Remembering the Islanders

[anteros_lmc]

I was surprised and very moved to come across this Remembrance Day article about my home town of Stornoway in The Guardian this weekend. The article briefly tells the story of the tragic loss of the HMY Iolaire, the ship that was wrecked within sight of Stornoway harbour on Hogmanay 1919, resulting in the death of 205 sailors and service men

Comments

[mylodon]

Thanks for sharing that. The more I find out about WWI, the more I realise I know almost nothing...

[anteros_lmc]

Indeed. You'd be forgiven for not knowing about the Iolaire tragedy, it's only relatively recently that people have started to commemorate the disaster. A simple memorial was raised in 1958, but it wasn't until 2001 that a plaque was added listing the names of all those that died.

Mind you, I thought I knew most of the island's war history, but I was astonished to learn about HMS Timbertown on a fascinating BBC Alba programme last night.

[charliecochrane]

How fascinating.

Young Scrimgeour's diaries were an eye opener, too.

[anteros_lmc]

HMS TImbertown was definitely a new one on me! I must have a read of young Scrimgeour, his diaries sound fascinating.

[mylodon]

They are waiting on the dining room table (the room is temporarily Santa's grotto) to be enclosed with Christmas stuff. I keep catching sight of his face - such a sweetheart. *sniffs*