How a young Queen Mother helped save Glamis Castle from fire

The Second World War was the Queen Mother’s finest hour, when she, George VI and millions of Britons stood firm against the tyranny of Hitler.

She famously declared, after the bombing of Buckingham Palace, that she could “look the East End in the face” clearly understanding the terrible times people were enduring.

What few people know is that she had faced fire and disaster before. Or that as a teenager her courage and quick thinking helped prevent her childhood home, Glamis Castle, from being destroyed.

Now, to mark the centenary of the fire on September 16, 1916, rarely-seen letters and photos which tell the story of the drama will go on display at the castle in Angus.

In the weeks leading up to the incident the future Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, had been spending her days helping to look after wounded soldiers who were using the castle as a convalescent home.

On the day of the fire – a Saturday – nine of the soldiers had gone to the pictures in Forfar, while 16-year-old Elizabeth’s father and younger brother David were out shooting on the estate.

A few soldiers remained at the castle with Elizabeth including Sergeant Cowie, whom she described as “remarkably good looking. Very quiet and Scotch and huge”.

It was he who noticed smoke and raised the alarm.

Elizabeth rang the nearest fire brigade at Forfar and, thankfully as it turned out, the more distant one at Dundee as well.

In the meantime she and four soldiers “rushed up and handed buckets like old Billy-oh. The more water the more smoke, we absolutely could not find the fire”.

The Forfar team arrived but, according to Elizabeth, “were absolutely no use” as they only had a hand pump and the seat of the fire was 90ft up in the tower.

Dundee firefighters arrived after only 26 minutes and were able to reach the rooftops with their more powerful engines.

Just when they seemed to be getting the fire under control the water tanks in the attic burst.

Elizabeth organised a team to brush water down the tower steps to the ground floor, and helped save the main family rooms. She also organised a team of villagers to stand in line and pass valuables outside.

The 1683 tapestry created by the 3rd Countess of Strathmore was among the treasures saved.Tommy Baxter, general manager at Glamis, explained: “Last
year we took the tapestry in for restoration, and they discovered a watermark which they couldn’t fathom out. It must have been caused by the fire.”

Another item rescued was the door leading to the attic. Its scorch marks are still visible and it will be the centrepiece of the display, having previously never been shown to the public.

Tommy admitted getting it down from the tower was challenging.

“It is fragile and it took four men to bring it down the 143 steps.”

Anyone interested in seeing it should visit the castle from September 16 as it sounds like it won’t
be making another appearance until 2116!

Visit www.glamis-castle.co.uk or call 01307 840393.

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