The Iolaire Tragedy / Scotland's History

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Music credit: CO.AG Music - The Demon
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[@tango6nf477]

So many small communities experienced the loss of almost all their men during the war when many joined up into the same units, and were killed together on the same day, in battles such as the Somme. The impact of this tragedy must have been as devastating and even more tragic as these were men who had served and survived after 4 years of hell on earth. Its a heart-breaking story and one I had not heard of so thank you for bringing it to our attention, these men deserve to be remembered.

[@scotlandshistory]

It was terrible and to happen so close to home. Thank you so much for watching.

[@robertmcdougall3166]

Excellent account of such an appalling tragedy. Almost impossible to contemplate that over 280 men returning from the Great War to what they thought was the safety of home and to celebrate New Year. Then being caught in a force 10 gale on a pitch black Winter’s night. Might I suggest an excellent book called "The Darkest Dawn: The Story of the Iolaire Tragedy" a moving account which indicates how the British Admiralty managed to distance themselves from blame.

[@scotlandshistory]

Thank you so much, and for the tip re the book. A terrible tragedy for the islands.

[@RHR-221b]

Thank you once again, Scotland's History, for, on this sad occasion, furnishing me with my hitherto unknown knowledge of this Disaster. Stay free. Rab 👋 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *The Iolaire Disaster* At 1.55am on 1 January 1919, a naval yacht carrying sailors home on leave ran aground on rocks near the village of Holm, a mere 20 yards from the shore of the Isle of Lewis and less than a mile from the safe harbour of Stornoway. HMY Iolaire was crowded with 280 men, mostly naval reservists returning to the safety and comfort of their homes after the horrors of the Great War. On this dark night of winter a force 10 gale was blowing from the south, hard onto the shore, and there was a heavy sea running. Men drowned as they jumped or slid into the sea from the pitching decks, were flung back into the angry foam from lifeboats awash and overloaded, were dashed against jagged rocks, or managed to swim and crawl ashore, only to die before they could reach shelter or aid. By the time the first New Year’s Day of peacetime dawned, 201 men had lost their lives, 181 of them on the very shores of the island they called home. 'No one now alive in Lewis can ever forget the 1 January 1919, and future generations will speak of it as the blackest day in the history of the island, for on it 200 of our bravest and best perished on the very threshold of their homes under the most tragic circumstances. The terrible disaster at Holm on New Year’s morning has plunged every home and every heart in Lewis into grief unutterable. Language cannot express the desolation, the despair which this awful catastrophe has inflicted. One thinks of the wide circle of blood relations affected by the loss of even one of these gallant lads, and imagination sees those circles multiplied by the number of the dead, overlapping and overlapping each other till the whole island - every hearth and home in it - is shrouded in deepest gloom. All the island’s war losses in the past four cruel years - although these numbers fully four times the death roll of New Year’s Day morning - are not comparable to this unspeakable calamity. The black tragedy has not a redeeming feature.' WILLIAM GRANT, FOUNDER OF THE _STORNOWAY GAZETTE_ JANUARY 1919. REPRINTED IN THE LOYAL LEWIS ROLL OF HONOUR, 1920. Full excerpt taken from 'The Darkest Dawn: The Story of the Iolaire Tragedy' by Malcolm Macdonald and Donald John MacLeod. *Rest In Peace.* 💚 R 🕊

[@RHR-221b]

In hope that my addition is within your protocol, S's H. Bye for now. Rab

[@scotlandshistory]

Yes that's fine. I just don't allow links. A very sad time for the islanders. Thank you once again for watching and for your support on both channels.

[@kennethbrien771]

I have visited the monument a few times, when the weather has been pleasant and the sea calm. This adds to the poignancy of what was a terrible loss for the islanders. Writing this on Remembrance Sunday.

[@scotlandshistory]

I've not made it yet but will do to pay my respects. A poignant reminder, especially at this time of Remembrance. Thank you so much for watching.

[@channel9r]

As always, a splendid take on Scottish history. Such a tragedy.

[@scotlandshistory]

Thank you so much Duncan!

[@ms.kayak7seas]

Hi, Scotland History. What's a tragic event! I don't own a sailboat, but I do know how the sea can be monstrous as a kayaker. Rocks could be hidden. If I kayak on the river, I probably pointed out where rocks underwater can be by the water flows, but the ocean is a different story. It's shame some of the sailors weren't capable to swim? Even a strong swimmer could be vulnerable BC losing mobility with wet clothes/shoes. There are many facts that seem contributed to this accident. The sorrow remains forever. Thank you very much.

[@scotlandshistory]

Thank you so much! Awful thing to happen so close to home. It was a tradition that sailors never learned to swim here.

[@_Area-51]

It was pitch black and really stormy I'm not sure about their swimming capabilities, but even the best swimmer would struggle in those conditions. So sad they were so close to home

[@philipnorris6542]

Doubly ironic and doubly tragic; they survived what was up to that time the biggest war ever only to die after the end of hostilities, and so near to home.

[@scotlandshistory]

Yes I agree. It was a real tragedy and so very sad. Thank you so much for watching.