Pentland Road - 2

In May of this year, I blogged about two men who had been found dead on North Rona in 1885. Having watched a program on BBC TV , it now appears that the Malcolm Macdonald was one of the men from Ness who climbed the Stack of Handa in 1870. This feat is now credited with being the first recreational rock climb in Great Britain.

I happened across an entry in the 1901 census for Stornoway for the inmates of the Combination Poor House. This was built in 1894-6 on the Coulregrein Road, nowadays Westview Terrace, in Stornoway. It was used in 1904 to house some of the survivors from the sinking of SS Norge at Rockall in June that year. About 700 passengers drowned; 9 died after coming ashore in Lewis and lie buried in Sandwick Cemetery. The building could accommodate 66 inmates, but was found to have 72 beds in 1946. Coulregrein House no longer exists (source workhouses.org.uk ). The 1901 census entry (which I have summarised here ) has been analysed by my friend and fellow researcher Direcleit, and I refer to his post from 2010. I am highlighting four people, for whom I could trace further information with a degree of certainty. Donald Macmaster Cattanach (46) Married to : Jacobina Cattanach Born: Kingussie Occupation: Governor of Poor House Location: Lewis Combination Poor House In 1891 he was govern...

It is the 11th hour on 11th day, of the 11th month, of the 11th year. 93 years ago today, the guns fell silent on the Western Front, bringing to an end more than four years of carnage in the trenches and on the high seas. Of the 6,200 men who enlisted from the Isle of Lewis in the First World War, more than 1,300 never returned. More than 200 of those perished on 1 January 1919 in the sinking of HMY Iolaire, which was returning island servicemen home after the war. I am not certain how many people from the Isle of Lewis joined up in the Second World War, but about 450 perished between 1939 and 1945. The majority served in the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy. A listing of the Fallen from the Isle of Lewis can be viewed on these two links: First World War Second World War Tributes have been transcribed from the Stornoway Gazette for the years 1917 and 1918, as well as for the years 1939-1945 . Further links to my local history (and particularly military history) research ...

Nambour Chronicle , 2 November 1923, page 9 Typical Emigrants for Australia ISLAND EXODUS CONTINUES (From a Home Correspondent) Stornoway is still pouring forth contingent upon contingent of hardy Hebrideans to the distant lands across the seas. The port was the scene of tremendous bustle last weekend, when a large party of Lewis emigrants set out for London on the first part of the long journey to Australia. At the quayside they were given a rousing farewell. The people of the Lewis have grown accustomed to the departure of their fellow islanders in search of that which has been denied them in the land of their birth but there were evidences on all sides of suppressed emotion on the part of aged parents and brothers and sisters. They comprised of 99 men, women and children, ranging in age from 60 years to six months, and included several families, all of whom it is proposed to settle on the land near Perth, Western Australia. The single men hope to get employment on sheep ranches in V...

These two men, one from Aird, the other from Portvoller, are (to the best of my knowledge) not remembered on the local Roll of Honour or on the memorials at Garrabost or Stornoway. I happened across Murdo Mackenzie through a search for the age at death for Norman; the two are mentioned on the same "service return" from the General Registry Office of Scotland. Norman's age at death is listed as Unknown on the CWGC website, but the GROS file shows it to be 38. Seaman MURDO MACKENZIE Last address in Lewis: Aird Son of Donald and Catherine Mackenzie, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Service: Royal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service), HMS Greenfly Service number: LT/X8100C Date of death: 2 November 1939 at the age of 28 Lost through drowning after a fall Interred: Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery, Sec. F. Uncons. Grave 11835. Seaman NORMAN MACKENZIE Last address in Lewis: 3 Portvoller Service: Royal Naval Reserve, Patrol Service, HMS Lady Elsa Service number: LT/JX 24266...

Private NORMAN MACKENZIE Last address in Lewis: 51 Back Street, Habost, Ness Son of Angus Mackenzie Service: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders Service number: 14327301 Date of death: 8 August 1944 at the age of 20 Interred: Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery, grave V. B. 2 Norman is not mentioned in the Roll of Honour Ness to Bernera, or on the North Lewis War Memorial at Cross.  His name surfaced in a tribute in the Stornoway Gazette of 1 September 1944, which I reproduce below. On August 19th, the sad news was received by Mr Angus Mackenzie (Aonghais Fhionnlaidh), 51 Back Street, Habost, that his second eldest son, Pte Norman Mackenzie, Seaforth Highlanders, has been killed in action in Normandy. Norman was a bright young lad of a little over 20 years of age. He was employed on work of national importance until he was called to a still more important task in the fight for freedom, in which he was now given his precious and promising young life. Our heartfelt sympathy is with his...

Canada Gazette, 6 November 1915 Mariners are hereby warned that Stornoway harbour is closed from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. All vessels, with the exception of local boats, arriving during the night should anchor outside until one hour before sunrise, reporting to the Guard vessel off the port before attempting to enter the port.