Victoria Drummond (1894-1978)

Marine engineer

Victoria Drummond trained as a marine engineer at the Dundee Institute of Technology, the Northern Garage in Perth and the Caledon Ship Works in Dundee. After qualifying she became the first female member of the Institute of Marine Engineers and was employed on merchant voyages to Africa, Australia, China and India. During the Second World War she served in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. On an Atlantic crossing she took charge in the engine rooms while under enemy fire and saved the ship. She was awarded the Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea and appointed MBE in recognition of her devotion to duty. She continued her career as a superintendent of shipbuilding in Dundee and at Burntisland before returning to sea as chief engineer. She retired to Sussex and died there on 12 December 1978. She was buried at Megginch. Victoria Drummond is commemorated with a plaque at the University of Abertay.

Birth in 1894

Victoria Alexandrina Frances Drummond was born at noon on 14 October 1894, the daughter of Malcolm Drummond of Megginch, landed proprietor and the Honourable Geraldine Margaret Tyssen-Amherst. The entry in the statutory register of births for the parish of Errol in the county of Perthshire gives the place of birth as Megginch Castle.

Birth entry for Victoria Drummond (39 KB jpeg)
National Records of Scotland, 1894/351/39

1911 Census

In 1911 Victoria A Drummond, 15, scholar at home was enumerated with her family at Megginch Castle. The census return for the parish of Errol shows that her father was Captain Late of the Grenadier Guards, Justice of the Peace (JP) and Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Perthshire. Her mother was born in England. The household included Victoria's brother and three sisters as well as five servants.

1911 Census record for Victoria Drummond (45 and 41 KB jpegs)
National Records of Scotland, 1911/351/3, page 3