During the spring of 2023, the Gibson posts of the Tasglann blog will mark the centenaries of the sailings of the SS Marloch from Lochboisdale on 15th April 1923 and the SS Metagama from Stornoway on 21st April 1923. Several hundred young islanders, seeking broader prospects, emigrated to Canada in these sailings, in the wake of the HMY Iolaire disaster of 1919, and subsequent economic hardships. We will skip ahead in our publication schedule to reproduce accounts from 1923 which touch upon these significant events. In this week’s letter, Mrs Gibson tells of further emigration plans being made for the summer, and how Mr Gibson has been interviewed on the subject; Mr Gibson has also written to the press in response to emigration coverage. 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 Sheann,
I posted your washing to you today and hope it will reach you safely. We got your note from Coldstream on Saturday morning. That must have been quite a jolly outing. Here the day was very wet on Thursday but on Saturday we had a walk in the grounds and enjoyed it very much. Coming back a shower came on and we sheltered under a tree where we were joined by Cathie Macleod and “Belle” and later Angy Macallum (?) and Lilian added themselves and we had a nice ceilidh before parting – they were on their way out and we back.
Lina has now got particulars about her Paris courses and a list of lodgings. The Authority will pay travelling expenses to Edinburgh and 15/- a week towards maintainance [sic].
Yesterday we excused ourselves from church as Mr. White was from home and had breakfast in bed. In the evening we went for a good walk and it was fine by that time. In spite of that however I didn’t sleep till after three – for my sins!
Another party of emigrants for Canada is being got up for June and this party Mrs. Fraser and Callum Macaulay will accompany. Papa was describing a girl interviewing him today for it – “all painted and powdered”. Query was it the one we saw in Edinburgh? Or is there another?
Mr Sutherland (of Wick) is away for a month having an operation in Edinburgh. An interim comes tonight – a Kenneth Mackenzie from Gairloch and a Mr. Macpherson from Kingussie came recently – Papa is proposing after the summer holidays to transfer Marion from Miss Reid’s dept. to the tin school. He thinks she will be happier there – Angus Maclean was applying for a vacancy but Papa thought he shouldn’t leave Bayble so soon.
Papa is posting a letter to the “Scotsman” tonight on “Dry” Stornoway, replying to an article by one of the correspondents here recently in connection with the emigration. This is a new rôle for him.
How is work in school? What is of special interest for this part of the year? I suppose you will be having frequent visits of inspectors from now till the end of the session just as we will have here. I always dislike this part of the year for that but it is nice other ways with the daylight mornings and evenings and the growing things and the birds.
Poor Annie Macleod has been pretty ill this last while but when last I was over was some what better. Mrs. Macleod just the same.
Darn your stockings at once when they arrive and get them off your mind – or is it off mine?
Love from both to Sheann.
M.
Ref: 1992.50.64vii/L42
Transcribed by Hazel Tocock, Museum Visitor Assistant
