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- I am just in from the meeting of the school Literary Society. They had a Gaelic debate: “Has emigration been beneficial to the Highlands?” They went into it with great vim and seemed to enjoy it greatly. Several times it resolved itself into little duels in which there seemed to be excellent bits which brought down the house, and retort would follow retort to everybody’s delight… The affirmative won by 35 votes to 14; some did not vote… Stornoway, 28th Feb. 1917
- There have been some fine catches of herring this last week, one day 5000 crans. The Minch has been getting “swept” and the mail-boat is running regularly. Oatmeal scarce; we have had to fall back temporarily on Quaker oats… Stornoway 22nd Feb 1917
- This week’s letter highlights a difficult truth which is very pertinent, given that it is Black History Month. In the course of transcribing the letters we occasionally encounter racist language which is extremely offensive and considered abhorrent today. The fact that a highly educated woman like Mrs Gibson would use this particularly horrible word in such a context reflects the racist ideas prevalent in Britain at this time. We thought carefully about whether to publish this letter on the blog, but we feel it is important not to cover up the past and that we should bring it out into the open, as the attitudes of people in the past are an important part of the historical record. In another sentence of the letter there is a reference to insanity in a particular family. We have not revealed the family’s identity in case this causes distress to any descendants.
- I had letters this week from Wm. B. Macdonald, who is with a battery in France and has had one or two narrow escapes, from J. W. Matheson, in Salonika, and from Alick Thomson, in the training camp at Gailes. He is enjoying the change from the trench-mud. Did I mention that Simon Mackenzie, who has been on a minesweeper off the west coast of Ireland, is now home, discharged on account of his health?… Stornoway, 15th Feb. 1917
- He told us of a mule who had a spite against a man and waited patiently for an opportunity to pay him out [get revenge]. One day the man was grooming the third mule from his enemy. The watchful one saw his chance and laid the man out with a kick delivered below the bellies of the two intervening mules. What do you think of that? E. says they never forget anybody who has beaten them…Stornoway, 9th Feb. 1917
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Author Archives: David Powell
Friday photo: Bragar post office
There are only a few images of the West Side in the Western Isles Libraries’ postcard collection held in Stornoway. This one depicts the Bragar post office and Lakefield House.
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Friday photo: Barpa Langass
The Barpa Langass site in North Uist is a must see place for anyone visiting the island. I’m not sure the additional cairns atop of it as depicted in this postcard are still there, but do let us know if … Continue reading
Friday photo: A typical Lewis village
Every village, hamlet and settlement in the Outer Hebrides is special but I’m not sure how the people of North Tolsta would feel about their village being called “typical” as this postcard states! I’m pretty sure some of these houses are … Continue reading
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Friday photo: The Mill Pool
I always find something quite calming about the lochans of the Uists (and to that matter other parts of the islands). I don’t know much about this particular Mill Pool (actually, I know nothing about it!), but I like the … Continue reading
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Friday photo: Loch Skipport
Today is my last day with the Heritage Service as I live to take up a new archive job elsewhere in Scotland. I’ve had a great 4 years here and have been very lucky to meet and talk with many … Continue reading
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Friday photo: Manish
This image of Manish on the Golden Road in Harris features in the James Shaw Grant collection held by the archive service. I love this photo partly because is does capture some of the remoteness of the Golden Road and … Continue reading
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Friday photo: A happy sailor
One of my favourite collections in the archives if that of Dr Norman Morrison, the naturalist, policeman, union activist and photographer who was born in Shawbost. Although he worked away in Glasgow and Argyll as a policeman, he regularly returned … Continue reading
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Friday photo: Berneray
This week we’re in Berneray in the Sound of Harris for our image of the week. I particularly like the small boat featured in the bottom left and the two next to the house! Not sure where on Berneray this … Continue reading
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Friday photo: Kisimul Castle
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in the Outer Hebrides was gloriously sunny. I was lucky enough to be in Barr and Monday and Tuesday and so an image of Kisimul Castle seems appropriate today. This postcard reproduction of … Continue reading
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