Most of the headstones are indecipherable now. Time has taken its toll amongst the engravings. But there is one war grave among the withered stones, to the memory of John William Campbell of the Royal Engineers, who died January 3rd, 1944, at the age of 27. A man mourned by his family and friends in this remote and scarcely populated part of the country close to the river Thurso.
Garyvard cemetery, Isle of Lewis
Gearraidh means fertile land and Gearraidh a’ Bhà ird (Garyvard) suggests it could be the fertile land of the bard. Whereas on the shore the place name is Gaelic in origin the sea loch isn’t. Loch Erisort is derived from the Old Norse EirÃksfjorðr (Eric's fjord). Just looking at the graveyard of the small settlement outside... Continue Reading →
until the break of day
The morning of the first day of the year 1919 dawned but despite the light the day was as dark as a day could be for the islanders. Lewis was in shock, the death toll after the tragic sinking of the HMY Iolaire slowly became apparent. She had taken 205 men to their death. Few... Continue Reading →



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