The Island's Saddest Day
“Two Hundred drowned. The lighthouse flashed its light
A bare mile from home and there we lay
Fished from the avid waters in the night.
The flood shone fatly south at break of day
Assuaged by the New Year dead. From the safe height
We gazed straight downward. Only God could say
What dry and prayerless prayers we turned to pray.”
(Iain Crichton Smith)
The local news in the Stornoway Gazette on 21/01/1919
A VISIT FROM LORD LEVERHUME
His Lordship visited the district last Saturday and after calling on the motherless children of the late John Macdonald,1 North Tolsta, who was lost in the Iolaire Disaster, he met some of the local people who had applied for new holdings.
THE GREAT DISASTER
Since we have sent in our last report the bodies of three of our local men have been recovered and buried in the local Cemetery- Donald Macleod and Malcolm Macleod, sons of Malcolm Macleod, 58 North Tolsta and Evander Murray, 45 North Tolsta. As we were burying these at night, verses from “The Burial of Sir John Moore”, came to mind with strange persistency.
The bodies of Donald Campbell, no. 44 and of John Maciver, no 69, have not yet been recovered.
(Sadly, the bodies of these two men have never been recovered)
11 Tolsta Seamen Drowned
John Macdonald, No1 - Seonaidh Mhic Itheach.
Name: John Macdonald – Age: 42 years
Gaelic Name: ‘Seonaidh Mhic Itheach’ Iain, Mac Iain Mhoir Mhic Mhurchaidh Bhuidhe
Son of John and Marion (Mackay) Macdonald
Husband of Catherine Macdonald. (died 1918)
Address: 1 North Tolsta
Rank: Seaman
Service unit: RNR Served on HMS Emperor of India
Service number: 3339/B
Date of Death: 1st January 1919
Theatre of War:
Drowned when HMY Iolaire sank at the entrance to Stornoway Harbour.
Interred: North Tolsta Cemetery
Memorial: North Tolsta Memorial Cairn,
North Tolsta WW1 Memorial Plaque
Additional information:
He left four orphaned children, his wife, Catherine having passed away in 1918. His daughter, Mary passed away from pneumonia on the 2nd February 1919, aged 7 years, just 5 weeks after the family were orphaned.
WW1 British Campaign Medals
Victory Medal
British War Medal
1914 -1915 Star
Donald Macleod, No 3 - Domhnall Iain Saighdear.
Name : Donald Macleod – Age: 20 years
Gaelic Name: ‘Domhnall Iain Saighdeir’ Domhnall, Mac Dhomhnaill Bhig Mhic Iain Saighdeir
Son of Donald and Anne Macleod
Address: 3 North Tolsta
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service unit: RNR – Served three years in foreign waters on HMS Victory.
Service number: 3968/SD
Date of Death: 1st January 1919
Theatre of War:
Drowned when ‘HMY Iolaire’ sank at the entrance to Stornoway Harbour.
Interred: North Tolsta Cemetery
Memorial: North Tolsta Memorial Cairn
North Tolsta WW1 Memorial Plaque
Additional information:
Donald had served 3 years on active service on ‘HMS Victory’ in foreign waters and was on his way home for his first leave.
WW1 British Campaign Medals
Victory Medal
1914 -1915 Star
British War Medal
John Morrison, No 8 - Iain Choinnich 'ain Moireasdan.
Name: John Morrison – Age: 25 years
Gaelic Name: Iain, Mac Choinnich Mhic Iain Mhoireasdan
Son of Kenneth and Mary (Macleod ) Morrison
Address: 8 North Tolsta
Rank: Seaman
Service unit: RNR
Service number: 4645/A
Date of Death: 1st January 1919
Theatre of War: Drowned in the sinking of ‘HMY Iolaire’
Interred: North Tolsta Cemetery
Memorial: North Tolsta Memorial Cairn
North Tolsta WW1 Memorial Plaque
Additional information: Was at the Defence of Antwerp in 1914. Served in the Drake Battlion D/753, 16/09/14-27/10/14.
Discharged to Portsmouth.
Served on HMS Venerable 19/03/18- 1/01/19.
Decoration: Received D.C.M.
WW1 British Campaign Medals
Victory Medal
1914 -1915 Star
British War Medal
Kenneth Campbell, No 54.
Name: Kenneth Campbell – Age: 29 years
Gaelic Name: ‘Pedair’ Coinneach, Mac Iain, Mhic Iain Bhainn Na Mona
Son of The late John Campbell and Isabella (Graham) Campbell
Husband of Mary (Murray) Campbell of 30 North Tolsta
Address: 54 North Tolsta
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service unit: RNR
Service number: 4804/A
Date of Death: 1st January 1919
Theatre of War: Had served on HMS Galatea at Jutland. Perished on board HMY Iolaire at the entrance to Stornoway harbour.
Interred: North Tolsta Cemetery
Memorial: North Tolsta Memorial Cairn
North Tolsta WW1 Memorial Plaque
Additional information: Left a widow and 2 Children at School Road, North Tolsta
WW1 British Campaign Medals
1914 -1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Donald Macleod, No 58.
Name: Donald Macleod – Age: 31 years
Gaelic Name: ‘Domhnall Ghabhsainn’ Domhnall, Mac Chaluim Mhic Dhomhnaill Ruaidh
Son of Malcolm Macleod and the late Mary (Maciver) Macleod
Address: 58 North Tolsta.
Rank: Seaman
Service unit: RNR
Service number: 3329/A
Date of Death: 1st January 1919
Theatre of War: HMY Iolaire
Interred: North Tolsta Cemetery
Memorial: North Tolsta memorial Cairn
North Tolsta WW1 Memorial Plaque
WW1 British Campaign Medals
Victory Medal
British War Medal
1914 -1915 Star
John Maciver, No 69.
Name: John Maciver – Age: 48 years
Gaelic Name: Iain, Mac Mhurchaidh Bhig Mhic Dhomhnaill Mhoir an Lodain
Son of Murdo and Isabella (Campbell) Maciver
Husband of Catherine (Macleod) Maciver
Address: 69 North Tolsta
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service unit: RNR
Service number: 2619C
Date of Death: 1st January 1919
Theatre of War:
Drowned when HMY Iolaire sank at the entrance to Stornoway Harbour.
Interred: Body not recovered
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 32,
North Tolsta Memorial Cairn,
North Tolsta WW1 Memorial Plaque.
Additional Information: Had served on HMS Victory during the war.
WW1 British Campaign Medals
Victory Medal
British War Medal
1914 -1915 Star
Name: John Maciver, No 33 – Age: 33
Gaelic Name: Iain, Mac Iain Mhic Aonghais Ruaidh, (Cobbars).
Name: Donald Maciver, No 38 – Age: 26
Gaelic Name: Domhnall Red.
Name: Donald Campbell, No 44 – Age: 46
Gaelic Name: Domhnall Eachainn.
Name: Evander Murray, No 45 – Age: 45
Gaelic Name: Iomhair ‘ain Sheorais.
Name: Malcolm Macleod. No 58 – Age: 24
Gaelic Name: Calum Ghabhsainn.
5 Tolsta Seamen Survived
They were:
Murdo Macdonald, No 1. Claoid ‘ain Uilleim.
Roderick Macdonald, No 23. Ruagan.
Donald Murray, No 37. Domhnall Brus.
Donald Maciver, Am Bèicear, settled at 14 new Tolsta but later moved to Inverness.
John Macinnes, Iain a’ Bhroga, of 2 Hill Street but later moved to Gress.