We are interested in hearing from any former servicemen who were stationed at RAF Aird Uig, with a view to compiling memories of the place. Please get in touch!  There is also an RAF Aird Uig topic in our forum. On the windswept, 60-metre high, cliffs at Gallan Head, Aird Uig, a watcher’s hut was built for shelter, during the Second World War. Local men, in the Auxiliary Coastguard Service, kept a watch on the North Western Approaches for enemy ships. The watch was maintained 24 [ » read more ]

In the winter of 1961, the Commanding Officer of RAF Aird Uig and twenty-six of his officers and men were stranded in Stornoway while returning from the first night of the charity concert organised by the camp in the Town Hall.

A small village of 10 crofts (counting 3a and 3b as two) situated at the end of the road to Gallan Head, on the western side of the Amhainn Gil na h-Airde. The crofts fan out from the riverside and some were enlarged to take in rocky ground to the east of the river. The township included 1700 acres of common grazings to the east and west of the village, to meet those of Crowlista and Valtos. Fishing was carried out from the rocky beach [ » read more ]

From the Stornoway Gazette, 7 July 1959: The Commanding Officer of the R.A.F. station at Aird Uig has expressed gratitude to gamekeeper Donald Morrison of Mangersta, who on Tuesday found an airman who had been missing from the station. The man was Senior Aircraftsman Thomas Douglas, who was on Wednesday reported to be “quite alright” at the camp. The Commanding Officer, Squadron-Leader, Christopher, who took over command on Monday from Squadron-Leader Evans, said: ” I am now perfectly satisfied that this was a simple case [ » read more ]

Translated from an interview with An Geal, John Maclennan, born 1896 at 15 Kneep and married at 4 Aird, Uig. The Admiralty ship the Iolaire taking servicemen home to Lewis grounded on the Beasts of Holm outside Stornoway, on the 1st of January 1919. Almost two hundred men perished. Translated by Maggie Smith. At the end of December 1918, on leave and travelling back to Lewis with other servicemen from Uig, we planned to arrive home on New Year’s day and surprise the families. Approaching [ » read more ]

As Hiort Weekend continues, here’s a piece contributed by Alasdair Shearer (Aird/Australia) from the Celtic Magazine.  The BBC programme An t-Hiortach, about the last surviving evacuee Norman Gillies and his return visit to the island, is available on the iPlayer now (UK only and until 5 Sept), and for those who get BBC Alba, there are more programmes on St Kilda to watch today and Monday (see below).  There was also a piece in the Guardian magazine yesterday about Norman Gillies (thanks to Alison for [ » read more ]

From West Over Sea by DDC Pochin Mould, 1953. To go to Uig is to go to a different country from the rest of the Lews, to go from the moors into the mountains, to the great massif which, with the Forest of Harris, builds the highest ground in the Outer Hebrides. It is only 32 miles from Stornoway to Uig, but the single-track road, which is untarred beyond the turn to Bernera, makes the way seem much further. It turns off at Garynahine on [ » read more ]

Peggy Maclennan was born in 1888 to 24 Valtos; she married Donald Maclennan, 15 Kneep, in 1920 in Glasgow (parents of Kenny, Joan, Christina, Donald F and John, who died in infancy).  Her cousin Kenneth Matheson belonged to 6 Aird.

Thanks to Roddy Maclean for the scans and Donald Maciver for the names.  Those marked * are still living in 2009. Back Row: 1. Alexander Macleod Crowlista 2. *Malcolm J Macleod 8 Aird 3. John A Maciver 10 Crowlista (later 8 Crowlista) 4. Angus J Macleod 2 Timsgarry 5. John M Macdonald 6 Crowlista 6. Alexander Macdonald 4 Crowlista 7. Donald Macleod 2 Timsgarry (twin of #10) 8. Quentin Mackenzie Point (headmaster) Third Row: 9. Mary Macleod Point (teacher) 10. Katie-Bell Macleod 2 Timsgarry (twin [ » read more ]

Many thanks once again to Robin Forrest for providing these wonderful, and previously unknown to us, pictures of Uig in 1964-65, taken by his father Sam Forrest on Land Court business.  Some things have changed… some have not!

The Highland News, 5 July 1913: On Wednesday, 2nd inst., the Rev Allan Mackenzie, parish minister of Uig, received a deputation from his congregation who presented him with a handsome new trap and carriage rug.  Mr John Matheson Aird said that when the congregation understood how much the minister required a new trap, they entered most heartily into the proposal.  The minister had given his services ungrudgingly for the good of the parish in the post, and they wished to assist him to do so [ » read more ]

William Matheson, Mac Gille Chaluim, wrote extensively of his own family in Uig: Malcolm Matheson [a younger son of Donald Ruadh (or Ban) Matheson, of Kneep and Valtos] known as Calum Ruadh or Calum Mòr, was tenant in Carnish when John Nicolson was tacksman.  In his time the population of the townlands of Uig was increasing rapidly, with the result that what were previously summer pasturages came to be occupied permanently by some of the tenantry.   Thus it was that Calum Ruadh, although a tenant [ » read more ]

This week the Comann Eachdraidh was pleased to welcome Mr and Mrs Jack Duncan from Michigan, USA, on their first visit to Uig. Jack is the great grandson of “An Irish”, Calum Macritchie, a well-known character in his day and one of the leaders of the Reef Raiders in 1913. Jack’s grandparents were Tarmod an Irish and Ceit Bhan (daughter of Barney O’Hare) who lived latterly in Stornoway, and Jack’s mother Catherine emigrated to America as a young woman in the 1920s where she settled in Detroit [ » read more ]

Mac an Irish, a dance and pipe tune (click for more; music courtesy of Sven Axelsson) was evidently written about a son of “An Irish”, Calum Macritchie (b1845) of Carnish, Aird, Kneep and Reef, and the eldest of the Reef Raiders.  He wasn’t Irish of course, but so called as he was always a rebel.  We don’t know which son is the Mac an Irish referred to.  We are in the process of compiling the verses; if you can help with this, or know someone who can, please let us know.  No descendents of [ » read more ]