Honour for RAF hero after 66 years off radar

• REMEMBER THEM: Janitor Mark Borradaile reads Flt Lt Ian Adamson's name, recently added to Boroughmuir High's WWII memorial Picture: Jayne Emsley

As a result, they refused a request to recognise Flight Lieutenant Ian Adamson as one of the fallen servicemen on a war memorial at his old school.

Now, 66 years later, Flt Lt Adamson has finally been honoured at Boroughmuir High, becoming the first name to be added to the Second World War memorial since 1948.

Flt Lt Adamson was believed killed during a raid over Nuremberg in March 1944. But in a letter to the school about the memorial, dated October 14, 1947, his father John Adamson said: "We have never given up hope over our son Ian since he went missing.

"I have written to the Air Ministry to give me definite proof that our boy was killed but they can't give me any information whatsoever, so I am sorry I cannot do anything about the matter meantime." The story of Flt Lt Adamson came to light recently when a medal collector visited Boroughmuir High. He brought the letter written by John Adamson, which he had - coincidentally - found in a jumble sale, with him to the school.

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School archivist, janitor Neil Anderson, then set out to find out more about the former Boroughmuir pupil and found an entry at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which he believes relates to Flt Lt Adamson.

It states that he died on March 31, 1944.

Mr Anderson said: "The story is very interesting and the letter from his father is very touching.

"The fact that he doesn't have a grave means they never found a body. It's very tragic really. There's nothing in the school records about him other than he was enrolled as a pupil at the school."

Flt Lt Adamson's name was added to the memorial to coincide with Armistice Day on Thursday, with a special ceremony attended by pupils.

It is understood he still has family living in the Lothians but they could not be traced for the ceremony.

Boroughmuir High has two war memorials dedicated to those who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.

The Great War claimed the lives of 179 former pupils and in 1921 a memorial was unveiled in the main entrance. After the Second World War, another memorial with two bronze plaques was erected. The names of nearly 180 former pupils were engraved into it.