64691: Friends from across the sea

Excerpt from Stornoway Gazette and West Coast Advertiser

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS: UIG

April 5th, 1918

FRIENDS FROM ACROSS THE SEA: One of the few pleasurable results of this terrible and miserable war is the occasional opportunity offered to friends and relations at home of meeting and welcoming friends and relations from beyond the seas – friends whom, in the ordinary course of events, they might never have then chance of seeing. Long ago many families from Uig and elsewhere were forcibly and unjustly ejected from their happy, if humble homes, and banished to far-off lands in order to make room for sheep and deer. The descendants of those evicted, disregarding the injustice and the wrong so glaringly inflicted upon their ancestors, listened to the call of duty, took up arms in defense of the Mother Country, and offered their services -their lives possibly – in order to help and save her from the tyranny of a treacherous and cruel foe. These come in their hundreds and thousands from all quarters of the globe – from the far West of Canada, to the Far East of Australia and New Zealand, and all the Colonies in between. Ties "lighter than air but stronger than iron bands", bind these Colonists to the home country, and particularly to the "old haunts" of their forebears, and during their respite from military duties they take the opportunity of visiting these scenes and seeing the descendants of their forefathers1 compatriots. We also are delighted to see these scions of the old stock, and glory in the realisation of a connecting link between our own present and the past generation of old stalwarts and graceful beauties of whom we have heard so much. What also gives very great pleasure is the fact that many of these speak fluently, the old mother tongue, and, what is no less surprising, they speak it with practically the same tone and accent as if they have been born, and brought up within sound and sight of Traigh Mhoir Uige.

Co tha gradh gu faigh a’ Ghaidhlig bas. Cha’n fhaigh cha’n fhaigh! Ged a’ chailleadh sinne ann a Leodhas i – ach na bu d’thig a la chailleas – cha’n fhaigh i bas agus iad seo anns gach cearnaidh do’n t-saoghal ga cumail suas "Cha treig sinne Ghaidhlig fs cha chaill i an deo. Canan rnuirneach as duthcha, cha treig sum r’ar bed."

Among the "Colonials" who visited recently may be mentioned: Pte. Murdo Smith, Canadians (Ogha do Chaluim Gobha, Enaclete), Pte. Norman Smith (Canadians) Ogha do Aonghas Donn Chrò nan Gabhar, Bhaltos, his father was only fours years old when his family emigrated; and Pte. Angus N Maclennan also Canadians, son of Donald and grandson of the grand old man Mr Angus Maclennan (Aonghas A Bhreabeidair, of Cnip)

We are glad to see the following home this week. Pte. Alick Finlayson (Australians) son of Mr Finlayson Ardroil; Malcolm Maclennan, R.N.V.R, (son of "John"), Cliff; Malcolm Maclennan, R.N.R, (son of "Donald"), Valtos; Donald Mackay, R.N.R, (son of "Hugh"), Carishader, John Macdonald R.N.R., (son of "William"), Geshader; Angus Macleod, R.N.R, (son of "John"), Enaclete; John Macaulay, R.N.R, (son of "Malcolm"), Breanish.

See also a subsequent article.