Monthly Archives: October 2021

Mrs. Macdonald from Bernera was in seeing us on Monday night. It was only that day that the two girls got in because of the snow. They are going to lodge in the last house in Bayhead. It was with the greatest difficulty that Mrs. M. got a place for them… Stornoway, 31st January. 1918

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Archivist (Editor)

In her letter to Jean this week, Mrs Gibson reports on more burst pipes in the school owing to the bad weather. There is also an interesting account of two pupils who needed to lodge near town to attend school. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Mrs. Macdonald from Bernera was in seeing us on Monday night. It was only that day that the two girls got in because of the snow. They are going to lodge in the last house in Bayhead. It was with the greatest difficulty that Mrs. M. got a place for them… Stornoway, 31st January. 1918

Mamma says I am to tell you that everybody who has been speaking to her seems to have been greatly surprised at your having travelled that Sunday night and to be impressed with the inhumanity of “your patients” in letting you go. Mamma thinks possibly this is to cover the case of the young men who didn’t venture… Stornoway, 27th January. 1918

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Archivist (Editor)

This week, Mr Gibson returns to writing his usual letter to Jean as he’s feeling much better again. He has a lot of educational advice for Jean this week, regarding various classes and subjects, and he also has important updates … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Mamma says I am to tell you that everybody who has been speaking to her seems to have been greatly surprised at your having travelled that Sunday night and to be impressed with the inhumanity of “your patients” in letting you go. Mamma thinks possibly this is to cover the case of the young men who didn’t venture… Stornoway, 27th January. 1918

Frank Maciver was in school on Friday looking years older Papa says. He is coming to tea with us tomorrow. I wish it had been when you were at home. He was in the retreat at Cambrai when the guns were lost but as it happened the gun he was on was got off as it had been half a kilometre to the rear of the main lot… Stornoway, 20th January. 1918

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Archivist (Editor)

It’s Mrs Gibson’s turn to write to Jean again this week as Mr Gibson is still down with a bad cold. This week, she has heard from a few lads who are home on leave before heading back out to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Frank Maciver was in school on Friday looking years older Papa says. He is coming to tea with us tomorrow. I wish it had been when you were at home. He was in the retreat at Cambrai when the guns were lost but as it happened the gun he was on was got off as it had been half a kilometre to the rear of the main lot… Stornoway, 20th January. 1918

Since Alick and Papa went out a boy has come in, a son of Macleod, Lochcroisten, who has only now managed in to school. He got as far as Achmore and has had to stay there from the day you got started south. Coming in today he followed the telegraph poles as no one could tell where the road was and he got his chin frost-bitten… Papa advised him to stay indoors till Monday to keep it from the cold… Stornoway, 17th January. 1918

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Archivist (Editor)

In this week’s letter, Mrs Gibson has an update on the freezing weather the island is still suffering from. The weather was so cold that it caused one poor lad’s chin to get frost bitten on his way to school. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Since Alick and Papa went out a boy has come in, a son of Macleod, Lochcroisten, who has only now managed in to school. He got as far as Achmore and has had to stay there from the day you got started south. Coming in today he followed the telegraph poles as no one could tell where the road was and he got his chin frost-bitten… Papa advised him to stay indoors till Monday to keep it from the cold… Stornoway, 17th January. 1918

On Tuesday evening John Macdonald (1914), Ness, the lad who won the Military Medal in the R.G.A., came in to see us. He is on leave, but owing to the snow had been unable to start for Ness. We had a long and interesting talk with him on life at the front… Stornoway, 10th January. 1918

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Archivist (Editor)

This week, Mr Gibson is glad to hear of Jean’s safe return to the mainland after her stay in Stornoway for Christmas. The Gibson’s had a visit this week from a Ness lad on leave who had been serving on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on On Tuesday evening John Macdonald (1914), Ness, the lad who won the Military Medal in the R.G.A., came in to see us. He is on leave, but owing to the snow had been unable to start for Ness. We had a long and interesting talk with him on life at the front… Stornoway, 10th January. 1918