Monthly Archives: July 2022

Dr. Rennie, Mr. Lang and Mr. Patrick were here over the week end and left on Tuesday night. Mr. Patrick is just as slow and deliberate as ever and put class after class to sleep. It is difficult to think of him having been a teacher…Stornoway 20th June, 1918

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Archivist (Editor)

Mrs Gibson laments the soporific teaching style of a visitor, and fears that a picnic planned at Arnish may be rained off. Battery boys are home from Salonika, and there is ongoing disgruntlement at the appointment of the new Nicolson … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Dr. Rennie, Mr. Lang and Mr. Patrick were here over the week end and left on Tuesday night. Mr. Patrick is just as slow and deliberate as ever and put class after class to sleep. It is difficult to think of him having been a teacher…Stornoway 20th June, 1918

The Board met yesterday and appointed as successor to Mr. Tait another Mr. Tait, this time, from Wishaw. They also appointed Annice Macleod as we feared they would. Papa went to the meeting and gave his reasons for thinking Annice unsuitable….. Annice has really “a cheek of brass” as my mother used to say to want to come back to this school. However we must hope she will do better than we think likely…..Stornoway, 13th June, 1918

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Archivist (Editor)

Mrs Gibson tells Jean about a controversial appointment for a post [of gymnastics teacher] at the Nicolson Institute – the appointee has “a cheek of brass”. She also suggests Browning as a good essay topic. The next in our series … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Board met yesterday and appointed as successor to Mr. Tait another Mr. Tait, this time, from Wishaw. They also appointed Annice Macleod as we feared they would. Papa went to the meeting and gave his reasons for thinking Annice unsuitable….. Annice has really “a cheek of brass” as my mother used to say to want to come back to this school. However we must hope she will do better than we think likely…..Stornoway, 13th June, 1918

A very dreadful accident happened this week – Mr. Mackay, the painter, Lottie’s father, who has been working over at the Castle had a fall off the scaffold he was working on, and was so badly injured that he died the same evening… Mr. George Macleod, Lillian’s father, died this week. He had some kind of a heart attack (I think it was) some weeks ago. They are both to be buried on Monday… Stornoway, 9th June. 1918

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Archivist (Editor)

This week, Mr Gibson delivers the sad news to Jean of two deaths in the local community, as well as news of two upcoming weddings. He also updates Jean on how his vegetables are doing. The next in our series … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A very dreadful accident happened this week – Mr. Mackay, the painter, Lottie’s father, who has been working over at the Castle had a fall off the scaffold he was working on, and was so badly injured that he died the same evening… Mr. George Macleod, Lillian’s father, died this week. He had some kind of a heart attack (I think it was) some weeks ago. They are both to be buried on Monday… Stornoway, 9th June. 1918

Did I tell you that the Germans had shelled St. Kilda? 72 shells were found but as the people had fled to the hill no one was killed. It was specially at the wireless they were firing and they did not manage to strike the mast, only some of the stays. Mr. Crichton was out in one of the whalers to advise about repairs. He brought Papa a piece of one of the shells… Stornoway, 6th June. 1918

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Archivist (Editor)

Mrs Gibson has concerning news for Jean this week regarding the shelling carried out by the Germans in St. Kilda – luckily no one was harmed. She also fills Jean in on the latest regarding their sea trips on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Did I tell you that the Germans had shelled St. Kilda? 72 shells were found but as the people had fled to the hill no one was killed. It was specially at the wireless they were firing and they did not manage to strike the mast, only some of the stays. Mr. Crichton was out in one of the whalers to advise about repairs. He brought Papa a piece of one of the shells… Stornoway, 6th June. 1918

Word has come that John Munro had been awarded the Military Cross for his work during the Somme fighting in the early part of this great offensive. The award, however, had not been intimated until three days after his death. I hear that Angus Maclean, of your class, has been wounded again and is in hospital somewhere. I haven’t got the address yet… Stornoway, 2nd June. 1918

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Archivist (Editor)

In his letter to Jean this week, Mr Gibson provides an account on his sailing out in the “Naughty Lass”. He also has word regarding several lads who have been away at war, including one who was awarded the Military … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Word has come that John Munro had been awarded the Military Cross for his work during the Somme fighting in the early part of this great offensive. The award, however, had not been intimated until three days after his death. I hear that Angus Maclean, of your class, has been wounded again and is in hospital somewhere. I haven’t got the address yet… Stornoway, 2nd June. 1918