Back to last page

Dallas Allardice (pictured) was a former head of PE at the High School of Dundee and president of Dundee High School FP Rugy Club. The publication of his wartime memories provides an intriguing glimpse of a unique man. A lifetime in the writing, the work was finished shortly before his death last year.

The Foreword by Rory Allardice

"This is a book that many families try to write, ought to write but often never write. It was more than 60 years in the making although the writing process took 16 years from start to finish. That is around 12 pages a year or 1 a month. As there are around 350 words in a page, the creative outflow was 12 words a day. A snail's pace, but we got there. By "we", my father aside, overall credit must go to my mother, Pat who used her powers of persuasion to great effect and who was always there to add encouragement to the project. While the family had all flown the nest, it was she who kept up the pressure on a hyperactive pensioner who was running around fields building dry-stane dykes, picnic sites, garden features and bridges; swimming marathons in the local swimming baths; finding a style and producing oil paintings of delicacy and sensitivity; following his old school rugby teams of Dundee High School and Aberdeen Grammar School's fortunes; writing up the history of former pupils of Dundee High School; taking the dog for walks; fishing; telling stories; researching the family tree; cooking amazing meals; keeping up with his friends; enjoying his growing brood of grandchildren; creating an Italian garden and basically never sitting still. Hers was a tough job. Another person who added encouragement was my mother's great friend, Melody who donated a computer to the cause and who reinforced my mother's efforts.

"This is a story of one man's experiences of the Second World War. My father kept a diary and has also the gift of sharp recall of events, something he shares with his son Graham and his grandson Philip. The historical facts, although accurate, are not the main interest in this book; it is the human story of friendships, endurance, suffering and hope that come through. It is a kind of rite of passage; a 19-year-old's journey from the bothies of North- East Scotland to the battlefields of Norway, the Mediterranean, North Africa and Italy.

"There is no revelling in the actions undertaken. There is no dwelling on the hardships endured. Everything is reported in an almost casual and matter-of-fact way. Two features stand out from this account; the humility and integrity of my father. He may be small in stature (his opponents in the French rugby team used to call him the Pocket Hercules) but his gentle personality looms larger than life. After the war, he was able to resume his promising sporting career and he achieved success in his chosen sport of rugby. His is a hard act to follow. He is a hero not just for his actions or achievements but mostly for his values and his example. If my children can ever look at me with a fraction of the love and respect I have for my father, then I know I will have achieved my parental goals. That is the man, this is his story."

How to Order

To order your copy of "Friendship in a time of War (1939-1946)" by Dallas Allardice, download the order form and return it to,

Development Office,
High School of Dundee
Euclid Crescent
DUNDEE DD1 1HU

Alternatively ypu can get a copy of the book directly from, Gavin Garden, Club Secretary, DHSFP RFC at the clubhouse, Mayfield.

If you find this page useful you may also be interested in the following links: