Gertrude Canning:

A Wren for 99 Days

A WREN FOR 99 DAYS is a deeply personal and heartbreaking account of the life and tragic death of Gertrude Canning, a young Irishwoman from County Donegal who was murdered in Scotland in 1942. At just 20 years old, Gertrude—my aunt, my father’s sister—was serving in the Women’s Royal Naval Service, known as The Wrens, when her body was discovered in a ditch near a secret military training facility in Inveraray. She had been attacked and shot.

To this day, no one has been brought to justice for her murder, making it one of Scotland’s oldest unsolved cold cases. This book critically re-examines the original police investigation, drawing on extensive research, official records accessed through Freedom of Information requests, and direct conversations with Police Scotland. It challenges the conclusions reached at the time, raising the unsettling question: did the authorities allow Gertrude’s killer to escape justice?

Yet, 99 Days A Wren is more than just an investigation—it is a tribute. Despite the decades that have passed, Gertrude’s spirit endures. Her story reveals the invisible thread of love, peace, and friendship that has connected people in her memory, ensuring that she is not forgotten.

 The time has come to tell her story. This book does just that.

Liam Canning, April 2025