Editorial note

IN placing the First Edition of this Roll before the Public in December, 1915, I ventured to express the hope that it would commend itself to Lewis folk at home and abroad as a record not altogether unworthy of the magnificent part which the Island was playing in the great struggle then shaking the world. That hope was more than justified in the result. The book had a very cordial reception, and many flattering notices of it appeared in the Press of the home country and the Colonies. His Majesty the King graciously accepted a specially-bound copy of the Roll, thus bringing into still greater prominence the Island's fine war record. Scores of letters were received from natives of Lewis scattered all over the world, expressing a hope that a Final Edition would be published at the end of the war. In response to these requests I have compiled the present volume, which, as will be seen, is not a mere supplement to the former edition, but is complete in itself, embracing all that appeared in the earlier issue and continuing the record to the end of the war. The production of such a Roll as this could not possibly be the unaided work of one man, and my first duty is to acknowledge here the ungrudging assistance received from friends in all parts of the Island. The original lists of names for the various districts were supplied by the school teachers, every one of whom, without exception, responded heartily to my appeal for their co-operation. They also revised the lists as rearranged, and in many instances corrected the proofs for their respective districts as the work was passing through the Press. Other friends, too, have assisted by supplying information with regard to casualties and in collecting photographs. To all these helpers sincere thanks is tendered. One prominent and patriotic Lewisman has been especially helpful —Dr J L. Robertson, C.B., H.M. Senior Chief Inspector of Schools — Dr Robertson has throughout taken a keen and practical interest in the work of compilation, and from the appended initials he will be recognised as the writer of the Preface. A few words as to the plan and scope of the Roll may be appropriate and useful. It will be observed that a separate list is given for each of the thirty-six School Areas, and these are arranged in Parishes, following as far as practicable their geographical order. The Parish of Stornoway, for instance, commences at Aird and ends at North Tolsta; it is followed by the Parish of Barvas, commencing at Lionel and ending at Shawbost; Uig and Lochs are similarly treated. In the First Edition the lists of names were arranged in alphabetical order, and classified according to Units of Service. In the present volume I have adopted a different plan, which, I believe, will be found more interesting and more convenient for reference. Each village is taken as a separate unit, and the names are arranged according to home address. The marginal figures in the lists are the croft numbers. In the case of Stornoway the lists are arranged by streets, and the following order has been followed:—

(1) The sea front from Newton to Bayhead, including the back streets in the Newton district. The cross streets between South Beach and North Beach, and the side streets opening off Bayhead.

(2) Streets running East and West, commencing with Scotland Street.

(3) Streets running North and South, commencing with Kenneth Street.

(4) The Castle policies and suburbs of the town.

By the arrangement adopted in compiling the lists, all the members of the same family are brought together, and each family's service, war honours, or losses can be seen at a glance. As there is scarcely a house but had at least one man serving, the Roll comprises an almost complete Directory for every village and hamlet in the Island. Notes are appended in cases where men have been wounded, gas poisoned, shipwrecked, interned, or made prisoners. An asterisk (*) prefixed to a name denotes a man who gave his life in the struggle. A series of Local Sketches preface the lists for each School District, in which are set forth the more outstanding features of interest in each locality's record, as apart from the Island's record as a whole. These sketches are accompanied by photographs of the writers, who also revised the lists for their respective districts. No one has taken a more practical interest in the publication of this Roll than Mr W. J. Gibson, M.A., Rector of the Nicolson Institute, who has added to much helpfulness and encouragement during its compilation by contributing a special article on the School's record in the war. Hearty thanks are also due to Lieut. Alex. J. Macleod for a graphic and racy account of the service rendered by the Ross Mountain Battery. Following the Lewis lists will be found a section allotted to the record of the part, taken in the great war by Glasgow Lewismen, contributed by Mr Neil M. Macleod ("Godred Crovan"), and a special section is devoted to the Iolaire Disaster. As an appendix there is included a series of statistical tables which no doubt will have interest for some. One set shows how the men from each district were distributed according to units of service; in another set each district's quota is arranged according to clan names. Incidentally these latter reveal some interesting facts with regard to the distribution of the clans throughout the Island. The Macleods, it will be seen, easily lead for numbers in all four parishes, and the name figures among the men serving from every school district except those of Achmore and Aridhbhruaich. They head the list for every school area in the Parish of Stornoway, except North Tolsta, where they take second place to the Macivers, and are almost equalled by the Murrays. In the Ness district the Macleods have to yield pride of place to the Morrisons. At Airidhantuim the Macdonalds easily come first, followed by the Morrisons and Smiths. At Barvas and at Shawbost the Macleods are in an overwhelming majority, while at Bragar they are closely followed by the Mackays, Campbells and Smiths. Passing to the Parish of Uig, it will be seen that the Buchanans are the most numerous at Islivig, Mackays at Valtos, Macdonalds at Bernera and at Crowlista, Macivers and Macleans at Breasclet. The strength of the Macleods at Carloway and Duncarloway, however, places them at the head of the list for the Parish. In Lochs Parish the Mackenzies are the most numerous at Grimshader and Knockiandue, the Finlaysons at Planasker, and the Mackays at Achmore. At Fidigary the Macleods are more than three times as numerous as the Mackenzies, who come next in order. At Luerbost, too, they are in a substantial majority. Freedom from error is not claimed for this Roll, but an earnest endeavour has been made to make the information given correct, and as far as possible complete ; and to this end no effort has been spared. The purpose of this volume is to give in permanent form, a record of the Island's war service, and to perpetuate the memory of the men who sacrificed their lives in the great struggle. If that purpose has been in some worthy measure achieved, my labours in connection with its compilation are amply rewarded.

W. G.
Stornoway, October, 1920.