1 May 1917
On this day, four sailors from Barra, Eriskay and Vatersay were lost in the sinking of SS Bagdale . The steamer was heading from the Clyde to Naples, when she was sunk by U-boat UC-66 off Ushant, Brittany, France, with the loss of 23 lives. UC-66 was lost about six weeks after the sinking of the Bagdale , on 12 June 1917. The story is that she was forced to dive and when she was depth-charged by HMT Sea King , her own mines blew up. Like in the sinking of the Bagdale , 23 lives were lost with UC-66, among them her captain, Herbert Pustkuchen. Sailor John Macdonald At the age of 17 Iain Néill Ghréitheir Son of Neil MacDonald, of No. 14, Cleat, Barra, Oban, Scotland. Born at Barra. Last known address in Barra: Cleat Service unit: Merchant Navy, SS Bagdale Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial Local memorial: Barra & Vatersay Sailor John Macdougall At the age of 20 Son of Effie McDougall (nee McInnes), of Coilleac, Eriskay, South Uist, Inverness, and the late Donard McDougall. ...