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- You remember a rather pretty stripy one that used to come about when you were here. Its mistress was here the other evening when I was doing the paths, looking for it… Her husband seems to be in the navy and she lives in Mrs. Ross’ who has also Mrs. Rose and her dog. The cat and dog must not meet!… Stornoway, 13th May. 1917
- Lt-Col. David Macleod has been wounded again; his name was on to-day’s list near that of Aleck Macaulay, Breasclet. The latter has been wounded on the head by shrapnel, not seriously, Catherine says… Stornoway, 10th May. 1917
- Am sending on “Gazette”. I have a summary in it of an old book on Stor[nowa]y… Thomas Babington Macaulay got the D.C.M. He seems to have behaved with great bravery, attacked four Germans, killed three & wounded one & carried off their machine guns into lines… Stornoway, 6th May. 1917
- Did Papa tell you that she and Miss Isabel Mackenzie are going to take a teacher’s work between them, which will leave Papa still 5 teachers short. Mr. Colin J, Mr. Ewen and Mr. Tait are left so far but will to be appealed for from time to time. If only the war would end! You will be sorry to hear that poor May Macfarlane has lost her other brother in this last push. He was in the Canadians… Stornoway, 29th April. 1917
- Mamma is just now busy in the kitchen baking oatcakes, so that we may keep within the Controller’s demand that no person shall eat more than a loaf and a half per week. We have been taking note this week and find that we are well within the limit. Some white fish are being landed these days, so the “kitchen” problem has not been so acute as it sometimes is… Stornoway, 26th April. 1917
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You remember a rather pretty stripy one that used to come about when you were here. Its mistress was here the other evening when I was doing the paths, looking for it… Her husband seems to be in the navy and she lives in Mrs. Ross’ who has also Mrs. Rose and her dog. The cat and dog must not meet!… Stornoway, 13th May. 1917
This week, Mrs Gibson’s big news refers to a local cat, whom she discovers has recently travelled all the way from Vancouver to Stornoway. She also has some general news about some of the goings on at the school, and … Continue reading
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Lt-Col. David Macleod has been wounded again; his name was on to-day’s list near that of Aleck Macaulay, Breasclet. The latter has been wounded on the head by shrapnel, not seriously, Catherine says… Stornoway, 10th May. 1917
Mr Gibson’s letter this week brings news regarding a couple of wounded local boys serving in the war, as well as some more general information on peat cutting and how cold the weather was in Stornoway in May 1917. The … Continue reading
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Am sending on “Gazette”. I have a summary in it of an old book on Stor[nowa]y… Thomas Babington Macaulay got the D.C.M. He seems to have behaved with great bravery, attacked four Germans, killed three & wounded one & carried off their machine guns into lines… Stornoway, 6th May. 1917
In his letter this week, Mr Gibson tells Jean about the new church service arrangements in Stornoway, and a local man, Thomas Babington Macaulay, has won the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M) for his bravery in the war effort. The next … Continue reading
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Comments Off on Am sending on “Gazette”. I have a summary in it of an old book on Stor[nowa]y… Thomas Babington Macaulay got the D.C.M. He seems to have behaved with great bravery, attacked four Germans, killed three & wounded one & carried off their machine guns into lines… Stornoway, 6th May. 1917
Did Papa tell you that she and Miss Isabel Mackenzie are going to take a teacher’s work between them, which will leave Papa still 5 teachers short. Mr. Colin J, Mr. Ewen and Mr. Tait are left so far but will to be appealed for from time to time. If only the war would end! You will be sorry to hear that poor May Macfarlane has lost her other brother in this last push. He was in the Canadians… Stornoway, 29th April. 1917
In this week’s letter, there is news of a large meeting in favour of Prohibition to be held in the Town Hall, which Mr and Mrs Gibson will attend. Mrs Gibson also remarks on her grief following the death of … Continue reading
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Comments Off on Did Papa tell you that she and Miss Isabel Mackenzie are going to take a teacher’s work between them, which will leave Papa still 5 teachers short. Mr. Colin J, Mr. Ewen and Mr. Tait are left so far but will to be appealed for from time to time. If only the war would end! You will be sorry to hear that poor May Macfarlane has lost her other brother in this last push. He was in the Canadians… Stornoway, 29th April. 1917
Mamma is just now busy in the kitchen baking oatcakes, so that we may keep within the Controller’s demand that no person shall eat more than a loaf and a half per week. We have been taking note this week and find that we are well within the limit. Some white fish are being landed these days, so the “kitchen” problem has not been so acute as it sometimes is… Stornoway, 26th April. 1917
Mr Gibson has unfortunate news for Jean this week – their cat, Lil’l Lissy, has sadly died. He also reports on the funerals of two local folk, and gives Jean the latest news on the school teacher situation. The next … Continue reading
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Comments Off on Mamma is just now busy in the kitchen baking oatcakes, so that we may keep within the Controller’s demand that no person shall eat more than a loaf and a half per week. We have been taking note this week and find that we are well within the limit. Some white fish are being landed these days, so the “kitchen” problem has not been so acute as it sometimes is… Stornoway, 26th April. 1917
We were very glad to get your wire and to know you had had a good journey. It came just before we started out for Ben-na-drove to see if Mr. Matheson would undertake our peats for us this year… Bessie went into town to look for Marion and on our way home we met her with Marion and Katie Maciver going out. Papa was very vexed at the Lewis girls all going late to the J.C… Stornoway, 22nd April. 1917
In her letter to Jean this week, Mrs Gibson gives us further insight into daily life in Stornoway in 1917, including organising their peat cutting and monitoring their bee population. Mrs Gibson also mentions ‘the J.C.’ – if anyone could … Continue reading
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Comments Off on We were very glad to get your wire and to know you had had a good journey. It came just before we started out for Ben-na-drove to see if Mr. Matheson would undertake our peats for us this year… Bessie went into town to look for Marion and on our way home we met her with Marion and Katie Maciver going out. Papa was very vexed at the Lewis girls all going late to the J.C… Stornoway, 22nd April. 1917
Mamma, impressed with something she had read about the need to save flour, devoted part of the afternoon to baking oatcakes. They were quite a success; we both ate of them and no evil effects followed… Stornoway, 16th April. 1917
In this week’s short letter, Mr Gibson is expecting the arrival of Jean for Easter; he is hoping that the heavy snowfall around Aberdeen has not hindered her journey. He remains concerned as yet another teacher from the Nicolson has … Continue reading
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Comments Off on Mamma, impressed with something she had read about the need to save flour, devoted part of the afternoon to baking oatcakes. They were quite a success; we both ate of them and no evil effects followed… Stornoway, 16th April. 1917
Willie has been liking the sea very well. His ship carries 86 of a crew and does patrolling and escorting work. They rescued quite a lot of the California’s passengers when she was torpedoed… They got them all pulled through except one man… He has quite got over the seasickness of his first days… Stornoway, 15th March. 1917
Mr Gibson brings news this week of how local lad Willie Payne and his ship, came to the rescue of the passengers aboard a steamer, the ‘California’, when it was torpedoed by the Germans at sea. The question of whether … Continue reading
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Comments Off on Willie has been liking the sea very well. His ship carries 86 of a crew and does patrolling and escorting work. They rescued quite a lot of the California’s passengers when she was torpedoed… They got them all pulled through except one man… He has quite got over the seasickness of his first days… Stornoway, 15th March. 1917
Lizzie of the milk pail went down to the P.O. this morning but there was no delivery till 12.30. The “Sheila” was not allowed to cross yesterday as the port was again closed. However, a patrol brought the mail this forenoon. All Sy. seemed to be there for its letters after church… Stornoway, 11th March. 1917
This week, the “Sheila” was not allowed to cross, so the post was delayed and brought by the patrol boat instead. Mrs Gibson brings Jean up-to-date on the latest heavy snowfall and the emerging Spring flowers in the garden, and … Continue reading
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Comments Off on Lizzie of the milk pail went down to the P.O. this morning but there was no delivery till 12.30. The “Sheila” was not allowed to cross yesterday as the port was again closed. However, a patrol brought the mail this forenoon. All Sy. seemed to be there for its letters after church… Stornoway, 11th March. 1917
Mr. and Mrs. Rook and Mr. Harper left on Thursday night. They go straight through to Plymouth and stay there with Elsie for a short time to do shopping for their new home and then on to Penzance…Mr. Murray is still all right – has been three weeks at a signalling course in France and has now re-joined his battalion… Stornoway, 4th March. 1917
In Mrs Gibson’s letter this week, she sends words of encouragement to Jean concerning her upcoming exams, she confirms that some of the teachers from the Nicolson have been called up to serve, and she also reports on a local … Continue reading
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Comments Off on Mr. and Mrs. Rook and Mr. Harper left on Thursday night. They go straight through to Plymouth and stay there with Elsie for a short time to do shopping for their new home and then on to Penzance…Mr. Murray is still all right – has been three weeks at a signalling course in France and has now re-joined his battalion… Stornoway, 4th March. 1917
