ANNIE Meinertzthagen was a pioneering Scottish ornithologist who monitored the birds around her home in Swordale, near Inverness. She had papers published in specialist journals and was the first to discover that at least some of the redshank overwintering on the banks of Cromarty Firth were of the Icelandic race. In an era when female birdwatchers were few and far between, Annie also researched the moulting patterns of wildfowl.
A mother-of-three, her life was cruelly cut short in 1928 in a shooting incident witnessed only by one other person, her husband, Richard, also an ornithologist. She was only 39.
What happened? The husband maintained she accidentally shot herself in the head while examining the jammed mechanism of a revolver he had been using for target practice.
But there was no subsequent investigation - in effect, there was a cover-up. Why?
Richard Meinertzhagen hardly ever mentioned Annie again. He erased her memory from his life.
Following the passage of almost 100 years, it is now almost impossible to believe that the full facts might yet emerge.
But there is no time limit on the truth. Is it too late for the police and other authorities to open an inquiry?
Considering her contributions both to British ornithology and to community life in Swordale and Evanton, it is a matter of regret that the memory of Annie Meinertzhagen (1889-1928) no longer seems to be cherished.
As the photo shows, the footpath to her grave is now almost impassable (except by tractor). Her grave is neglected.
* Tragedy at Swordale is available (price £2) as a kindle e-book via Amazon.
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