Carloway School District

Ranald Macdonald, JP, FEIS
Carloway Schoolhouse

CARLOWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
(Carloway, Park Carloway, Garenin, Knock, Kirivick and Borroston,)
Population last Census, 1026 (Males, 484; Females, 542.)

WE all remember the startling effect of the King's Mobilisation Order when read in the churches on that memorable Sabbath in August, 1914. Animated by a high sense of duty the Naval Reservemen of the district manifested their loyalty and patriotism by their prompt and hearty response to the Royal Summons. In no single instance was there any hanging back. On the contrary the gallant men with eager and buoyant step were early on the road to report themselves at Stornoway.

With equal alacrity and ardour did the soldiers answer their call "To Arms." With commendable devotion the young men who had emigrated from the district to the Colonies, rallied manfully to the aid of the Motherland in the hour of its direst need.

It has also to be recorded that each township, greatly to its credit, contributed its own contingent of intelligent and wellequipped young women, who rendered valuable service as munition workers.

Sergeant Angus Macdonald, a gallant soldier of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, was the first to make the supreme sacrifice.

It wasn't long, however, until there began to arrive in rapid succession, the painful tidings of the death of beloved ones.

The "Iolaire" disaster on that fateful New Year's morning was the crowning tragedy of the war for Lewis, when some 200 choice brave men were sacrificed. In that sad disaster Carloway lost six,  bringing the total of killed and wounded for the district to 52.

As the official intimations of the killed and drowned in the course of the war, arrived, the grief and sorrow awakened were naturally intense, but the stricken families bore their cruel bereavement with
becoming resignation, while their chastened and meek outward demeanour betokened the depth and poignancy of their sense of loss and sorrow.

The Roll stands as follows :—
Population of District—1100. Percentage on War Service—24.3.

Townships. Roll of Honour. Dead.
Carloway 77 17
Carloway (Park) 27 9
Knock 59 5
Garenin 44 9
Kirivick 32 9
Borroston 29 3
268 52

Honours Won
3 Distinguished Conduct Medals.
1 Distinguished Service Medal.
5 Military Medals.
1 Royal Humane Society Medal for Life-Saving.


Schoolhouse, Carloway.
RANALD MACDONALD, J.P., F.E.IS.
(Headmaster 1881-1920).