

BATTLEGROUND PERTHSHIRE is a concise account of the battles and minor military events that have taken place within the county of Perthshire. Comprising two thousand years of battles, raids, rebellions, sieges, riots, feuds, ambushes and skirmishes, Battleground Perthshire shines the spotlight on the military history of Scotland’s big county. Drawn from extensive primary and secondary sources: archives, eyewitness accounts and official records, it tells the fascinating stories of struggles for wealth, power, freedom and the right to self-determination. This chronicle of Perthshire’s military history stands as an important reminder of some of the events that have marked the development of the Scottish people. It will appeal both to the reader interested in the history of Scotland and to those interested in military history.
Battleground Perthshire can be bought from most bookshops in the Perthshire area: The Watermill at Aberfeldy; Sweet Words at Dunkeld; Waterstones - various stores including Perth; WHSmith - Perth and Pitlochry. And, in Perth Museum, the AK Bell Library, Gloagburn Farm Shop, the Brig Farm Shop by Bridge of Earn. Alternatively, it may be purchased for £7.00 with FREE postage and packing to any UK address {Please email for postage costs for locations outside UK}. Send cheque or postal order (payable to Tippermuir Books) to Tippermuir Books, c/o 3 Graham's Place, King Street, Perth, Perth, PH2 8HZ. It can also be bought through most of the UK online (internet) booksellers.

Spanish Thermopylae: Cypriot Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39 SPANISH THERMOPYLÆ is the story of the fifty-seven Cypriots who served in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39. It is also the story of a war that defined the lives of a generation and whose outcome decided the fate of hundreds of millions of people across the world. Drawing on recently released records from the Comintern Archive in Moscow, Spanish Thermopylae will appeal both to the reader interested in the experiences of the Cypriot volunteers, and to anyone looking for a concise history of the Spanish Civil War. 'This is the first book devoted solely to the contribution made by Cypriots to the cause of democracy and progress in the Spanish Civil War. It bears witness to the injustice committed against humanity by fascism in Spain and the inspirational sacrifices made by a small band of Cypriot volunteers. Spanish Thermopylae is a fitting tribute to them, and the International Brigades.' Demetris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus 'True to the best traditions of their Greek forefathers, the heroes of the Greek War of Independence, the Cypriots rallied to the support of Spanish democracy and independence, realising that a defeat for the Spanish people would have meant world war. On the Spanish battlefields was being decided the fate of Europe and with it that of Cyprus. They recognised fascism as the greatest enemy of humanity and volunteered to help crush it... Many Cypriots lie buried in the Spanish soil fighting fascism. Cyprus is proud of her heroic sons who fell in the anti-fascist cause, but the fight is not over. We fight on until fascism is destroyed from the face of the earth.' Ezekias Papaioannou, Cypriot International Brigades volunteer and General Secretary of AKEL (1949-88) "Before many years have passed, their own countries will feel equally proud of the volunteers. That will be their best and highest reward." Juan Negrín, Prime Minister of the Spanish Republic (1937-39). It is available from www.amazon.co.uk
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HISTORY
Annie Erskine Robinson - Suffragist, Socialist and Pacifist
Annot [Annie] Erskine Robinson was born 8 June 1874 in Montrose. Her father was a down at heel laird’s son and her mother a schoolteacher. Early life was economically hard for Annie Erskine. However, despite hardship she enrolled as a trainee teacher in Edinburgh and achieved an LLA from St. Andrews University in 1901. First teaching appointments were in Dundee and then Lochgelly, Fife. Annie Erskine at this time began to become involved in the Independent Labour Party and the Women’s Labour League. In 1908 she married a tramway office clerk, Samuel Robinson (1869/70-1937), who was also a Labour Party activist. Together they moved to Manchester. That same year Annie Erskine Robinson was arrested and imprisoned (Holloway Prison) for her part in a suffrage demonstration in London. The Dundee branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) made her an honorary secretary. Later when the WSPU attempted to smuggle a group of women into the House of Commons using a furniture van as a cover, Annie Erskine was one of the group caught in the act. Again she was imprisoned. With the drift of the WSPU to the right, Annie Erskine Robinson moved into the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) - a less militant organisation than the WSPU. The NUWSS had a policy in which Labour Party candidates were supported and Annie Erskine Robinson became central to the organisation of this strategy. She kept up her links with Scotland by making frequent trips north, especially to campaign in the Midlothian and South Lanark by-elections. When the First World War broke out in 1914 the NUWSS was split. Annie Erskine Robinson was with the minority group that opposed the war and helped found the Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom (WIL). This organisation also campaigned for improved conditions for women munitions workers as well as against violence. Other work involved exposing the profiteers and those making huge profits out of the war. Although her marriage was not emotionally successful Annie Erskine Robinson had two daughters - Helen and Cathie. Keir Hardie was godfather to Helen. Marriage problems took their toll and in 1916 she collapsed. The burden of keeping the family together (her husband rarely was in employment and lived an uncouth life) proved too much. By 1918, she did have a full-time position within the WIL as an organiser in Manchester. She was directly involved in the 1919 Peace Conference and was also part of a delegation to Ireland during the Black and Tan terrors. Alongside Ellen Wilkinson, Annie Erskine Robinson gave evidence in 1921 to an American Commission looking at the Irish situation. Annie Erskine Robinson rose within the Labour Party ranks, becoming vice-Chair of the party in Manchester and contesting two un-winnable council seats. The depression of the twenties made life difficult for left-wing organisations to gain funds and the WIL had to release her from employment in 1922. She then embarked on a lecture tour of the United States of America. After a brief period of working for the WIL in Amsterdam, she went back to teaching, taking up a post in Newburgh, Fife. Annie Erskine Robinson died on 29 September 1925 in Perth Royal Infirmary. A memorial fund was raised to help support her daughter’s education.
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