The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

adb41 · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 178 Location: Stornoway

Affixed on the wall of the railway station at Kyle of Lochalsh, this plaque commemorates the departure of the ill-fated HMY Iolaire on 31st December 1918. Carrying 280 souls to Stornoway, the vessel foundered at the mouth of Stornoway harbour in the early hours of 1st January 1919 in a severe gale. Only 79 men survived, the remainder (comprising most of the crew including the captain, as well as 181 sailors from Lewis, Harris and Berneray) drowned.

Picture courtesy Richard Cooke.

adb41 · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 178 Location: Stornoway

Transcript

At 2130 on 31st December 1918 over 200 Lewis men,
mostly naval personnel who had survived the Great War,
embarked from this pier in:

HMY Iolaire
The ship struck the Beasts of Holm rocks at 0155
on 1st January 1919
Of the 284 passengers and crew, 205 perished.

The plaque is placed here by the Lochalsh Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland
in commemoration of the centenary of the tragic loss of life and immeasurable grief it caused.

OTHER PLAQUE

This plaque was unveiled by
the Lord-Lieutenant for
Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh
Mrs Janet Bowen CVO
on 31st December 2018

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 81553