Bayble School District

BAYBLE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Upper Garrabost, Lower Garrabost, Upper Bayble, Lower Bayble, Park and Geilir.

Population last Census, 2129:
(Males, 896; Females, 1233).

Numbers on Roll of Honour
The number of dead is given in brackets
UPPER BAYBLE 99 (29)
LOWER BAYBLE 108 (16)
GEILIR 28 (5)
PARK 22 (6)
UPPER GARRABOST 48 (11)
LOWER GARRABOST 78 (16)

Total: 383 (83)

THIS School District at last census returned a population of 2129—896 males and 1233 females. The number on military service during the war was 383—over 18 per cent, of the entire population, or 42.7 per cent, of males. Of these, 83, or 21.6 per cent, of the number on service, laid down their lives in defending us on sea and land. There are 24 war widows in the district. Ten families sustained double losses—those of Murdo Campbell, Evander Mackenzie, Kenneth Mackenzie, Garrabost ; Mrs Maciver, Greenpark ; Widow John Macaulay, Geilir: Peter Macleod, Alexander Mackenzie, Upper Bayble ; Donald Macdonald, Farquhar Macrae, Park: and Donald Campbell, Lower Bayble. It is hard to lose any member of the family, but it must be doubly trying to lose the only son. We had four such sad instances here. The "Iolaire" tragedy accounted for ten lives, bringing the total number of cases of drowning up to 30. Three young lads—Allan Graham, Garrabost ; Donald Macleod (Colin), Upper Bayble, and Malcolm Maciver (Kenneth). Lower Bayble—fell the same day, in that ill-fated advance up the Tigris.

We shall not soon forget many incidents that impressed us during those years—the daily visit to the local Post Office, where the war news was eagerly scanned : the postman's morning call with, news of life or sorrow; the anxious mother's morning task to have breakfast served before the postman's arrival should upset things ; and the clergyman's heavy step along the village road on the painful errand of disclosing some sad news, or bringing the comfort of the Gospel to some stricken household. Several parents refused to be comforted, giving themselves over to sorrow and sinking under the burden. When this victory of Right over Might has cost so much to Lewis alone, how tremendous the total sacrifice made ! What a blessing our sacrifices have not been in vain. Not in vain, indeed, for the world and humanity are, at least for a time—let us hope and pray it may be for ever—freed from the menace and tyranny of a domination that would mean nothing short of a, hell upon our fair earth if an arrogant and cruel Prussianism had been triumphant. But thanks to an over-ruling Providence and the valour of our loval sons, we have been spared so terrible a catastrophe.

Mr DONALD MACIVER, Bayble Public School.