From Rev William Matheson’s “History of the Families of Lewis – Smith” published under the pseudonym Mac Gille Chaluim in the Stornoway Gazette in the late 1950s. See a further story of Calum Olach here. There was a noted family of Smiths of Valtos, Uig, for whom it has been claimed that they were of [...]
Read more →This unidentified sailor with the Naval Division is believed to be one of those interned in Holland in 1914. The picture was taken at Groningen, and comes to us from 10 Mangersta. Is he one of the Uigeachs listed below who spent the war in “HMS Timbertown”? The following was written by Dave Roberts for [...]
Read more →See also the transcript.
Read more →A letter from Hector Maclean of Crowlista, serving in the Transvaal, South Africa, to his sister Annie in Glasgow in 1902. Hector died in South Africa early in 1903 of fever – more of which shortly. SAC Station Draaifontein 278 20.9.02 My dear sister, Received your welcome Letter, glad to see you were well and [...]
Read more →A mysterious cave full of swords was once discovered on Mealisval, but the could not be found again. Dave Roberts gave the story of the discovery of the cave in an article for Uig News and here gives a range of possible explanations. In the Iron Age (2000 years ago) people often deposited weapons made [...]
Read more →On the day in November 1913 when the Reef Raiders drove the stock from Reef Farm, the local Constable made the following report (the list doesn’t correspond exactly to the men identified in the photo): Charge, Breach of the Peace Police Station Miavaig, 28th November 1913 Sir, I beg to report to you that between [...]
Read more →Four Uigeachs in Sydney, Australia, circa 1916. From left, Malcolm Morrison 8 Mangersta (Zinc), Norman Smith ex 2 Ungeshader (Tarmod Choinnich), Donald Smith 2 Ungeshader (Coisich) and Donald Macdonald 22 Valtos (Dòmhnall Daoighear). Three were seamen on HMS Orama that patrolled in the south seas, on shore leave whilst in for bunkers and stores. The [...]
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