Ennobled by their sacrifice

TRIBUTE BY LORD LEVERHULME. LEWIS is proud of its record in the Great War, proud of and land in active fight in the War, and strenuous efforts the achievements of its brave sons and daughters on sea in munition factory. Lewis is proud of the fact that it supplied 6172 men wearing His Majesty's uniform on sea and land, and we all mourn that of these 1151 were called to make the supreme sacrifice. Blood was poured out like water, money was counted as dross until our one-time most powerful military foe was defeated and crushed. Not until liberty and civilisation were made secure and safe, not until our homes, mothers, wives and children were freed from the menace of the invader did the brave efforts of our unconquerable Lewismen cease. They with their comrades were the saviours of the British nation, the saviours of the Empire, they were the liberators of mankind. Not until victory was assured did our valiant Lewismen return home to their beloved Island, to their anxious mothers, their loving, waiting wives or sweethearts, their bonnie children and the crofts they knew and cultivated. They have not been demoralised—they have been ennobled by their sacrifice, and it is now for us to prove ourselves worthy of them by making life in Lewis higher, better, more complete and fuller of all that goes to make life happy, joyous and comfortable than it was when they left it at the outbreak of War. They have won the War : it is now for us to win the peace and to make our Island fragrant with hopes and possibilities for a brighter and more glorious future than ever Lewis men and women experienced in the past. Let us set ourselves to work to record in lasting stone and bronze the memory of these brave Lewismen and of their valiant deeds, so that we and generations yet unborn may be inspired to emulate their glorious example. LEVERHULME.