Monthly Archives: November 2020

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

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Archivist (Editor)

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | 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

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Archivist (Editor)

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | 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

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Archivist (Editor)

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | 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

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Archivist (Editor)

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | 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