Breasclet School District

John Smith
Breasclet School

BREASCLET SCHOOL DISTRICT.
(Breasclet and Callanish.)
Population last Census, 696 (Males, 335; Females, 361).

WHEN the peace of that memorable Sunday in August, 1914, was broken by the issue of mobilisation summons to men connected with the Navy and Army, great activity on the part of the men and consternation on the part of parents was noticeable throughout the district.

Hurried calls of farewell were made, and with optimism the youthful heroes under a sense of duty departed. Alas! some never to return. The dogged determination of the Highlander is 'to fight and grapple with your enemy to the death.'

No doubt many thought they saw an opportunity opening to them to add to the magnificent fighting record of Lewismen who had participated in previous wars.

Subsequent events proved that we were all in the dark as to the preparedness and military strength of our allied enemies. We paid dearly throughout the grim struggle which was conducted on novel modern lines of warfare.

Pride at the part played by Lewismen, with other gallant Highlanders, in France, and our Navymen on sea is commingled with grief felt for those who have lost their dear ones in the various regions to which the world war spread.

We have also with us "physical wrecks," mementoes of the marvellous skill displayed by our army of doctors and nurses who gave of their best in connection with the war.

Our pity is extended to those gallant fellows whose health has been ruined, or whose injuries to head or limb render them unfit and unable to follow out their respective occupation in pre-war days.

From the township of Breasclet, 100 men gave military service in one form or another, but almost all in connection with the Navy. Of these 20 made the supreme sacrifice. Aulay Macaulay, 28 Breasclet, was the first to fall, and soon after Kenneth Macaulay, 3 Breasclet, was reported to be lost with H.M.S. Clan Macnaughton. How and where this ship was lost is unknown.

Neil Maciver, 40 Breasclet, lost two sons. Angus Macaulay, Breasclet, had five sons on service, and one of these was lost.

New Park's contingent was 7 men, and these survived the critical days of the war.

Callanish out of 67 service men lost 16, or 24 per cent.
Finlay Maclean, 21 Callanish, lost three sons ; the late Louis Mackenzie, (1) and Angus Maclean (18) respectively two sons. These boys were all reared in the very shadow of the widefamed Druidical Stones of Callanish—monuments of the remote past apt to direct the youthful mind towards the prowess and energy of their ancestors as evidenced in the erection of these mysterious stones

JOHN SMITH.