A new site is currently being compiled on the Fallen from World War I and World War II from the islands of Berneray, Boreray, North Uist, Grimsay, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay. All information welcome.
Mol Thagaraidh, a remote shingle bay on the eastern coast of the district of Eishken in Lewis. Three miles, as the sea-eagle flies, from Lemreway; thirty miles overland. The hill of Fiar Chreag towers over the location, and is the final resting place of a Lockheed Hudson III plane, which crashed there on July 31st, 1942. The three crew all perished. It is thought the plane came down in fog, and had it flown but 10 feet higher, it would have cleared the hill. It took a while for the remains of Flying Officer John Derek Brearly Rigby, Flying Officer Frank Richard Hancock and Sergeant Bernard Frederick Charles Rixon to be removed from Mulhagery. Rigby and Hancock are buried at Sandwick; Rixon is at rest at Hoddesdon near Hertford, north of London.
Private NORMAN MORRISON Last address in Lewis: 10 South Dell Son of Murdo and Flora Morrison of 10 South Dell Service unit: 3rd Gordon Highlanders Service number: 3/5645 Discharged at Aberdeen on 29 May 1916 due to gunshot wounds and TB Date of death: 16 March 1917 at the age of 23 Died of wounds at home Interred: Old Ness Cemetery, Swainbost, lair 95 Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross That is the summary information I have on Norman, none of whose family now remain in Ness. He died at home in South Dell, ten months after his discharge from the army. Until two years ago, he rested in an unmarked grave in the Old Ness Cemetery, and a cursory reference to him in the Roll of Honour was all that pointed to his sacrifice. He was not recorded with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission either. Well, let us have a look at his army career. 3 May 1910. At the age of 17 years and 9 months, Norman, a fisherman, enrolls with the reserves of the 3rd battalion the Gordon Highlanders at...
On that day, the villagers of St Kilda were packing up their belongings , before leaving the island of their birth forever. Some left a bowl of grain on the table, with the Bible open at the chapter of Exodus. A community, a culture, a way of life was coming to a close after thousands of years. Life on their outpost in the Atlantic had become untenable, to their minds, and the Hiorteachs had requested their own removal. The steamer Harebell took them to the village of Lochaline, on the mainland and on to Glasgow. A lot has been written about St Kilda, with insights changing as the years and researches progress. Someone has recently mooted the idea to repopulate the islands with permanent inhabitants - an idea that is as fanciful as it is unrealistic. Even today, with modern, powerful boats, it is not always possible to cross the sea to the islands. In the past, there would be no communication with St Kilda for 8 months of the year, due to the severity of the weather ...
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