-
Recent Posts
- 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
Recent Comments
Tag Cloud
Airidhantuim Primary School archives Barra Berneray Bord na Gaidhlig cataloguing Christmas Comainn Eachdraidh Comunn Eachdraidh Nis Eriskay fishing Friday Photo Harris Harris Tweed Harris Tweed Authority Islands Book Trust Islands Book Trust James Shaw Grant lewis Lewis Society of Detroit Lews Castle Lochmaddy Lord Leverhulme Mingulay music Ness North Tolsta Historical Society North Uist Pairc photographs poor law Radio nan Gàidheal religion school memories schools Sgoil Airidhantuim South Uist St Kilda Stornoway Stornoway Historical Society Stornoway Town Hall Tolsta Training weather WWIArchives
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
Related Links
Tools
Monthly Archives: April 2020
‘Curiously enough, following on your information about Mr. Dodd came a letter from himself. He is… an R.A.M.C. orderly with the Friends’ Unit on a Hospital Ship. But here is a queer coincidence: who, do you think, is his Medical Officer? Ian Mackenzie.’ Stornoway, 9th Nov. 1916
Mr Gibson to Jean Gibson. The next in our series of letters from the W.J. Gibson collection held by Museum nan Eilean. Knitting, war news, the first debate of the Literary Society and an outbreak of whooping cough at Skigersta are just … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on ‘Curiously enough, following on your information about Mr. Dodd came a letter from himself. He is… an R.A.M.C. orderly with the Friends’ Unit on a Hospital Ship. But here is a queer coincidence: who, do you think, is his Medical Officer? Ian Mackenzie.’ Stornoway, 9th Nov. 1916
Thursday night again, and I have just arrived in from drill. Thirty-eight boys and I have had a route -march to the Hospital and back. Four of the Masters [teachers]… have been away since Monday night… They are being examined at Fort George for Medical Classification. Stornoway, 2nd November 1916
Mr Gibson to Jean Gibson. The next in our series of letters from the W.J. Gibson collection held by Museum nan Eilean. This week, a debate on Railway Nationalisation. Please get in touch if you have any comments: archives@cne-siar.gov.uk. Jean … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on Thursday night again, and I have just arrived in from drill. Thirty-eight boys and I have had a route -march to the Hospital and back. Four of the Masters [teachers]… have been away since Monday night… They are being examined at Fort George for Medical Classification. Stornoway, 2nd November 1916
Maggie and Mrs. Murray the school cleaner have been busy all the week putting in peats… and they are not nearly finished yet. Maggie is staying on till Saturday next to see it all finished. Then she is talking of going to munitions in Glasgow. Stornoway, 29th Oct. 1916
Letter from Mrs Gibson to Jean Gibson. The next in our series of letters from the W.J. Gibson collection held by Museum nan Eilean. This week – the price of bread in Stornoway reaches 1 shilling a loaf! Please get in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on Maggie and Mrs. Murray the school cleaner have been busy all the week putting in peats… and they are not nearly finished yet. Maggie is staying on till Saturday next to see it all finished. Then she is talking of going to munitions in Glasgow. Stornoway, 29th Oct. 1916
‘The Ross Battery in Macedonia is in action about three times a fortnight. Capt. Smith, Daisy’s husband, is at present in command.’ Stornoway, 26 Oct. 1916
Letter from Mr Gibson to Jean Gibson. The next in our series of letters from the W.J. Gibson collection held by Museum nan Eilean. Please get in touch if you have any comments: archives@cne-siar.gov.uk. Jean Dear, Here we are, Mamma … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Gibson Collection
Comments Off on ‘The Ross Battery in Macedonia is in action about three times a fortnight. Capt. Smith, Daisy’s husband, is at present in command.’ Stornoway, 26 Oct. 1916
‘I hope also that you are attending to getting your Harris made; it will be so good for the really cold weather.’ Stornoway, 22nd Oct. 1916
Letter from Mrs Gibson to Jean Gibson. The next in our series of letters from the W.J. Gibson collection held by Museum nan Eilean. Please get in touch if you have any comments: archives@cne-siar.gov.uk . Dear Jean We got your … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Harris Tweed
Comments Off on ‘I hope also that you are attending to getting your Harris made; it will be so good for the really cold weather.’ Stornoway, 22nd Oct. 1916
‘Now Sheann, all good wishes for the new life. Work hard and play hard and try to make those about you happy.’ Stornoway, 16th Oct. 1916
As promised last week, here is the full transcript of the first letter sent to Jean Gibson from her mother. Please get in touch by email if you have any comments: archives@cne-siar.gov.uk. Dear Jean Papa and I are much obliged … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on ‘Now Sheann, all good wishes for the new life. Work hard and play hard and try to make those about you happy.’ Stornoway, 16th Oct. 1916
Gibson Collection Project
During this time of the Cornonavirus emergency, some of the Museum and Archive staff have been busy transcribing letters from the W.J. Gibson collection. This extensive collection was gifted to Museum nan Eilean by the executor of Lady Jane Urquhart … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Comments Off on Gibson Collection Project
