Histories

Biographical Information: ARTHUR FREDERIC PURVIS, M.C., of Earlshall, Leuchars, Fife, Scotland, born 8th March 1890 at Kukuihaele, Hamakua, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii), christened 6th May 1890 by Rev. Alex Macintosh in St Andrews Cathedral, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii), died 20th March 1955 in a nursing home at Daviot, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, buried in Dunino Churchyard, Dunino, near St Andrews, Fife. On the occasion of his birth, his parents were gifted a yellow Mamo Lei (made from the feathers of an Hawaiian bird which is now extinct) by Mrs Samuel Parker (Panana) of Mana, Hawaii, a neighbour and close friend of his father. His widow returned this to Hawaii after his death (1955) and it is now held as item 592 in The Daughters of Hawaii Museum in The Queen Emma Summer Palace Museum (Hanaiakamalama, 2913 Pali Highway) in Nuuanu, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Joined the Cameron Highlanders as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1914, transferring to the Scots Guards in 1915, serving in both battalions and in the Guards Machine Gun Regiment. Major Scots Guards. Wounded at Pilken (Pilckem) Ridge on 31st July 1917 ("Third Ypres" - Passchendaele). Awarded (1917) the Military Cross (M.C.). Served with the British Military Mission to South Russia under Generals Denikin and Wrangel in 1919-20, from which experience he developed an abiding interest in the music and life of Old Russia. Awarded (1920) the Order of St Anne of Russia. Retired (1936) but rejoined the Scots Guards on the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Military Secretary to Lord Galway, Governor General of New Zealand (1935-39), Equery to the Duke of Windsor in Paris, France (1939-40) and one of the last to leave on the fall of France. Town Major (1944) in Nijmegen, Netherlands, where he was further injured by a bomb. Retired again in 1945. Lived (from 1927) at Earlshall, Leuchars. Married (2nd June 1925) Rachel Emily Nairn (born 1902 in Kirkcaldy, Fife, died 12th December 1982 in hospital in Dundee, Scotland), who acquired (1927) Earlshall estate, Leuchars, and which was sold (1983) the house with all its contents after her death by her trustees, ran a leave hostel for front line troops at the Albert Hotel, Brussels, Belgium (1944-45), Chairman of the Womens Royal Voluntary Service (Scotland) (1963-72) for which she was appointed successively O.B.E. and C.B.E., eldest daughter of Sir Michael Nairn Bt (born 19th February 1874, married 1901, died 19??), 2nd Baronet (created 1904), of Rankeillour, Collessie, Fife, of Dysart House, Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Fife, of Elie House, Elie, Fife, and of Pitcarmick, Kirkmichael, Perthshire, Scotland, and of Mildred Margaret Neish, having no children.