James Kinnear ADAMSON 1878-1956 was my grandfather. In 1901, at the age of 23, he sailed from Southampton to Durban on the RMS Scot. He does not reappear in Dundee until 1906 when he is listed in the Dundee Directory again, with his older brother David Kinnear ADAMSON 1877-1948, as Adamson Brothers, wholesale & retail stationers, agents for Smith Premier Typewriter. We believe that grandpa and his brother went to South Africa to seek their fortune (?!) and indeed family lore has it that they were doing fairly well. But the story goes that mother in Dundee was most distressed that her boys were so far away and summoned them home again. It is thought that, whilst in South Africa, they had a business in the literary field (books? stationery? typewriters?). They certainly had (owned? rented?) a property that they called Letham Villa – it is believed this property was in Durban. Pictures taken on the veranda of this property still exist – lovely ladies, those high, stiff collars the men favoured then and musical instruments (banjos, ukeleles) feature. And every man seemed to smoke a pipe. It may be that they kept turkeys or at least chickens – this photo is very indistinct. Another version of the story is that grandpa taught whilst in South Africa. He certainly taught commercial subjects for many years once he settled back home in Dundee – with his wife and family. Does anyone have any further information about these two young men? Would anyone like to speculate further about their sojourn in S Africa? My cousins and I do wonder what took two young Scotsmen to a place that was only just coming out of a major war. If we could be pointed in the direction of where to find further information, we would be so grateful! regards Pat Researching : ADAMSON, KINNEAR, STIRLING in Angus; KEY, FORD in Coastal Angus & Dundee; CONWAY, REILLY, BRADY in Ireland, Ayrshire & Dundee; FISHER in Ayrshire; NIC(H)OLSON in Speyside, Aberdeen & Dundee; MILLER in Dundee; DICKSON in Ireland & Dundee; PATERSON, FINDLAY, ORKNEY in Montrose & Dundee; JOHNSTON in Dundee