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| John N Macleod Alasdair Mor |
(Breaclet, Kirkibost, Tobson and Hacklet.)
Population last Census, 730 ; (Males, 338 ; Females, 392).
THE Editor of "Loyal Lewis" Roll of Honour has asked me to write a short preface to the honourable list of the heroes of the Great War from the Bernera School District.
I am not a Lewisman by birth, but I began my scholastic career in the island of Bernera over twenty years ago, and since I have been associated with the island through many ties of friendship and sentiment, and for that reason very much value the privilege afforded to me by the devoted editor of "Loyal Lewis" on this occasion.
Bernera is an island held fast within the eternal grasp of Loch Roag. To some it might be the "Ultima Thule" of Eilean an Fhraoich, but though owing to its geographical position, it may be somewhat removed from the bigger centres of activity throughout the parent island, still it has charms and attractions peculiar to itself, and the people who inhabit it have maintained untarnished many of the excellent traits of friendship, hospitality, and devotion to one another, which have been the hall mark of the genuine Highlander of by-gone days.
The land is poor, but the inexhaustible resources of the boundless Atlantic, which continually worries its shores, have proved through the ages the very staff of life of the islanders. The sea, therefore, plays an all important part in the life of the people ; it is mysteriously entwined in their speech and song, and its varying moods govern their daily tasks. Every man is an expert fisherman; in fact, a past
master in that calling, for it is generally admitted that when a Bernera crew cannot face Callanish or
Tob na Muille, no other "sgioba" need unfurl a sail. This profound love of the sea is fully evident when one reads over the lists of those gallant heroes from Bernera who willingly faced the grim foe
in the strife for righteousness.
The vast majority of them chose to defend our seas. True, many of them were in the ranks of the R.N.R. in pre-war days, but as the clouds of war grew darker and darker, and as the need for men became daily more clamant, the young men from every village and from almost every house in the island, without any hesitation and without any form of conscription, joined our glorious Navy, and their sea training from their boyhood soon made them experts in all duties pertaining to the defenders of our shores and the watchers of the mighty deep.
Those who chose the Army gave an equally fine account of their bravery and daring, and their ranks shared in the many distinctions and honours won by our men on many a hard-fought field.
A perusal of the lists from Bernera is a very real interest to me. Many of those who names are enshrined there have been at one time my school pupils, and the majority of the rest are well known to me. Joy and sorrow spring up almost simultaneously in my heart as I scan each page. I rejoice to see that such a large number have come back to their dear ones bearing the palm of victory, and my genuine sympathy pours forth to the bereaved whoso homes contain vacant chairs which can never be filled. Where the band of heroes is so great and where each has played his part so nobly and so well, it would be unjust of a person like me to carve special niches here and there singled out for a few select ones. I prefer to think of them as one noble band whose deeds deserve a very honourable place in the roll of "Loyal Lewis."
B'e mo mhiann mar sin a' chlach bheag so a chur air an carra-cuimhe, agus is e durachd mo chridhe gu'n bi sinne a bhios ag altrum an cuimhne, a' co-chumadh ar beatha ann a leithid de dhoigh agus gu'm bi sinn airidh air na sochairean mora a dh' oibrich iad-san a mach dhuinn air muir agus air kir. Mo bheannachd buan aca uile.
JOHN N. MACLEOD.
Errogie Schoolhouse, Inverness
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