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| NESS NEWS - 9 Feb. 1917: No Place Like Home
We are pleased to see Donald Campbell, John
Campbell, and Finlay Macleod, all of Lionel, and John MacRitchie, Swainbost, home on leave
from Holland, where they have been interned since the fall of Antwerp, Their enforced stay
in Holland is not to their liking, and they are longing for an opportunity of taking a
more active part in the defence of their country. It is to be hoped that the change of
diet from black bread and horseflesh to the wholesome home fare will do them much good,
and strengthen them to withstand the heavy strain of captivity in a foreign land.We are pleased to see Donald Campbell, John
Campbell, and Finlay Macleod, all of Lionel, and John MacRitchie, Swainbost, home on leave
from Holland, where they have been interned since the fall of Antwerp, Their enforced stay
in Holland is not to their liking, and they are longing for an opportunity of taking a
more active part in the defence of their country. It is to be hoped that the change of
diet from black bread and horseflesh to the wholesome home fare will do them much good,
and strengthen them to withstand the heavy strain of captivity in a foreign land. |
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NESS NEWS -
10 MAY 1918:Prisoners in Germany
From such sad reports it is a pleasure to
have to report the safety of Kenneth Morrison, 22 Lionel, son of Johnnie Mac Alasdair.
Kenneth who is quite a youth, was sailing on the SS "Wordsworth". This steamer
left Colombo in the company of several others a year last March, and no trace of any of
them was ever found until the raider "Wolfe" arrived in Germany. Kenneth's
steamer was one of the victims but unfortunately he was taken into Germany along with the
rest of the crew, which includes a lad from Bragar. There was a letter from Kenneth last
week saying both of them were well. Of course, his family had given him up for lost a year
ago. Their happiness in getting such good news is shared by all in the district.
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| NESS NEWS - 2 MARCH 1917: Two Boys Injured
A few days ago some boys were rescuing a
sheep that got stranded on the rocks at "Ruremaga", near Skigersta, when two of
them, a son of Donald Campbell, 21 Lionel and a son of Malcolm Macdonald, 5 Port of Ness,
had a very narrow escape. One of them overbalanced and fell, and in falling was caught and
held by the seat of his trousers by the other boy, who held on until the ledge on which he
had a hold gave way. Both of them toppled over and fell some distance amongst boulders.
Campbell broke his arm and Macdonald got his foot sprained. After being rescued by some
people from Skigersta with ropes, and carried home, they were attended to by Dr. Ross and
Nurse Murray. Both are progressing favourably.
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NESS NEWS: 13 July 1917
Ness man with the French Army gets the
Croix de Guerre
Mr Murdo Macaulay of Swainbost, who is
serving with the French Army, has been awarded the Croix de Guerre. Mr. Macaulay came from
Rhodesia to do his bit. He was engaged in the gold mining industry for many years, but
latterly went in for cattle ranching on an exclusive scale. All this he left to overseers
and, arriving in England, offered his services to the British Government. He was over
military age, but being determined to take share in the struggle, he crossed over to
France and offered himself for service in the French Army, gratus. He was appointed to the
Motor Transport Service. It was when engaged in taking down wounded from the firing line
that he performed deeds that won him the coveted Croix. A German shell struck his car,
smashing it to atoms and burying him in the debris. Although much shaken, dazed and
bleeding, he made desperate and successful attempts to get the wounded away under cover
from the bombardment. He is now in hospital and making a good recovery. The Division
General of the 7th Army visited him in hospital some days ago and pinned the decoration on
his breast with his own hands, at the same time thanking him on behalf of the French Army
for his brave conduct.
This is not the first time Mr. Macaulay fought for the
honour of the Old Country. Shortly after his arrival in Rhodesia he had to shoulder the
rifle. The Matabele Rebellion broke out almost as soon as he arrived there and he went
through that campaign, which was by no means a picnic! We wish him a quick recovery and
the best of luck. Photo:
Murdo MacAulay
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| Ness News, Stornoway Gazette - 23 November
1923 Galson Farm To
Be Broken Up
On Wednesday and Thursday of last week the
Board of Agriculture held a sale of the remaining portion of the sheep stock, cattle and
horses on this farm. We understand the prices obtained were fairly good, although not in
any way near those got at the valuation of stock etc., between the tenant and the Board.
The Board, we understand, have issued
notices to the prospective applicants to meet a sub-commissioner of small holdings at the
farm on Monday 19th, to be interviewed with a view to taking up the holdings which have
been pegged out since last September.
It will be interesting to know when the
would-be applicants, some of whom are in the colonies and elsewhere, are likely to settle
on the farm and commence cultivation. If the holdings which are marked out are occupied by
smallholders, it is to be hoped that the settlement will prove a success, and not meet the
fate of other settlements recently formed in Lewis, some of the occupants of which
evacuated their crofts, while others are in receipt of parochial relief.
Seeing that the crofts this season
throughout Lewis have ended in dire disaster, should it not be only fair to ask that the
Board of Agriculture grant the settlers, if they occupy their holdings this spring, a
supply of seed in the shape of grain and potatoes to enable them to cultivate same. This
year it is regrettable that not enough grain has been grown throughout the whole Island of
Lewis to feed the poultry owned by crofters and others, let alone be used for seeding
operations.
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