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Jane Anderson, archivist for the Atholl Estates, describes the impact of the war on the 7th Duke of Atholl and his family living in Blair Castle.

The 7th Duke of Atholl鈥檚 three sons were all involved in military operations during the conflict. Lord Tullibardine, later the 8th Duke of Atholl, commanded the Scottish Horse Regiment and served at Gallipoli while his brother, Lord George, served with the Black watch and was lost during the Battle of the Aisne in September 1914. Rumours circulated; some claimed he was taken away on a stretcher, others that he was a prisoner of war and the old Duke followed all these up, hoping to find his son. His other son, Lord James of the Cameron Highlanders was injured early on in the war, returned to the front and was captured. He remained in various prison camps in Germany for the rest of the war.

The ladies of the family also did their bit for the War effort and the castle was used as a Red Cross hospital commanded by Duchess Kitty. The ballroom was transformed into a ward and recreation room while additional rooms were used as dining areas for nursing staff and patients.
Image courtesy of Blair Atholl Estates Archive