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| Malcolm Macleod Crowlista |
As time wore on, and it became patent to all that this country was to be embroiled in a life-and-death struggle against Prussian militarism — the pernicious "Kultur" which meant German world domination, and the tyrannization of the strong over the weak, many more voluntarily offered their services — themselves — in order to prevent the consummation of such a tragedy, and so defend their country and their dear ones from the brutal savagery and oppression of a cruel and merciless foe.
All the villages gave freely and gave of their best. In proportion to its population Crowlista heads the list. The census of 1911 gives the population of Crowlista and Aird as 279. As there was a large influx of people from other parts of the Island at the time of the census returns, these figures are in excess of the actual number of persons resident in the village. Reference to the School District census for 1913—the year prior to the war—shows a population, within the 2-mile limit, of 171. Other 19 persons outside this limit, which comprises the Crowlista district (omitting Aird) makes up a total of 190 (93 males and 97 females). These figures are quite reliable, as they were compiled by the late respected compulsory officer for the district, Mr Malcolm Macritchie, Crowlista. The Roll of Honour for the district of Crowlista is 57. This gives a percentage of 30 for the whole population, and 61.3 for the men—truly a splendid record, one to be proud of and one hard to beat.
Very early in the strife, the actualities of the war began to be felt. In September, 1914, Widow Buchanan, 11 Brenish, got word that her son, Pte. Malcolm John Buchanan, was missing; and in November, Lance- Sergt. John Macdonald, 2 Crowlista, was reported missing. For a time, some faint hopes were entertained that they might be still living, but these hopes were not realised. Confirmation of their death in action came later on. The fall of Antwerp brought an anxious pang to the hearts of many throughout the various townships as 17 of their men were engaged in that fateful expedition. It was soon ascertained that 12 of these had escaped to Holland, where they interned. For some time there were grave fears as to the safety of the other five It afterwards transpired that they were prisoners in Germany. Relief was felt that they were living anywhere -even in Germany.
Valtos received its first great shock in February, 1915, when word came that Seaman Norman Maciver, No. 25, was lost from H.M.S. "Inconstant." During the year, two other Valtos lads fell in France, namely, Pte. Malcolm Mackay, No. 16, and Pte. Kenneth Mackay, No. 34. In April Mr Donald Macleod, Bridgend, Brenish, received news of the death in France of his son, Sergt. Peter Macleod, who, having heard his country's call for help, left America, and joined up early in the war. In May. another splendid soldier—Lce. -Sergt. William Macneil, Carishader, was lost. He had nine years' service in India, where he had won a medal and clasp before coming to Flanders. At Givenchy he won the D.C.M. for gallantry in action, and was also awarded the Russian Cross of the Order of St George. In September of that year the death of Sergt. Donald Macleod, Enaclete, brought sadness to his own family and to his village. In 1916 Kneep lost two fine lads in April and July respectively, viz., Sergt. Donald Macdonald, 4 ; and Pte. John Buchanan, 6. In October Mr Norman Maciver lost his second son during the war.
Till the spring of 1917, Crowlista men were singularly free from dire mishaps. Except that of Lce. -Sergt. John Macdonald, No. 2, early in the war, no deaths were recorded till April of that year when news of the death of Pte. Peter Maclean, Australians, was received. In August came the sad news of Pte. Donald Nicolson's death in hospital in France, "Domhnull Beag," as he was familiarly called, was one of the first who pluckily volunteered to offer his services under Lord Derby's scheme. A brother of his was lost in the "Iolaire" disaster, and another was interned in Holland. There were five brothers in the Service.
Mr Hugh Mackay, 31 Valtos, had also five sons serving. One of them, Q.M.S. Angus Mackay, was accidentally killed in Egypt, and one—Captain John Mackay—served with distinction in the Mercantile Marine Service. He was invalided home with pulmonary trouble and died in January, 1919. Another—Sergt. Donald Mackav—is the holder of the Military Medal. There are several cases in West Uig where four sons were serving out of one family.
The death-roll for 1918 is by far the heaviest of the war, and individual mention of prowess and endurance is impossible within the limited space of these notes. Practically every village lost one or more of its sons before November (Armistice). A peculiar case is that of Seaman Donald Maciver, 9 Aird. His father was notified of his death, when his ship, s.s. "Sarnia" went down on 12th September. Some time after, his mother received a letter, written by himself, and dated 12th September, 1918. This raised some faint hopes of the possibility of his survival, but such was not the case. He went down with his ship. When the Armistice was signed in November all breathed a sigh of relief, hoping and thinking that no further casualties would fall to be recorded. Towards the end of December there was a flutter of excitement and suppressed happiness at the prospect of the homecoming of so many for the Xmas leave. Alas ! alas ! how appallingly sudden and tragical were those hopes dashed to pieces when, on New Year's morning, the "Iolaire" with one fell swoop, carried with it, almost in a twinkling, into the depths of the sea, some 200 of the flower of our Lewis manhood. What seems to make this calamity more poignant is that those brave fellows were lost just outside the entrance into Stornoway Harbour—practically at their own door steps. Like the rest of the Island, West Uig suffered heavily in this disaster. Uigen lost two of her finest lads, Brenish lost other two of her best, and Crowlista lost six—all picked men, remarkable for their virtue, their wisdom, and their excellence of disposition and character.
The villages of the Crulivig School area, out of a population of 81 males had 31 men on service. Crulivig gave 16 men to the Army and Navy, including 1 Canadian, 1 Australian, and 3 U.S. Army. Three made the supreme sacrifice—Malcolm Macleod (No. 1), who was killed in October, 1915 ; Kenneth Ferguson (No. 6), Seaforths, died December, 1917 ; and John Ferguson (No. 6), U.S. Army, killed 1918: Sergt. Angus Ferguson (No. 6), Canadians, was severly wounded and taken prisoner at St. Julien. His left leg was amputated in Germany, and in 1915 he "was exchanged for a German prisoner of war. The township of Lundale gave 13 men to the service of the Country, of whom no fewer than 5 laid down their lives. It is questionable if there is a heavier percentage of losses in any other village in the Island. Three sons of Mr Norman Macaulay (No. 3), made the supreme sacrifice, namely, John (Seaforths), killed in Flanders; Angus (Seaforths), killed in Mesopotamia; and Donald (R.N.R.), drowned at sea. No less than 7 sons of Mr Donald Macleod (No. 5) were on service, and two of them were killed—Rodk., Seaforths, in March, 1915, and Angus in December, 1917.
We can only express sympathy with the bereaved, gratitude to those who have fought well and returned, and reverence and grateful memory of those who have sacrificed their lives in defence of their country and their beloved. It must be a consolation to all that these sacrifices were not in vain, but that the end for which our men fought and died has been achieved, that the cause of Right, Freedom and Truth has been vindicated, and that civilization has been freed from the incubus of a false "Kultur" which meant brutality, oppression and wrong.
Village number serving (number dead) percentage
Brenish 27 (8) 29.6%
Islivig 7 (1) 14.3%
Mangersta 15 (2) 13.3%
Crowlista 57 (13) 22.8%
Aird 18 (3) 16.7%
Valtos 63 (10) 15.9%
Cliff 3 (0)
Kneep 27 (4) 14.8%
Uigen 6 (2) 33.3%
Carishader 15 (2) 13.3%
Geshader 23 (2) 8.7%
Ungishader 7 (0)
Enaclete 13 (2) 15.4%
Crulivig 16 (3) 18.8%
Lundale 13 (5) 38.5%
Earshader 2 (0)
M. MACLEOD.
Crowlista Schoolhouse.
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