The missionary John Ross dies in Edinburgh.

John Ross [portrait], Missionary to China.
June 1916. Murdoch McRae, owner of the Commercial Hotel dies.
June 1916. James Watt, Royal Engineers, son of James and Christina Watt, Schoolhouse, Hilton, Killed In Action In France. He was 21 years of age. July 1916. Andrew Ross, RNR, husband of Christina Ross, 3 Park Street, Balintore, dies of sunstroke on his ship HMS. Dalhousie in Basra, Iraq. He was 43 years of age.

Andrew Ross.
August 1916. Robert Ross, Machine Gun Corp, husband of Isabella Ross, Bank Street, Balintore, Killed in Action in France.

Robert Ross
August 1916. Alister Ross, Australian forces, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McAndrew Ross, Hilton, Killed in Action in France. He was 22 years of age. October 1916. William Vass [Goatie], Balintore, a gunner on the S.S. Cyrene sinks a German submarine, turning a blind eye to his Captain’s thoughts of surrender. He is awarded a DSM for bravery. November 1916. Hugh MacAngus, RNR, husband of Christina MacAngus, 3 Braefoot, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HM. Trawler Dhoon hits a mine in the English Channel. He was 33 years of age. November 1916. Donald Vass, sniper, Seaforth Highlanders, Bank Street, Balintore, Mentioned in Dispatches, for bravery in France. January 1917. Elizabeth Margaret [Bertha], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Ross, Hilton, marries Donald MacLean of Beauly. January 1917. Hugh Skinner, RNR, son of Alexander and Annie Skinner, 6 Back Street, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Laurentic struck mines off the west coast of Ireland. He was 25 years of age. February 1917. William Hugh MacAngus, RNR, son of William and Annie MacAngus, Craiglea, Hilton, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Ghurka hits a mine off Dungeness. He was 21 years of age. February 1917. James MacKay, RNR, son of Alexander and Annie MacKay, 2 Shore Street, Balintore, dies at the shore base HMS. Excellent. He was 21 years of age. April 1917. John McAngus, third son of James McAngus, late of Hilton, now at 12 Jackson Street, Besses o’ th’ Barn, Manchester, has died in his 25th year. He was a late officer at the Crumpsall Union, the Manchester workhouse hospital, the hospital has been taking wounded from the front since 1914. June 1917. The water pump in Hilton has been broken again, Mr Sutherland, Hilton, in drawing attention of the damage to the district committee, said there was a mania in the village for breaking the pump. Provost Maitland suggested the police should be involved and Mr. Bone said the Hilton should be made into a special water district. July 1917. John Vass, RNR, son of Alexander and Helen Vass, 8 New Street, Shandwick, Killed in Action when his ship HMS. Otway is torpedoed off Lewis. He was 24 years of age. July 1917. Murdo McRae, Machine Corp, ex Seaforth Highlanders, Commercial hotel, Balintore, award DCM for bravery while fighting in France.

Murdo McRae
July 1917. William Ross, Seaforth Highlanders, son of Alexander and Isabella Ross, Balintore, Killed in Action in France. He was 22 years of age. August 1917. Sutherland Munro, 4 Shore Street, Balintore, with Canadian forces, awarded the MM for bravery while fighting in France.

Sutherland Munro
September 1917. James Johnstone, the well known farmer and butcher has passed away in Balintore at the age of 75. September 1917. Nearly 300 pupils of Hilton School had their annual picnic and sports on Balintore green, Mr. D. MacKay, Cape Town, South Africa, a native of Hilton, has for many years sent a donation of £4 to help pay for this event. Donations of money were also received from Mrs Brewster, Pitkerrie and Mrs Strachan, Balintore. Instead of sweets each pupil was given a penny before they were sent home. October 1917. Kenneth Vass, Seaforth Highlanders, husband of Helen Vass, 3 Mid Street, Shandwick, Killed in Action in France. He was 34 years of age. November 1917. W. Vass, 40412, Seaforth Highlanders, listed as Wounded in Action in France. December 1917. Alexander Vass, fisherman, Balintore, is injured when his ship HMS. Acasta is in collision in the English Channel. Born on the 12th of July 1882, Alexander is 5ft. 4 and 3/4inches tall, has black hair, blue eyes, dark complexion and has a mole on the right side of his jaw.

HMS. Acasta,
February 1918. Hugh MacKay, Merchant Navy, Hilton, announcement in the London Gazette of his award of the DSM. April 1918. Walter Balfour, RNR, Hilton, announcement in the London Gazette of his award of the DSM, for his work in mine sweeping. April 1918. Sergeant William Vass, South African Infantry, has been wounded and captured by the Germans at Messines, Belgium. William’s home address in given as 7 New Street, Shandwick, he was born in 1879 and his next of kin is listed as Mrs MacKenzie. May 1918. There is to be a new minefield in the Moray Firth, no ship is to anchor anywhere in the firth except within a 1 mile radius of Balintore, any ships moored outside this area will be sunk. There will be a clear passage westward of the minefield but any ship coming into this channel in darkness will be sunk. The Admiralty has advised. August 1918. Findlay McFadyen Ross, MC, son of the missionary John Ross, Killed in Action in France. He was 25 years of age.

Findlay McFadyen Ross
August 1918. Donald MacKenzie, RNR, husband of Catherine MacKenzie, 5 Hugh Street, Balintore, drowns in Barry Harbour while serving on the SS. Gorsemore. He was 41 years of age. August 1918. Kenneth McRae DCM, MM and Bar, Commercial Hotel, Balintore, husband of Annie Ross, Shandwick, Killed in Action in France while serving with Canadian forces. He was 27 years of age.

Kenneth McRae
October 1918. A. McAngus, 121783, Royal Garrison Artillery, from Hilton has been reported as wounded. December 1918. David Vass, RNR, son of John and Christina Vass, 12 Bank Street, Balintore, dies of influenza on the shore base HMS. Victory. He was 22 years of age. December 1918. Married in Chelmsford, Corporal James McAngus, Seaforth Highlanders, youngest son of the late John and Mrs McAngus, Hilton, to Margaret Wright of Chelmsford. [see April 1919] January 1919. Lance Corporal D. Vass, No. 201137, Balintore, Seaforth Highlanders, has been released from a Prisoner of War camp. April 1919. James McAngus, aged 26, originally from Hilton, employed at Crompton and Co., Chelmsford, has been accidentally electrocuted at work. The deceased was recently demobilised from the Seaforth Highlanders after being gassed at the front. He had served 3 years in France, a hero of Mons, he only married Margaret Wright in December of last year. April 1919. The Honourable Norman Cranstoun MacLeod, 3rd son of MacLeod of Cadboll, has been appointed by the King to be the Chief Justice of the Court in Bombay, India. June 1919. Hugh Ross, Bank St., Balintore, was up in court in Invergordon charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the policeman trying to take him into custody. He pleaded guilty, £5 or 30 days. His friend Andrew Skinner, Shore Street, Shandwick, was charged with attempting to rescue Hugh from the clutches of the law and obstructing the police in their lawful duty. He also pleaded guilty, £5 or 30 days. January 1920. John Vass, 13 Lady Street, Hilton, a fisherman to trade, enrols in the Royal Tank Corp. He was previously in the Lovat Scouts and also the Royal Naval Reserve, No.9505A. He is 20 years old. October 1920. Alexander Vass, RNR, born 1885, is listed on Naval records as ‘accidentally killed’. December 1920. The Royal Flying Corp changed it’s name near the end of the First World War, on the 1st of April 1918, it became the Royal Air Force [RAF]. On the 8th of August 1918 Finlay Vass [Tom] of 4 Bank Street, Balintore, joined the newly formed RAF as an Aero Rigger. Finlay was the son of Thomas and Jessie Vass, a carpenter to trade, just right for working on the mainly wooden aeroplanes. Finlay was born in 1900 was 5 ft 2 inches tall, dark hair, grey eyes and on the 20th of December 1920 he was dead, drowned, near Balintore harbour. January 1921. Three men from Hilton, all members of the Lovat Scouts have signed up for the Tank Corp. They are Andrew Tarrel, his next of kin is his father A. Tarrel, 8 Lady Street. Donald MacKay his next of kin is his mother Mrs W MacKay, 3 King Street and John Ross his next of kin is his father F Ross, 11 Shore Street. February 1921. Elsie MacAngus, from the Seaboard villages marries Ralph Sedwick in Monrovia, Indiana, U.S.A. February 1921. The Hilton of Cadboll stone has been removed from Invergordon Castle and given to the British Museum in London by Captain McLeod of Cadboll, the whole country is up in arms that such an important antiquary has left Scotland, it is hoped that the London Museum can be persuaded to refuse the stone and it will be put to Edinburgh instead. The famous Cadboll brooch already resides in the London museum after being given to it by Captain McLeod’s grandfather.

Hilton of Cadboll Stone at Invergordon Castle.
March 1921. The British Museum has decided, because of the disquiet in Scotland over the removal of the Hilton of Cadboll Stone to England, they will refuse Captain MacLeod of Cadboll’s offer. The stone will now be found a resting place in Scotland. February 1922. Mr. D. Sutherland aged 75, has died as a result of motor accident, his neck was broken. He was for many years a well known hotel keeper at Hilton of Cadboll. December 1922. John Campbell, born in Hilton in 1884 to Kenneth Campbell and Isabella Sutherland, is drowned when the Grimsby trawler Celerina is wrecked on the north coast of Norway near Vardo. John’s father Kenneth also drowned when the Janet Storm disappeared with all hands in the North Sea in 1892. March 1924. Nicholas Vass, 1 Mid Street, Shandwick, aged 23, has left on the SS Balranald for Melbourne, Australia. August 1924. David Fraser [16], Post office, Hilton, and William MacKay [17], 12 Back Street, Hilton, were swimming for some time between Hilton and Balintore, after they came ashore William decided to go back out again but 60 yards out he was seized by cramp and disappeared. Three men, Hugh MacKay, 1 King Street, Hilton, Hugh Ross, 25 Back Street, Hilton, and William’s brother Hugh swam to the rescue. His brother twice brought the drowning boy back from the bottom and with help got him ashore. P.C. Campbell applied artifical respiration and after one hour signs of life appeared, by next day he was out of danger. October 1924. Hugh MacKay, 19, a student from 12 Back Street, Hilton, has been given a Parchment Award by the Royal Humane Society, for saving the life of his brother William from drowning in the Moray Firth. December 1924. Donald Duncan, Donald Morrison and David Morrison, labourers, Shandwick, were charged with being in possession of 18 rabbits in a bag, a rabbit net and a small spade in contravention of the poaching act. All pleaded not guilty, after the evidence was given, found guilty. Fined £2 or 14 days in prison, fines paid. June 1924. Donald Mackenzie, born on the 19th August 1895 to William and Elizabeth Mackenzie of 15 Bank Street, Balintore, dies from internal injuries after an accident on the SS Honorata in Avonmouth. April 1925. Annie Vass [Tom], aged 29, 4 Bank Street, Balintore, embarks on board the SS Baradine bound for Australia. June 1926. Margaret Christian Balfour, Sea View Cottage, Hilton, marries David Walker, Leven. July 1926. Donald McAngus, from Hilton, a seaman aboard the SS Shahristan, dies while the ship is berthed in Marseilles, France. Donald is 48 years old. August 1926. Thomas Ross, aged 65, of Balintore, dies. Late of the Ross-Shire Constabulary. October 1926. John Ross, Hilton, has been awarded the MacPherson Bursary of £35 for Gaelic speaking students, he was educated at Hilton School and Tain Royal Academy. August 1927. Balintore aquatic sports held, trophies handed out by Captain Dewar, Harperfield, Lanarkshire. The Dewar Challenge Cup for sailing was won by ” Togo ” skippered by William Skinner.

Back, left to right as viewer looks. Willie Skinner [born circa 1876], Geordie Skinner [ born circa 1882], Davie Skinner. Front. Davie Skinner [4 Shore Street born circa 1872]. Willie, Geordie and Davie were brothers and the younger Davie the son of Geordie.

Gordon Crawford M.A., appointed headmaster of Hilton School, September 1927, he was previously headmaster at Dallas Public School.
November 1927. James Watt retires as headmaster of Hilton Public School, he was appointed in 1888, he was presented with a solid silver salver and a well filled wallet of treasury notes with gratitude from pupils, teachers and parents. March 1928. Thomas Vass drowns but David Skinner is saved when the Pearl flounders at the harbour entrance.

Thomas Vass
May 1928. Hugh MacKay senior, Hilton, was awarded a bronze medal by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for his part in the rescue of the boat, Pearl, 4 other men with him, William Ross, engineer, John Paterson, fish salesman, Andrew Sutherland, fisherman, all Hilton and David Skinner, fisherman, Balintore, were given inscribed vellum parchments for their part in the rescue in March. October 1928. David Skinner, born in Balintore in 1903, the ship’s painter aboard the M.V. Limerick, berthed in Fremantle, Australia, falls from a ladder into the sea while chipping paint and is drowned. Leslie Neilson, engineer, dives into the water but is unable to locate David. David’s merchant navy records state he was 5ft 8 ins tall, had blue eyes and brown hair.

M.V. Limerick.
March 1929. Ross-shire Junior Football League formed, Balintore included. June 1929. Andrew Skinner, retired passenger guard, N.B.R., dies at Easter Cottage, Hilton. August 1929. Isabel Vass, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Vass, Balintore, married John Gould, St. Vigeans, Arbroath. November 1929. Gordon Crawford, the Treasurer of Balintore FC, tells the AGM they have funds of £20. A new committee is formed with R. Patience, W MacDonald and D Skinner resigning and A Ross, G Browning and C Yeoman replacing them. The new Convener is A Ross, Archie McRae, Vice Convener, C Yeoman, Secretary, Gordon Crawford continues as Treasurer. June 1930. Miss Mercedes Gleitz, the Channel swimmer, hopes to swim from Findhorn across the Moray Firth to Balintore, a distance of 12 miles in 12 hours. Miss Gleitz gives up after 2 hours, it’s too cold. October 1930. William Skinner, his wife Annie and daughter Sophia, 3 Bank Street, Balintore, leave on the ship SS Hobsons Bay from Southampton bound for Australia. December 1930. It has been agreed to install a telephone in Hilton Police Station. February 1931. The death of Mrs Christina Watt, teacher, wife of James Watt retired headmaster of Hilton School, Mrs Watt taught at Hilton School for over 40 years. April 1931. Balintore woman wins breach of promise action in Tain court against Tain man, awarded £200 plus expenses. May 1931. A house in Shandwick, belonging to a widow Mrs. Ross and her 4 sons and also Mr. and Mrs MacAngus and their young family of 2, was destroyed by fire. By the time the fire was seen the thatch on the roof had caught and although many helpers fought the blaze the house was unsaveable. They did however manage to stop the fire moving to neighbouring properties. February 1932. A district nurse is required for the Fearn and Tarbat Parishes, preference will be given to applicants with district nursing experience and who can drive a car. Pay, £150 per annum. May 1932. James Watt, former headmaster of Hilton School for over 30 years, dies at the age of 69.

James Watt, Headmaster
June 1932. The grievances of the U.F. Continuing Church on the attitude taken by the Church of Scotland on the property question are highlighted in the situation at Balintore and Nigg. The congregations were promised Balintore hall and made plans to reconstruct the hall into a church costed at £600. They then found out that the wording in the minutes which said ‘exclusive disposal’ had been replaced by the words ‘exclusive use’, this change of wording scuppered their plans. July 1932. John MacAngus, 9 John Street, Balintore, apprentice baker, drowns in mountainous seas in Shandwick Bay, his next door neighbour Donald MacKenzie is saved by Alexander Vass, 1 Park Street, but Andrew Wood, 12 Park Street, exhausted, was unable to hold on to MacAngus and he had to be rescued by Vass by which time MacAngus had disappeared. October 1932. Seaside Swifts beat Invergordon 4-2 to go top of the Ross-Shire league. October 1932. Seaside Swifts, the only unbeaten team in the Ross-Shire League, travelled to Ardgay, last seasons Champions. The game was well contested and the Swifts led 1-0 at half time. In the second half the Swifts came onto a fine game and ran out 4-0 winners. October 1932. Gordon Crawford spoke on the subject of ballads, and their place in literature at the Hilton WRI, Mrs Vass was 1st for toffee making, Miss MacDonald second and Miss Vass third. November 1932. Isobel, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Paterson, Croma Villa, Hilton, marries Charles Stewart of Davro House, Kincardineshire. December 1932. Death of William McAngus in Texas at the age of 90, originally from Hilton.

William McAngus, Texas.
April 1933. Seaside Swifts F.C. beat Tain F.C. 6-0. May 1933. Seaside Swifts, the League Champions, will receive the trophy and medals after they play a League select on the 3rd of May in Tain.

Seaside Swifts 1933.
June 1933. Sergeant Hugh Innes Ross, Seaforth Highlanders, son of Mrs. and the late Mr. Thomas Ross, Balintore, marries Ann Main-Ellen of Nairn in Dover. September 1933. Marriage of Andrew Ross, merchant, Balintore, and Elizabeth Corbett, North Balmuchy. The bride was attended by her sisters Tina and Effie, Donald Ross, brother of the groom, was best man. March 1934. Seaside Swifts F.C. beat Tain F.C. 5-0 in the Pattison Cup. June 1934. Hilton F.C. beat Balintore F.C. 4-2 in the final of the Ross Cup played in Tain. The cup final was postponed when was discovered the game coincided with the start of the U.F. Church Sacraments. Balintore decided to scratch from the game as most of their players were part of the congregation of the U.F. Church but the Ross Football Association decided to put the game back a week. October 1934. St. Duthus 1- Seaside Swifts 5, scorers for the Swifts were MacDonald, 2, Morrison, 2, and R. Ross. November 1934. Invergordon 1- Seaside Swifts 1. Seaside Swifts, the League leaders were held at Invergordon. Ross scored for the Swifts in the second half. November 1934. Inverness Thistle have made a capture in the signing of MacDonald, a Balintore youth who plays outside left. He previously played for Seaside Swifts, he is fast with a powerful shot. January 1935. Seaside Swifts withdraw from the Novar Cup, several Swifts players have committed themselves to Ross County, while two others, Ross and MacAngus will play for Ross County tomorrow. January 1935. Seaside Swifts are deducted 7 points for playing senior players by the Ross-Shire Junior League. J. Skinner has turned on more than two occasions for Ross County, G. MacDonald has played for Inverness Thistle on more than three occasions. Swift officials pled ignorance of the rules which they were only furnished with after the complaint was made. The League decided that the Swifts should lose the three points gained when these players had played and also two points for each game, making a total of seven points deducted. The League understands the Swifts will not play their remaining League games. At the same meeting the Swifts also lost out on the refund of 7/6p. The Swifts decided to withdrawn from the Novar Cup, but then reconsidered and sent their 7/6p entrance fee. By the time this was received, Alness, who they were drawn against, had already played Invergordon in the next round therefore not giving the Swifts a chance to compete. The League decided the Swifts were at fault for withdrawing at the outset and kept the money. March 1935. It was intimated at the Ross-Shire Junior League meeting that Seaside Swifts would now fulfil all their remaining fixtures. April 1935. Seaside Swifts fielded two teams on Saturday, one travelled to Ardgay and in the semi final of the Pattison Cup won 6-2 and will now play Brora in the final. Cromarty came to Balintore in the semi final of the Gilbey Cup and defeated the Swifts 5-2. April 1935. Brora win the Pattison Cup in Tain beating Seaside Swifts 5-4 in the final. May 1935. Alness won the Mid-Ross Shield beating Black Rock, Alness had Balfour and Ross of Seaside Swifts playing for them. August 1935. Baby seal caught in a stake net is thriving in the pond in John Paterson’s garden, it is quite tame, coming to a call, is handled freely, climbs stairs and sits up waiting for its fish. November 1935. Seaside Swifts 3 – St. Duthus 0, Swifts were indebted to Skinner, lately of Ross County, for a fine solo goal and making the other two goals. December 1935. Seaside Swifts scratched to Invergordon in the first round of the MacKenzie Cup. January 1936. George McKay Patience, Hilton, is a member of the crew of RSS Discovery, the Antarctic research ship, which rescues the US explorer Lincoln Ellsworth and his pilot, Herbert Hollick-Kenyon, both have been missing in the Antarctic for 2 months after their plane ran out of fuel. March 1936. Miss MacKay, Balintore, retires from teaching at Hilton School after 28 years. April 1936. G. MacDonald, Hilton, and R. Ross, Balintore, are in the Easter Ross Select football team to play the touring Aberdeen University, the University win 4-2. June 1936. Simon McLeod, brother of D.F. McLeod, proprietor of the Balintore hotel, was wounded in the thigh by the explosion of a cartridge which was being taken out of the breech of a sporting gun. He was removed to the Royal Northern Infirmary, Inverness. August 1936. A grilse tagged in Trondhjem fjord on July 13th is caught in a Balintore net on the 1st of August, it had swam approximately 400 miles in 17 days. February 1937. Hilton Players performed 3 plays at Hilton School in aid of the Easter Ross ambulance service, the local orchestra, Messrs. Vass, MacLennan, Falconer and Crawford played selections of music. April 1937. Marriage of Catherine MacKenzie, Hilton, and William Robertson, Culgower, Loth.

Catherine MacKenzie, Hilton and William Robertson
August 1937. At the Cromarty Regatta, 1st for the handicapped motor boat race, Jeannie [W. Skinner, Balintore], 1st for the life saving competition, Messrs Skinner and Morrison, Balintore, greasy pole, D.A.Ross, Hilton. September 1937. No blame has been attached to Donald Hugh Ross, general merchant, Hilton, on the death of Catherine Munro, house- tablemaid at Arboll House. The deceased was cycling on the wrong side of the road and when the van horn was sounded she made no attempt to go to the correct side. When Donald Hugh Ross pulled over to the wrong side so they could pass Catherine suddenly swerved across in front of him. May 1938. Marriage of Miss Dolina MacAngus, Hilton, to William MacKenzie, Inverness.

May 1938, at Tain Free Presbyterian Church. Left to right as viewer looks. Hector MacKenzie, Nan Byers, William MacKenzie, Dolina MacAngus [Hilton], Annie MacAngus, Joey MacKenzie.

Joe Cowie.
June 1939. In the villages of Hilton, Balintore and Shandwick so far only 2 young men have enlisted in the army, at the age of 18 most youths follow the precedent of their forebears and join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, already there are 200 young men in the Reserve. August 1939. Margaret Wilhelmina Howland travelled from Canada with her wedding cake, the icing had been done by Mr. Stewart, Toronto, who won the gold medal for icing at the World’s Fair. Miss Howland in marrying Walter Balfour, insurance agent, Hilton, at Leven. September 1939. John [Curly] Mackenzie, Hilton, survives the sinking of the SS Athenia in the Atlantic, the first British ship to be torpedoed on the day war was announced with Germany.

John Mackenzie [Curly].



William Ross, 11 King Street, Hilton, was lost when his ship Inverlane was mined.
December 1939. Gordon Crawford, Headmaster of Hilton School, is the convener of the comforts committee, organising knitted items to be sent to the villagers in the forces. February 1940. Donald MacDonald, 8 Shore Street, Hilton, is one of 31 survivors when the oil tanker, Gretafield, was torpedoed off the east coast of Scotland. The burning wreck drifted for days before coming ashore in Dunbeath bay where it burned for another couple days before breaking up.

Donald MacDonald, born 10th April 1896, Hilton.
April 1940. Willie Ross, RN, Balintore, survives the sinking of HMS Bittern off Norway. May 1940. David Skinner, RN, Balintore, survives the sinking of HMS Afridi off Norway.
July 1940. Alexander MacAngus, RN, Hilton, is Killed in Action when H.M. Trawler Fleming is sunk, he was 20 years of age.

Alexander MacAngus
October 1940. The Rev. John Vass, Balintore, takes his first charge since completing his education at Aberdeen University, the presbytery of Glenlyon.

Rev. John Vass
October 1940. Hugh T. MacDonald, RN, Hilton, Killed in Action, attached to HMS Osprey, trained in submarine detection. November 1940. Jessie Ann Skinner, Merchant Navy [nurse], Balintore, Killed in Action when the M.V. Rangitane [Plymouth] sailing from New Zealand is attacked and sunk by a German surface raider, She was 49 years of age.

Jessie Ann Skinner [Toto].

Marriage of Annie Ross, 11 King Street, Hilton. Left to right as viewer looks. Jock McLennan, Kenneth M. Campbell, Annie Ross, Bella Mackay [Meek], 26/11/1940.

HMS Voltaire.
August 1941. David Skinner, RN, Balintore, dies aboard HMS Afrikander off cerebral malaria and is buried in Durban, South Africa. He was 24 years of age. January 1941. Robert Ross, RN, Balintore, lost when his ship was driven ashore on the Faroe Islands in a hurricane. He was 24 years of age. His father, also Robert, was Killed in Action in WW1.

Robert Ross
January 1942. William Gow, RN, lost on HMS Culver. He was 30 years of age. February 1942. Andrew Ross, RAF, Balintore, Missing in Action during the fall of Singapore, later listed as Killed in Action. The Blenheim mark IV in which he was a passenger was flying from Palembang, Sumatra to Batvaria, Java, when it crashed near Lahat after engine failure, one report says the plane crashed into a lake, another report says it crashed into a hill. Andrew was 27 years of age.

Andrew Ross
March 1942. Chief Petty Officer George McKay Patience, Hilton, receives the White Ribbon for the Bronze Polar Medal along with 35 fellow members of the crew RSS Discovery for their rescue of the explorer Lincoln Ellsworth in Antarctica in January 1936. June 1942. Announced in the London Gazette, Leading Seaman Kenneth [Keka] Vass, RNR, Shandwick, Mentioned in Dispatches, award for bravery, determination and fortitude in important minesweeping operations aboard HMT Nyemtski. June 1942. Murdo McRae, RN, Balintore, survives the sinking of HMS Wild Swan in the Bay Of Biscay.

Murdo McRae
July 1942. Pilot William Ross, RAF. Hilton, lost when his plane failed to return from patrol. He was 26 years of age. William Ross August 1942. John [Curly] MacKenzie, [ Mentioned in Despatches], HMS Calpe, Murdo McRae, HMLCT 164, and Phillip Ross, Beachmaster, survive the disastrous Raid on Dieppe. John MacKenzie, in an open boat, picking up survivors swimming from the shore, pulled Phillip Ross out of the water with the words ” what’s a nice boy from Shandwick doing in a place like this”?
December 1942. Alexander MacKay, Merchant Navy, Balintore, lost when the M.V. Henry Stanley [Liverpool] was torpedoed. He was 30 years of age. December 1942. Charles Ross, Merchant Navy, lost when the Montreal City [Bristol] is sunk. He was 32 years of age, his brother William was also lost in 1939. December 1942. At Aberdeen, the marriage of Kenneth Vass, son of the late David Vass and Mrs Vass, Shandwick, to Isabella Vass, daughter of the late Alexander Vass and Mrs Robbie, Aberdeen. January 1943. Donald Tarrel, Merchant Navy, lost when the SS Baron Dechmont [Ardrossan] was torpedoed. He was 50 years of age.
Donald Tarrel February 1943. Ship’s master Donald Ross, born in Shandwick, is killed when his ship the Iron Knight is torpedoed of the Australian coast by a Japanese submarine. April 1943. Mrs Cameron , Balintore, told, on a radio programme, how, in 1940 a German Heinkel bomber was attacking a minesweeper just off Balintore. With no men in the village, the women armed themselves with axes, fence posts and filled their aprons with stones should the aircraft be shot down and the crew were to swim ashore. The bomber eventually flew off and Mrs Cameron said the women were really mad that they did not get a chance to see action. May 1943. Norman MacKay, Balintore, falls from the cliffs at Nigg while collecting seagull eggs, he dies in hospital.
Norman MacKay August 1943. David Skinner, RN, Balintore, HMS Melora accidentally drowned in the Holy Loch, Argyllshire while trying to rescue others. He was 30 years old. March 1944. Roderick MacKenzie, RN, Balintore, dies while serving on HMS Victory. He was 27 years of age. May 1944. Walter Stepto, Royal Scots, Killed in Action at Kohima, he was the grandson of the late James Watt, retired headmaster of Hilton school. He was 27 years of age. May 1944. Tommy Vass Hughes, RN, Killed in Action on HM Motor Torpedo Boat 732. He was 25 years of age. June 1944. William Hugh Easson, Seaforth Highlanders, Hilton, Killed in Action in France just after the D-Day landings. He was 21 years of age. June 1944. David Vass Erskine awarded the British Empire Medal for bravery for helping to pull a Canadian pilot out of a burning plane just after the D-Day landings.

David Erskine
September 1944. Announced in the London Gazette, Leading Seaman Kenneth [Keka] Vass, RNR, Shandwick, awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for skill and devotion to duty in minesweeping operations aboard HMT Firefly. September 1944. Isaac Morrison, RN, Balintore, Killed in Action on HM Trawler Bracondene. He was 38 years of age. September 1944. David Hugh Vass Mayes, Corporal Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born in Balintore on the 8th December 1912 to James and Hughina Vass Mayes, a Prisoner of War of the Japanese after his capture at the fall of Singapore in 1942. After his internment in Java, he dies aboard ship of Cardial Beriberi and is buried at sea. David is the husband of Agnes Mayes of 60, Portland Place, Hamilton. January 1945. Temporary Acting Leading Seaman Hugh Ross, Hilton, and Chief Stoker William MacKenzie, Balintore, have both been Mentioned in Dispatches. March 1945. A Fairey Barracuda from Fearn aerodrome [HMS Owl] lost control in a turn and crashed into a field near Hill of Fearn. The crew, pilot Ernest Charles Sherriff, observer and second pilot Alistair Horsley Hood, telegraphist and rear gunner Vivian Graham were all killed in the crash and later buried in Rosskeen Churchyard. April 1945. Death of Donald Ross MacKay, born at 5 Main Street, Balintore, went on to be a school headmaster in Angus and after he retired to Ellon, became the Provost of that town.
Donald Ross MacKay May 1945. Robertson Wood drowned in a coble accident of Shandwick, he had been married for only 7 weeks.
Robertson Wood, Fyfe Cottage. September 1945. The wedding took place in Inverness of Andrew Vass R.N. and Joy Ross M.A., teacher of Latin, Golspie H. G. School, from Bonar Bridge. The Rev. George Eakins, Balintore, officiated, bridesmaids were Misses Mackenzie and Vass. The groom and his best man, his brother Petty Officer G. Vass R.N., were in uniform. November 1945. Nurse Ina Ross SRN., SCM. second daughter of Mr and Mrs K. Ross, Balintore, marries John Cameron RE., at Balintore church, she was attended by her sister Nurse Annie Ross.
Marriage of Andrewina Ross [Kenna] to John Cameron. Annie Ross [Kenna] bridesmaid. January 1946. The Rev. David William Ross, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ross, 12 Ross Crescent, Balintore marries Rebecca Neilson Duthie of Dundee. January 1946. Hugh MacKenzie, Royal Engineers, Balintore, accidentally killed at a railway crossing in Austria. He was 26 years of age.

Hugh Mackenzie, 5 John Street, Balintore.
Picture courtesy of Darren Howlett.
June 1946. Announced in the London Gazette that Seaman David Vass of Shandwick has been awarded the British Empire Medal for bravery in saving life on the Arctic convoys in WW2, David was torpedoed twice in Arctic waters. July 1946. Miss A. Vass, aged 26, 5 Shore Street, Shandwick, sets sail on the Pacific Enterprise bound for Palestine to take up employment as a nursing sister. January 1947. Christina Ross, aged 34, 12 Ross Crescent, Balintore and Jessie A. Vass, aged 40, 12 Bank Street, Balintore, embark on the the Queen Elizabeth bound for New York, both have employment in Canada as nurses. March 1947. F. Browning, outside left of Seaside Rovers, is due to be demobbed and is attracting attention of senior clubs some of which have already made approaches, he played regularly for B.A.O.R. [British Army of the Rhine] against all the touring teams. December 1947. Captain J. MacLeod, MP for Ross and Cromarty, is giving 2 hand looms for weaving to Gordon Crawford headmaster of Hilton School. He is also sending an instuctor from his factory in Inverness to teach Mr. Crawford how to use them and he in turn will teach the pupils. The plan is for weaving to become a cottage industry and woven articles can be sold to tourists. May 1948. Ross County A F.C. beat Balintore F.C. 4-3, Balintore scorers are MacAngus 2 and Hart. August 1948. Jane Ross, eldest daughter of the late Alexander and Mrs Ross, Hilton, marries William Brunton of Jedburgh. May 1949. Australian sheep buyer A.J.R. Wood has bought 2 rams and 20 sheep from the flock of J.M. Rutherford, Hilton of Cadboll, the sheep will be shipped to Australia soon. January 1950. Gregor Ross is appointed headmaster of Hilton School. February 1950. George Robert Ross, son of James and Annie MacKenzie Ross, Port Street, Balintore, dies in Danville, Virginia, USA. He emigrated to the USA in 1890. He is survived by his daughter Willeana R. Poindexter, his brother John and 2 sisters in Scotland. September 1952. Former Hilton School headmaster Gordon Crawford dies. January 1952. A lorry taking workmen to the hydro-electric scheme at Lochluichart slid on ice at Kincraig near Dingwall and hit a telegraph pole, the pole broke in half and landed on the lorry. Alexander Vass aged 68, John Street, Balintore, was killed and William MacRae was seriously hurt, Robert Skinner, Ross Crescent, Balintore and David Wood, Hilton, were allowed home after treatment, all were from the Fearn area. October 1952. Alexander Vass, born in Hilton to Alexander and Jessie, 13 Lady Street in 1898, dies on board the ship SS Wearpool at Tocopilla Bay, Chile, from tuberculosis.

Alexander Vass, born 28 February 1898, Hilton, height 5ft 6ins, eyes brown, hair dark. Tattoo of bird on both hands.
September 1954. Donald McAndrew Ross, born in Hilton in 1867, dies in Lismore, NSW, Australia. His sister Annie Hollingworth had died in Australia in 1910. Donald McAndrew Ross, circa 1928. September 1955. Marriage of William Skinner, Balintore, and Annie Lamond Smith [Bunty] of Carnoustie.
William Skinner and Annie Lamond Smith [Bunty], 1955. July 1963. David Sutherland Oliver, Arden, Hilton, borrowed his brother’s dinghy at 3.30am and set sail. With no sign of him the Cromarty lifeboat was called out, RNAS Lossiemouth had planes on standby, the people of the village of Hilton were searching the shoreline, a salmon coble belonging to John Paterson and manned by salmon fishers William Skinner, Donnie Hugh Sutherland and David’s brother George was also searching. 13 hours after he set out he was found wandering near Geanies summer house by hotelier Ian Black and Alex MacKay, Shore Street, Hilton. The boat was high and dry and he was none the worse for his experience. August 1964. William Morrison, 12 New Street, Shandwick, a seaman aboard the Esso Brixham, moored at the Dingle Jetty, Liverpool, dies of a heart attack at the age of 52. December 1964. Alexander MacKenzie born in Balintore 1895 at 15 Bank Street, served in the Royal Navy in World War 1 and was a Merchant Seaman, emigrated to Australia, dies in Newcastle, NSW, aged 70.

Alexander McKenzie, born 12/8/1894, 15 Bank Street.
November 1966. Aggie and Chrissie McRae put the Commercial hotel up for sale, they are retiring. Left to right as viewer looks. Christine McRae and Agnes McRae, Commercial Hotel. Photo taken at 4 John St. October 1969. John MacKenzie, born Hilton, celebrates his Golden Wedding with his wife Robina in Aberdeen. John went to sea at 15, served with RNR in the Dardanelles in WW1 and was on the trawler Stratherrick when she sank 90 miles off South Shields in 1939.
John MacKenzie, born Hilton, with his wife Robina, Golden Wedding, October 1969. February 1970. David John MacAngus, Balintore, admitted speeding in a hearse on the outskirts of Aberdeen. In his defence it was stated he did not know Aberdeen and thought he was on a 40 miles per hour road, he was doing 41. Fined £5. October 1970. Sixteen year old James Allan will go straight back into the Brora Rangers first team to play Clach on Saturday, James is just back from a two week trial with Swindon Town FC. Later in October he was to sign for Swindon and went on to make 436 appearances for them before injury cut short his career at the age of 29. April 1971. Norman Donald MacKay MacAngus dies in San Francisco, U.S.A. at the age of 65. Norman left the villages in the 1920’s to join his sister Elsie and had worked as a railway clerk. October 1973. Gregor Ross retires as headmaster of Hilton School. October 1973. Angus J. Campbell becomes headmaster of Hilton School.

Angus Campbell, headmaster of Hilton School.
August 1975. Ian MacPherson, 44 Lochslin Place, Balintore, is taken to hospital, unconscious, after crashing his kart at the Boyndie track in Banff. April 1976. The Winnipeg Bible College Choir are touring Scotland and will sing in Balintore. August 1976. Mario Mutinelli came to Ross-shire as an Italian POW working on the MacKenzie of Cullisse farm. He returned after the war and married Annie Ross of Balintore, they have two children, David and Maria. This year at the Black Isle Show, Mario was awarded a silver medal for his thirty years as the cattleman looking after the forty strong Shandwick herd. July 1978. The launching of a small boat in Balintore harbour became a farce when, first a tractor belonging to Paterson and Sons became stuck in the mud, then a large excavator was called in from Highland Fabricators to pull the tractor out and it also got stuck in the mud. Then the tide came in and both machines were left overnight submerged before a Highland Fabricators crane lifted them from the water the next day. August 1978. Dugald MacAngus, Balintore, now running the King James Hotel in Edinburgh, advertises the hotel in the stage papers. October 1978. Ewen McRae, Commercial Hotel, Balintore, who fought with the Seaforths in WW1 and emigrated to the USA in 1920’s dies in Detroit, where he worked in the car industry, at the age of 79.
Ewan McRae. May 1979. Robert Allan, Balintore, has won Brora Rangers young player of the year award.
December 1979. Brora Rangers will play Wick Academy in a friendly football match, Brora will give a fitness test to Balintore lad Robert Allan who has been out injured with a broken toe. December 1979. It is announced in the Hi Fab news that Robert Allan, Balintore, in his final year at Inverness Technical College has been awarded the Nigg Cup, the cup is presented annually to the best City and Guilds student in welding and fabrication, it’s the second cup 20 year old Robert has picked up recently as he was a member of the victorious Brora Rangers football team that have just won Scottish Qualifying Cup [North], the major trophy in the Highland League.
October 1983. James Allan’s football career with Swindon comes to an end when his arm is shattered in a collision with another player.
James Allan, Swindon Town FC. March 1984. Heather Bell [nee Vass], Hilton, murdered in Inverness. December 1984. Helen Skinner, married name Bartlett, dies on Vancouver Island, Canada, aged 89. Helen was born in Balintore on the 13th of January 1895. December 1986. Garry S. Forno, grandson of Finlay Skinner, Balintore, who emigrated to Queensland, Australia, circa 1890, is appointed a Queen’s Counsel.
January 1995. Ships Captain Alistair Vass Mackay, from Balintore, is awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List. December 2002. Donald Tarrel MacAngus, has been awarded the Queens Jubilee Medal for outstanding community service. Don was born in Hilton and emigrated from there to Canada in 1949, where he founded the Winnipeg Building and Decorating Company. December 2003. Donald Tarrel MacAngus of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, formally of Hilton dies at the age of 75. August 2003. Dougie Hall won his first Scotland Rugby Union cap against Wales, he went on to represent Scotland 42 times. Dougie is the son of Tom and Sheila Hall and grandson of Hugh and Pauline MacKay of Hilton.
Dougie Hall May 2004. John Ross has died in Australia at the age of 104, born in Shandwick in 1899, he served with the Seaforths in WW1 before emigrating to Australia, the saluting dias used to commemorate the annual ANZAC Day march past in Hinchinbrookshire, Queensland, is named after him.
John Ross November 2018. John Sedwick, son of Elsie MacAngus, who emigrated to the USA in 1921, is found dead at his home in Magalia, Paradise, California, a victim of the Campfire forest fires which claimed 85 lives. December 2019. Seoras MacKay, the grandson of Anne Barclay, Golspie, [nee Skinner of Balintore], has won 2 gold medals in the World Taekwan-do Championships held in Paisley. Seoras, who lives in Kirkintilloch, will be 15 on Christmas Day, won the red belt classification and also the Overall Trophy as the best competitor across all the belt sections.
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