A STORY of a brave World War Two pilot from Cardonald who survived only to learn his brother had been killed in action has been turned into a moving documentary film.

Now, its haunting theme tune, sung by 19-year-old singer Emily Fern, has been released to raise money for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

Glasgow Times: Emily Fern

Tim Osborne, a Guernsey tourist guide who pieced together the story of Robert and Andrew Stirling, from old documents and islanders’ stories, explained: “We made a film about them, called Stirling’s War, which received great reviews here in Guernsey and the three screenings were sell-outs.

“I wrote a song for the end of the film, and 19-year-old Emily Fern was chosen to sing it - her beautiful voice captures the emotions and feelings that Robert went through, no doubt feeling guilty that he survived the war but his brother did not.”

Glasgow Times: Robert Stirling, c late 1940

RAF fighter pilot Robert, known as Bobby, was born in Cardonald in 1917. He worked at the Bank of Scotland in Glasgow before volunteering in 1936 to join the RAF as a pilot.

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After being called up in September 1940 to start advanced flying training, he was posted to 87 Squadron in the West Country near Bath.

One night in April 1941, while chasing a German bomber towards France, the 23-year-old realised he was dangerously low on fuel and attempted to return to base.

However, his compass was broken and he lost his bearings, believing he was flying towards the famous white cliffs of Dover on the Kent coastline but in fact, heading towards the reflection of thousands of greenhouses on the German-occupied island of Guernsey.

He parachuted out of his Hurricane aircraft after it had ran out of fuel – the wreckage of the plane has never been found - and landed, walking across a minefield and causeway and spending the night at the home of a local family.

At the end of curfew the following morning, he gave himself up to police and the Nazis and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp in Germany.

 

Little is known about his time at the Stalag IX, apart from the fact he tried to escape three times – once on a bicycle – but was always caught. He used his time wisely in the camps, studying for his banking exams under the Red Cross Examination Scheme, and qualified with honours for the Certificate of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland.

Bobby was released at the end of the war in 1945. He made his way back to Glasgow and married his fiancé Betty Scott. He also left the RAF and resumed his career with the Bank of Scotland where he eventually became a manager.

Glasgow Times: Robert Stirling on his wedding day

Bobby and Betty had three children, Glen, Lesley and Dorothy, who all still live in Scotland, and eight grandchildren: Stuart, Gregor, Fraser, Laura, David, Nicola, Corina and Fiona.

As Tim explains, Bobby’s story – parachuting out of a plane, becoming and a POW and surviving both – is a happy one, but there is a very sad ending to the tale.

Tim explains: “After he got back to Glasgow, Bobby found out that his younger brother Andrew, known as Glen, had joined the British Parachute Regiment.

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“Glen took part in Operation Market Garden in Arnhem in the Netherlands and was killed in action in September 1944. He was only 20 years old. His body was never found.”

He adds: “Bobby was deeply affected by his brother’s death for many years after the war; he never even talked about it to his family. He died in 1987.

“Our film is dedicated to them both.”

You can now watch Stirling’s War on YouTube, and the song is available to download here in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

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