Histories

Biographical Information: ROBERT WILLIAM BERRY PURVIS (ROB), M.C., born 1st July 1910 at Gilmerton, Cameron Parish, near St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, died 15th August 2001 at his home Brigton House, Cameron Parish, buried in Dunino Churchyard, Dunino, near St Andrews. Lieutenant Colonel, Scots Guards Supplementary Reserve. Served on active duty during World War II with the Scots Guards in North Africa, with the British Military Mission in Palestine and with Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) in enemy-occupied Yugoslavia and France, for which he was "Mentioned in Despatches" and awarded the Military Cross (M.C.). He was (1945-48) Chief of the Food and Agriculture Administration in the British Military Government for North Rhine/Westphalia, Germany, and subsequently with the Control Commission for Germnany (C.C.G.) covering Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Justice of the Peace. From 1936 he farmed Gilmerton and Brigton farms, near St Andrews, as tenant of his father. Purchased (1948) Lathockar and Wester Gilmerton farms, near St Andrews, succeeded (1957) to ownership of Gilmerton and Brigton on the death of his father, succeeded (1961) to Kingsbarns House, Kingsbarns, near St Andrews, on the death of his cousin Inez Adele Isobel Kapuaimohala Purvis (see 1.1.3.6.1.5.3. above), which he sold (1962) to his sister Henrietta Wilhelmina Mary Purvis or Morrison-Low (see 1.1.3.6.1.10.3. below), purchased (1963) the estates of Carsaig and Kinloch, Pennyghael, Isle of Mull, Argyllshire, Scotland. Sold (1986) Carsaig to his elder son John Robert Purvis (see 1.1.3.6.1.10.2.1. below) and gifted Gilmerton and Brigton also to John Robert Purvis and Lathockar and Wester Gilmerton to his 2nd son Allan Charles Purvis (see 1.1.3.6.1.10.2.2. below). Lived at Brigton, near St Andrews. Married (24th August 1936 at Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road, London, England) Vivienne Daphne Elizabeth Camell (born 28th November 1913 in Calcutta, India, died 5th November 1994 at Brigton House, near St Andrews, buried in Dunino Churchyard, Dunino) (see OA.958 – 1.2.6.5.1.), granted (1987) the Freedom of North East Fife District in recognition of 31 years (1949-80) as a local government councillor and 3 years (1977-80) as Chairman of North East Fife District Council, also Commissioner of the Girl Guides for the County of Fife and Chairman of the Womens Rural Institute, eldest daughter of John Camell (born 24th February 1877 in Calcutta, married 5th October 1912 in Calcutta, died 25th April 1955 at Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, England, buried in the graveyard of St Peter's Church, Bishop's Waltham) (see OA.958 – 1.2.6.5.), a descendant of the Armenian Kamul (or prince) of Isfahan, Persia (Iran), Barrister at Law, of Calcutta, and of Beryl Evelyn Liddell (born 17th January 1893 at Mussoorie, North India, died 21st May 1986, at Wamboin, Queanbeyan, New South Wales) (see OA.2396 – 1.1.1.1.7.), possibly a cousin of Alice Liddell of Alice in Wonderland, having two sons:-