Duncarloway School District

John Macarthur

DUNCARLOWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
(Tolsta Chaolais and Doune.)
Population last Census, 387 [Males, 182; Females, 205].

THE peace of the Sabbath is happily not often disturbed as on that memorable August morning in 1914 when the postman delivered mobilization notices calling up the Royal Nava1 Reserve in defence of their country.

The noble lads quietly donned their uniforms ; with grave faces well knowing the strength of their foe and the preparation which he had made in previous years for the coming conflict. Their determination and willingness to fight in the cause of freedom and the quiet confidence in ultimate victory marked on their brave and noble faces encouraged the mothers, wives, and sisters, and made the parting less sore.

Henceforth the varying fortunes of war were eagerly and intelligently followed by the home folk in the official bulletins issued through the local post-offices.

Not long after their departure from their quiet homes they were searching distant seas for enemy ships and fighting in the trenches in France. Several were wounded in the first rush of the Germans for Paris, but were again in the fighting line before the spring offensive in 1915, when the first of them laid down their lives.

On the 27th April, 1915, Donald Macgregor, Tolsta, and Donald Maclean, Doune, fell in action. Next month came news of the death in action of four brave lads : Norman Macleod, Tolsta, a victim of the first use of poison gas by the Germans ; Donald Macleod ; Murdo Maclean from Doune : and Sergt. Malcolm Macleod, Tolsta. This latter had a splendid record of service having been through the South African War and several campaigns on the North-West Frontier of India. A nobler man or a more daring soldier it would be hard to meet. The ranks of our local heroes were again thinned in the advance on the Somme on 1st July, 1916, when John Macleod and Sergt. Murdo Macgregor made the supreme sacrifice.

In the subsequent years of the war the hearts of fond mothers in this district were pierced by bullets fired on the plains of Flanders and in Mesopotamia, where Neil Morrison, Doune, laid down his life
for freedom and justice.

Altogether the number of men from this school district who served in the war was ninety-eight, or 25 per cent, of the population.

The following table shows the relation of the fatalities to the number of men serving : —

Village: Serving / Killed / Percentage.
Doune: 39 / 7 / 17.9
Tolsta: 59 / 7 / 11.9

We are proud of the reply of our school district to the call of humanity and justice. We are also profoundly thankful that our noble lads have helped to attain the ideal for which they fought so valiantly, and that once more right has triumphed over might.

To those who mourn the loss of near relations it will be their chief consolation that they have been sacrificed in establishing righteousness and justice amongst mankind.

JOHN MACARTHUR, 8 Tolsta Chaolais.