Remembering Today - 12 January

On this day in the First World War, this man from the Isle of Lewis lost his life in the service of King & Country. RIP.

Seaman KENNETH JOHN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 27 Upper Bayble
Regiment / service: Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 12 January 1918 at the age of 24
Drowned off Italian coast
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)
Served with Gordons, discharged with strained heart, resulting from lifting heavy sandbags in trenches. Joined Navy.

Kidney cancer support network

Jane, who suffers from kidney cancer, has written about an internet-based support network for sufferers, carers and others interested in that form of cancer. I would like to take this opportunity to relay the link - also check out Jane's post.

12 January

Good morning from the Western Isles, where the weather has finally come out of its weekend funk. The sun is out (through some grey clouds) and the rain has stopped - just. The gales that have buffeted us for two days have ceased.

Today 4 years ago, the islanders of South Uist were faced with the fact that five of their number had perished in the hurricane of the preceding night. Two children, their parents and a grandfather drowned when the cars they were travelling in were swamped and carried away by waves on the South Ford causeway, linking South Uist to Benbecula to the north. Their death is remembered today. The abiding image of that tragedy is reproduced below, courtesy BBC News.