On 31 December 1918, hours from the first New Year of peace, hundreds of Royal Naval Reservists from the Isle of Lewis poured off successive trains onto the quayside at Kyle of Lochalsh. A chaotic Admiralty had made no adequate arrangements for their safe journey home. Corners were cut, an elderly and recently requisitioned steam-yacht was sent from Stornoway, and that evening HMY Iolaire sailed from Kyle of Lochalsh, grossly overloaded and with life-belts for less than a third of all on board. The Iolaire never made it. At two in the morning, in pitch-black and stormy conditions, she piled onto rocks only yards from the harbour entrance and just half a mile from Stornoway pier, where thronged friends and relatives eagerly awaited the return of their heroes. 205 men drowned, 188 of them natives of Lewis and Harris - men who had come through all the alarms and dangers of the First World War only to die on their own doorstep, at the mouth of a harbour many could themselves have navigated with ease, on a day precious to Highlanders for family, celebration and togetherness. The loss of the Iolaire remains the worst peacetime British disaster at sea since the sinking of the Titanic. Yet, beyond the Western Isles, few have ever heard of what is not only one of the cruellest events in our history but an extraordinary maritime mystery - a tale not only of bureaucrats in a hurry, unfathomable Naval incompetence and abiding, official contempt for the lives of Highlanders, but of individual heroism, astonishing escapes, heart-rending anecdote and the resilience and faith of a remarkable people. In the first English account and on the ninetieth anniversary of the 'dark ship', John MacLeod tells the story of the Iolaire, the astonishing commitment of the people of Lewis to the war against the Kaiser, its sickening end, and the way of life the disaster effectively destroyed - a tipping-point, he argues, in the overthrow of an old human economy and which deprived the Isle of Lewis of an entire generation.
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'evocative and wholly magnificent' --Roger Hutchinson, The Scotsman
About the Author
John MacLeod was born in Lochaber in 1966. After graduating from Edinburgh University, he began his career at BBC Highland in Inverness and quickly established himself as a freelance writer. He won Scottish Journalist of the Year in 1991 and contributed regularly to The Scotsman and The Herald. He is presently a columnist with the Scottish Daily Mail and is the author of several books. He lives on a croft on the west side of Lewis with a small, elderly dog, two melodeons, a 4-oven Aga and far too many chickens. He is the author of Banner in the West, also published by Birlinn.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For the people of Lewis, this book is long overdue. It tells the story of an event that had a catastrophic effect on that Hebidean island and does this with great authority and style, writing of the sinking of the 'Iolaire' outside Stornoway harbour on 1st January 1919. The vessel was full of servicemen returning home after the First World War; over 200 being drowned a short distance from the island they called home. It was a toll of life all the more terrible after the sacrifice of the war that had gone before.
It was an incident, too, that had a cataclysmic effect on the people of the islands of Lewis and Harris, robbing many rural communities of the young men on whom their future depended.
The power of this book is the way it not only tells the story, but also the manner in which it places the tragedy in context, both local and 'international' and shows how it influenced the later history of these islands.
The author John Macleod deserves praise for the way he has mastered - what must have been - harrowing and gruelling information, and fashioned into a masterpiece of fluent and fascinating prose. As a native of that island, I am in his debt for the way he has done this. So, too, are many others who were brought up in a landscape scarred - even today - by this terrible event. At long last, he has removed the tight gap of both time and place and allowed its victims to speak.
It was an incident, too, that had a cataclysmic effect on the people of the islands of Lewis and Harris, robbing many rural communities of the young men on whom their future depended.
The power of this book is the way it not only tells the story, but also the manner in which it places the tragedy in context, both local and 'international' and shows how it influenced the later history of these islands.
The author John Macleod deserves praise for the way he has mastered - what must have been - harrowing and gruelling information, and fashioned into a masterpiece of fluent and fascinating prose. As a native of that island, I am in his debt for the way he has done this. So, too, are many others who were brought up in a landscape scarred - even today - by this terrible event. At long last, he has removed the tight gap of both time and place and allowed its victims to speak.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very well written, very interesting and moving account of a tragic and, now, little known incident. The author paints a vivid and sympathetic picture of island life, of the chaos of the night of the incident and its aftermath. I thoroughly recommend it. David Stallard
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By AJSomers
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
My review is going to be short & sweet. This is the best book ive ever read. {In saying that Ive still got to read John`s other book "River of Fire"}
Although its a tragic story, the author keeps you interested and unable to put the book down. The hardships faced by the families before & after the disaster will long live with me. I bemoan the way people today endlessly complain about how hard they find their life, how little they know of hardship.
Buy the book, read & re read, then tell others to do the same.
Although its a tragic story, the author keeps you interested and unable to put the book down. The hardships faced by the families before & after the disaster will long live with me. I bemoan the way people today endlessly complain about how hard they find their life, how little they know of hardship.
Buy the book, read & re read, then tell others to do the same.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Real drama
A book full of terror and fright. After reading the three "Lewis" books it was difficult to read the true story of courage and terror this book showed.
Published 16 days ago by Mrs. C. Beavers
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very repetitive
As an Islander I found I have read most of this book before in other peoples writings and even the maps were copied ... I expected a lot more!
Published 22 days ago by Wordcatcher
4.0 out of 5 stars
An account of a needless and tragic loss of life.
This is a detailed and often emotive account of the events during one fateful night when over 200 men lost their life in a tragic, but avoidable shipping disaster. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bookie
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting book
This has a powerful story to tell. It is very interesting history, which is not well known. Unfortunately thers is far too much detailed information to keep the interest up, and it... Read more
Published 2 months ago by william r bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
John MacLeod has never been scared to show his emotional attachment to a given subject and the Iolaire is clearly in his DNA. Read more
Published 2 months ago by RLM
4.0 out of 5 stars
Difficult
A true story Difficult to write about and difficult to read of. The content is very upsetting, particularly for anyone connected with Scotland or the military/Navy. Read more
Published 2 months ago by juneb
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rather repetitive
Interesting and very tragic subject and one that rightly deserves to be remembered and the impact on the islands and islanders recognised, However it had a tendency to drag at... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Nell
5.0 out of 5 stars
The loss of the Iolaire
When I heard the bell, "The loss of the Iolaire"
What can one say about this book other than excellent? Read more
What can one say about this book other than excellent? Read more
Published 4 months ago by KLB Kid
4.0 out of 5 stars
IOLAIR - Story of an avoidable disaster
The Iolair story is one which most people have never heard of, but which traumatised an island community. Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. Colin Moss
5.0 out of 5 stars
when i heard the bell
THE AUTHOR JOHN MACLEOD OBVIOUSLY INTERVIEWED FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN THIS TRAGIC EVENT.ITS TOLL ON FAMILIES AND THE ISLANDS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN IT ALSO TOUCHED PEOPLE... Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by john beag
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