Another winter's day, with a layer of just under an inch of snow this morning in Stornoway. Looked very pretty, until the temperature rose above freezing. The footprints of a cat could be seen trailing through the backyard - but the birds were all still there. Even the blackbird with a broken wing, that's been scurrying around since July.
The Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, has made a statement to the Scottish Parliament and apologised for failing to provide the service that a government can be expected to render. At the height of the crisis, on Monday evening, the First Minister was presenting his Christmas card, rather than directing proceedings.
Meanwhile, the road chaos in central Scotland continues. I am typing this whilst listening to the traffic news on Radio Scotland, which does not make for cheerful listening for anyone in the Central Belt.
A video has now been removed from YouTube, which showed an Irishman expressing his exact feelings on the reasons for the current economic crisis. His language was rather rude, involving the F-, W- and B-words. Reason for the video to be pulled, I assume. But don't think that Ireland is the last Eurozone country to have to be bailed out. Portugal and/or Spain could be next.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Tuesday 7 December
Today, it's 69 years ago since the Japanese Imperial Forces attacked the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack was unprovoked, but served to bring the United States into the Second World War, as Germany declared war on the USA alongside Japan. It was a fatal mistake on the part of Japan. Although the Japanese forces managed to occupy large swathes of territory in the Pacific and southeast Asia, they were in the end thrown back on their homeland. It took the detonation of two nuclear bombs, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to force the surrender of Emperor Hirohito, three months after Nazi Germany was defeated.
Another battle royal has been going on here in Scotland today, and here the adversary is way more powerful than any military force on earth: the weather. After some people were stuck in their cars on the country's motorway system for 18 hours, the M8 motorway west of Edinburgh is still closed, and 200 vehicles remain abandoned elsewhere. The Scottish Transport Secretary initially said his administration had coped splendidly with the situation, and blamed the chaos on the Met Office. He was quickly put right by both the Met Office and BBC Scotland, and by lunchime, Mr Stevenson was eating humble pie. Tomorrow, he will be in the Scottish Parliament to account for the disastrous performance of the government. It is not entirely fair to heap the blame on the government or any other individual agency. Snow began to fall in central Scotland at the height of the morning rush hour, leaving 5 or 6 inches of the white stuff. Because of the heavy traffic, gritting lorries were unable to grit and snow ploughs could not get through. However, it is breathtaking that a mere 10 to 15 cm of snow can bring the country to a complete halt, and there should be mechanisms in place, coordinated by the government to deal with that eventuality. The mechanisms were there, alright. The Scottish Government talked about it in their Resilience Committee on Sunday night. But action was required. Not talk.
Another battle royal has been going on here in Scotland today, and here the adversary is way more powerful than any military force on earth: the weather. After some people were stuck in their cars on the country's motorway system for 18 hours, the M8 motorway west of Edinburgh is still closed, and 200 vehicles remain abandoned elsewhere. The Scottish Transport Secretary initially said his administration had coped splendidly with the situation, and blamed the chaos on the Met Office. He was quickly put right by both the Met Office and BBC Scotland, and by lunchime, Mr Stevenson was eating humble pie. Tomorrow, he will be in the Scottish Parliament to account for the disastrous performance of the government. It is not entirely fair to heap the blame on the government or any other individual agency. Snow began to fall in central Scotland at the height of the morning rush hour, leaving 5 or 6 inches of the white stuff. Because of the heavy traffic, gritting lorries were unable to grit and snow ploughs could not get through. However, it is breathtaking that a mere 10 to 15 cm of snow can bring the country to a complete halt, and there should be mechanisms in place, coordinated by the government to deal with that eventuality. The mechanisms were there, alright. The Scottish Government talked about it in their Resilience Committee on Sunday night. But action was required. Not talk.
Monday, 6 December 2010
Monday 6 December
Awoke to about an inch of snow on the ground, which melted as the sun rose. The snow has moved south and caused a traffic infarct in Central Scotland. The main motorways and trunk roads are blocked, impassable; the same applies to streets in Edinburgh and Glasgow. People have been stuck in traffic for up to 9 hours, moving only a fraction of a mile in all that time. Tonight, a frost of -6C to -13C is forecast - and I'm wondering what will happen to all those thousands of people who are stuck in cars.
On Radio Scotland, the Transport Minister and other authorities have been at a loss to find words to address the situation.
Here in Stornoway, it was a relatively mild day (+4C) with sleet and snow showers. I went to the Town Hall, to get confirmation that Finlay Mclean is not buried at Sandwick Cemetery. I am now awaiting confirmation whether he was interred in Glasgow.
On Radio Scotland, the Transport Minister and other authorities have been at a loss to find words to address the situation.
Here in Stornoway, it was a relatively mild day (+4C) with sleet and snow showers. I went to the Town Hall, to get confirmation that Finlay Mclean is not buried at Sandwick Cemetery. I am now awaiting confirmation whether he was interred in Glasgow.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Evening notes
Went down to Sandwick Cemetery this afternoon and spent a freezing and fruitless hour there, trying to locate a grave for Finaly Mclean of Sandwick. I posted about him yesterday. I'll continue my investigations tomorrow.
Snow appears to be on its way back in again, if my reading of the rainfall radar is anything to go by. And the cold is here to stay, according to the Met Office. The frost from last week has caused problems in the outlying districts of Lewis. Mains water is supplied from a large tank outside a village, but if someone's pipes are burst that obviously drains the tank. Quite a few houses are not occupied at this time, so any leaks will not be noticed.
Snow appears to be on its way back in again, if my reading of the rainfall radar is anything to go by. And the cold is here to stay, according to the Met Office. The frost from last week has caused problems in the outlying districts of Lewis. Mains water is supplied from a large tank outside a village, but if someone's pipes are burst that obviously drains the tank. Quite a few houses are not occupied at this time, so any leaks will not be noticed.
Sunday 5 December
It all starts in mid-November, when St Nicholas arrives in Holland (or one of its towns) in a steamer, well, any boat really, with his posse of Peters. The Peters go off running around, scattering sweeties amidst the assembled children. Towns not near the sea or water will see St Nicholas arriving by train. Or coach if there is no railway station. St Nicholas arrives from Spain, as that is the place where his remains lie interred. Originally, he is from Turkey, but when the Muslims came, the bones were spirited across the Mediterranean to Spain.
I close this post with an image from the island of Vlieland in Holland, where Sinterklaas arrived on a perishing cold day last Friday. Image courtesy VVV Vlieland [Tourist Information]. You can see all images from the VVV on the link.
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Saturday 4 December
The thaw is continuing, but that does not mean that our problems with snow and ice are over. The pavements have degenerated to skating rinks, which at times means you can only walk in the road. And that's not safe either. Went into town this afternoon for another stint in the library, looking for references in the Stornoway Gazette to Finlay Mclean, see previous post. None, which means that my search for the location of his grave carries on. If I cannot find it in the cemetery at Sandwick, which I'll walk through tomorrow, it will mean that he is mostly likely buried in Glasgow. Which has two dozen graveyards at least.
A sad piece of news from Ness this evening. A man was taken to hospital after he collided with a llama whilst riding his motorbike. Now that may sound totally off the wall, but there genuinely are two llamas about in Ness, and you can go on a walk with them. Or you could, as the one that was involved in the crash was killed.
This image dates back to 19 July this year; one llama is clearly visible, the other can just be made out behind it. I don't know which one died (Sam or Nico), but the blog that was kept about them has been cleared of content.
A sad piece of news from Ness this evening. A man was taken to hospital after he collided with a llama whilst riding his motorbike. Now that may sound totally off the wall, but there genuinely are two llamas about in Ness, and you can go on a walk with them. Or you could, as the one that was involved in the crash was killed.
This image dates back to 19 July this year; one llama is clearly visible, the other can just be made out behind it. I don't know which one died (Sam or Nico), but the blog that was kept about them has been cleared of content.
In from the cold
Private Finlay Mclean was one of many soldiers who left the Isle of Lewis to serve in the British Army on the Western Front during the First World War. He was wounded in action and transferred to hospital in Glasgow for treatment, but he died on 5 May 1918, aged 27. Finlay had served with the 10th battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), and had latterly lived at 48 Milton Street, Partick, Glasgow with his wife Catherine, nee Ball.
Finlay was the second WW1 soldier from Lewis that was not on the registers of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Norman Morrison's case is still under consideration by the Ministry of Defense, but Finlay has come in from the cold. His name will be inscribed on a memorial for soldiers with no known burial place, at Brookwood, but I am searching for his grave - either in Glasgow or in Lewis. If I manage to locate it, a proper CWGC gravestone will be erected at Finlay's grave.
In memory of Pte Finlay Mclean, 16895 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), died of wounds 5/5/1918.
Finlay was the second WW1 soldier from Lewis that was not on the registers of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Norman Morrison's case is still under consideration by the Ministry of Defense, but Finlay has come in from the cold. His name will be inscribed on a memorial for soldiers with no known burial place, at Brookwood, but I am searching for his grave - either in Glasgow or in Lewis. If I manage to locate it, a proper CWGC gravestone will be erected at Finlay's grave.
In memory of Pte Finlay Mclean, 16895 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), died of wounds 5/5/1918.
Friday, 3 December 2010
Neglected?
Libya's leader, Col Muammar Gadaffi, has accused the Scottish Government of deliberately neglecting the health of Abdul-basset Al-Megrahi, the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. Megrahi was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and, according to the Scottish Government, received the best care the NHS could offer. Megrahi was repatriated to Libya on compassionate grounds in August 2009, as he was expected to live for not much longer than 3 months. Megrahi is still alive today.
I don't think it's really very nice of Mr Gadaffi to say things like that, particularly after the compassionate release, in the face of strident objection from the United States. But then, I think we should be mindful of the old adage that a fox may change its colours, but will never change its character.
I don't think it's really very nice of Mr Gadaffi to say things like that, particularly after the compassionate release, in the face of strident objection from the United States. But then, I think we should be mindful of the old adage that a fox may change its colours, but will never change its character.
Friday 3 December
After an overnight low of -20C in eastern Scotland, the Western Isles have seen a thaw. Temperatures here went to +4C overnight, although they are presently declining. When the frost returns, later this evening, this will leave our roads as icerinks. Travel problems elsewhere in the UK appear to be improving slightly, with Gatwick Airport reopening. They say that 150,000 tons of snow have been cleared from the airport. However, another cold blast is due in from the north during the weekend. Oh, a woman in Kent rang the 999 emergency number to report the theft from her front garden of - a snowman.
Monday will see the 93rd anniversary of the Great Explosion at Halifax, Nova Scotia. An ammunition ship, carrying 4,000 tons of TNT, collided with a supply ship and blew up. The results were nothing short of catastrophic. The force of the explosion was so great that a 40-foot tidal wave followed in the wake of the explosion and washed over the main lines of the rail road, sweeping 300 freight cars, 100 passenger coaches and 20 locomotives from the rails, and round houses, damaging most of them beyond repair. 2000 people were killed, 20,000 were left homeless. After the explosion followed the fire, and after the fire came the blizzard. I have copied an article from my local paper, the Stornoway Gazette, on to my local history blog.
Monday will see the 93rd anniversary of the Great Explosion at Halifax, Nova Scotia. An ammunition ship, carrying 4,000 tons of TNT, collided with a supply ship and blew up. The results were nothing short of catastrophic. The force of the explosion was so great that a 40-foot tidal wave followed in the wake of the explosion and washed over the main lines of the rail road, sweeping 300 freight cars, 100 passenger coaches and 20 locomotives from the rails, and round houses, damaging most of them beyond repair. 2000 people were killed, 20,000 were left homeless. After the explosion followed the fire, and after the fire came the blizzard. I have copied an article from my local paper, the Stornoway Gazette, on to my local history blog.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Linda Norgrove
You may recall from October the tragic death of Lewis-based aid worker Linda Norgrove. She had been abducted in Afghanistan on September 26th by an armed group. As fears grew that Linda might be transferred across the border into Pakistan, American forces were sent in to liberate Linda. One of the group of American Navy Seals threw a grenade which exploded near her, causing fatal injuries.
This version of events was today confirmed by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague. Linda's parents, Mangersta residents Lorna and John Norgrove, travelled to London to be informed of the report. Disciplinary action has been taken by the US military against the serviceman who had thrown the grenade, as he had not immediately accounted for his actions, instead (initially) stating that Linda's captors had detonated a suicide vest.
This finally closes a very sad episode for the Norgrove family, and for the island of Lewis where Linda grew up.
This version of events was today confirmed by UK Foreign Secretary William Hague. Linda's parents, Mangersta residents Lorna and John Norgrove, travelled to London to be informed of the report. Disciplinary action has been taken by the US military against the serviceman who had thrown the grenade, as he had not immediately accounted for his actions, instead (initially) stating that Linda's captors had detonated a suicide vest.
This finally closes a very sad episode for the Norgrove family, and for the island of Lewis where Linda grew up.
Football's not going home
It has been decided to host the Football World Cup 2018 in Russia. That gives that country two major events within four years: the Winter Olympics will be held at Sochi in 2014. England, Spain & Portugal and Holland & Belgium had been rival contenders for 2018, but found themselves finally beaten by the Russians. Disappointment is deep in England, which is hosting the Olympics in 2012. The last time the football world cup was held there was 1966, when the host nation beat Germany 4-2. Reaction in Russia is positive, although some people are wondering if the money for the 14 new stadiums, transport links and hotels could not be better spent on modernising facilities for ordinary people. However, it is to be hoped that the 2018 World Cup will serve as a boost towards further modernisation of Russia.
To quote one of my Russian on-line contacts: "Россия, ура, ура!"
To quote one of my Russian on-line contacts: "Россия, ура, ура!"
Thursday 2 December
Our wintry spell continues unabated. Over the past hour, I have watched a snow shower moving east across the peninsula of Pairc in the southeast of Lewis (20 miles from Stornoway), as westerly winds herald the arrival of a weather front from the Atlantic. The high clouds are moving in from the west as the sun slides towards the horizon, due to set at 3.40pm. The front will introduce more snow and northerly, rather than easterly winds. The mercury has not crested zero today, after an overnight low of -7C. Altnaharra is at -17C at the moment, after an overnight minimum of -21C.
And Russia is to organise the Football World Cup in 2018.
And Russia is to organise the Football World Cup in 2018.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
World AIDS Day
AIDS, the complex of diseases that is brought about by infection with HIV, leads to death because it knocks out parts of the normal immune system, which defends us against bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Although drugs have been devised that can slow the progression of the disease, AIDS is not curable, and a vaccine is still a long way off. It is 25 years ago today that AIDS came to prominence, and at first there was great awareness of practicing safe sex (using condoms &c), but this seems to be falling by the wayside.
AIDS was first discovered among humans in Uganda in 1959, although the HIV virus, naturally occurring amongst primates (monkeys, apes) will have been around for a lot longer. HIV has counterparts in other species, such as cats. There is, to my knowledge, no cross-over between species - having said that, the close relationship between primates and humans means that the virus was able to cross between the two species groups, something that happened just over a hundred years ago.
World AIDS Day is, to me, about preventing the spread of the disease. This means education.
It is also about ensuring that medication is easily accessible, whilst research continues to find a cure or a vaccine.
Leslie Nielsen
I am not a cinema goer (full stop), and the only films I have gone to see in the last 10 years were Lord of the Rings (I, II and III) and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (which nearly sent me to sleep).
However, I have always found myself nearly choking with laughter when watching the Naked Gun movies on TV, starring Leslie Nielsen. Modern slapstick, expertly handled (sometimes literally). I was ever so sad to hear that he had passed away after a short illness two days ago. So, let's have a laugh.
However, I have always found myself nearly choking with laughter when watching the Naked Gun movies on TV, starring Leslie Nielsen. Modern slapstick, expertly handled (sometimes literally). I was ever so sad to hear that he had passed away after a short illness two days ago. So, let's have a laugh.
Wednesday 1 December
The last month of the year is here, and the early winter is tightening its grip. A fall of snow left an inch of the white stuff here in Stornoway, although the bright sun has served to burn most of it away. We are left with the snow that fell over the weekend, which is slowly evaporating in the sunshine. Our temperature? Well, we reached +1.6C at 1pm.
Temperatures in Altnaharra, in the far north of mainland Scotland, have peaked at -12C this afternoon, after dipping to -20.5 overnight. As darkness falls, the mercury is expected to plumb new depths, down to -22C. And the following night might see it go down to -25C. Altnaharra is located in a valley, where the cold air pools; the snow serves to lose even more 'heat' and down goes the temperature. Residents in the village have been unable to reach the main road, and some have not seen their car since Friday - when it got buried under snow.
Falls of snow are much more of a problem than extreme temperatures. Snow has now reached the south of England, leading to passengers stranded on trains overnight; air passengers unable to fly out of Gatwick or Edinburgh (I know the feeling) and road travellers unable to budge. It is reported that 1 metre of snow (that's 40 inches in old money) has fallen in the northeast of England.
No let up in sight.
Temperatures in Altnaharra, in the far north of mainland Scotland, have peaked at -12C this afternoon, after dipping to -20.5 overnight. As darkness falls, the mercury is expected to plumb new depths, down to -22C. And the following night might see it go down to -25C. Altnaharra is located in a valley, where the cold air pools; the snow serves to lose even more 'heat' and down goes the temperature. Residents in the village have been unable to reach the main road, and some have not seen their car since Friday - when it got buried under snow.
Falls of snow are much more of a problem than extreme temperatures. Snow has now reached the south of England, leading to passengers stranded on trains overnight; air passengers unable to fly out of Gatwick or Edinburgh (I know the feeling) and road travellers unable to budge. It is reported that 1 metre of snow (that's 40 inches in old money) has fallen in the northeast of England.
No let up in sight.
Tuesday 30 November
A quiet day in the islands, with a little additional snow after nightfall. Snowfall elsewhere in the United Kingdom is causing mounting problems on the roads, for schools and on the rails.
I went to the library to find more tributes from the First World War and found nearly 20 for the months of April and the first half of May 1918. I also had some positive feedback from a cemetery website in South Uist that had been set up earlier this year. Whether a similar thing will happen in Lewis is questionable. Having put out some feelers here and there, I think people need to warm to the idea. Seeing your loved ones' gravestones on the Internet may not be everybody's cup of tea.
Today is the last day of the northern hemisphere hurricane season, with the exception of the Northwestern Pacific which may generate storms up to New Year. The Eastern and Central Pacific basins have been unusually quiet, with no storms in the Central Pacific, and only seven storms in the Eastern Pacific. The Atlantic season has spawned 19 named storms, with 12 hurricanes. I would not be surprised to see one or two names withdrawn - the most deadly one was Tomas, the last hurricane.
I went to the library to find more tributes from the First World War and found nearly 20 for the months of April and the first half of May 1918. I also had some positive feedback from a cemetery website in South Uist that had been set up earlier this year. Whether a similar thing will happen in Lewis is questionable. Having put out some feelers here and there, I think people need to warm to the idea. Seeing your loved ones' gravestones on the Internet may not be everybody's cup of tea.
Today is the last day of the northern hemisphere hurricane season, with the exception of the Northwestern Pacific which may generate storms up to New Year. The Eastern and Central Pacific basins have been unusually quiet, with no storms in the Central Pacific, and only seven storms in the Eastern Pacific. The Atlantic season has spawned 19 named storms, with 12 hurricanes. I would not be surprised to see one or two names withdrawn - the most deadly one was Tomas, the last hurricane.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Wikileaks
Website wikileaks.org has been posting confidential memos from the US government. These include notes from its diplomatic missions around the world, and contain some pretty embarrassing comments. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has vowed to track down and prosecute those who have leaked the documents, which is the proper thing to do. I was quite intrigued by the reaction from governments around the world to the leaks, which appear to be more one of embarrassment, rather than anger. It is like having your love letters posted on the Internet with a big huge arrow pointing towards the website involved.
I reached this conclusion because the reaction from the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmedinajad. He is an implacable enemy of America but also a shrewd politician. He described the leaks as orchestrated by the US government (a statement for home consumption), adding that he would disregard them completely. The latter bit is quite significant. Ahmedinajad knows very well that the American government is severely embarrassed by these leaks, and they had in fact no direct part in their release. It is something that could potentially happen to every government in the world (and they all know it); further more, the leaked documents just puts on public display what the diplomatic community knows secretly about each other.
I have no time for Mahmoud Ahmedinajad's policies, but I make an exception in this instance: ignore the Wikileaks story. It is a lot of hot air, and the only significant impact is to warn governments to tighten up on their security protocols for documentation.
I reached this conclusion because the reaction from the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmedinajad. He is an implacable enemy of America but also a shrewd politician. He described the leaks as orchestrated by the US government (a statement for home consumption), adding that he would disregard them completely. The latter bit is quite significant. Ahmedinajad knows very well that the American government is severely embarrassed by these leaks, and they had in fact no direct part in their release. It is something that could potentially happen to every government in the world (and they all know it); further more, the leaked documents just puts on public display what the diplomatic community knows secretly about each other.
I have no time for Mahmoud Ahmedinajad's policies, but I make an exception in this instance: ignore the Wikileaks story. It is a lot of hot air, and the only significant impact is to warn governments to tighten up on their security protocols for documentation.
Monday 29 November
A cold but sunny day out here, although massive falls of snow in the east of Scotland have brought havoc to the roads. A lorry driver, speaking on the radio, said he had been stuck for nearly 10 hours on the A9 around Perth. At the moment, the section of the A9 south of Perth appears to be "passable with care". Many other roads at higher levels in the Highlands are closed. And it isn't even formally winter, neither meteorologically nor astronomically. Here in the Outer Hebrides, temperatures are expected to lift towards the end of this week. With the bright sunshine, ice on pavements is turning back to slush. Tonight, the mercury will nosedive to -20C on the mainland.
Tomorrow, it will be St Andrew's Day, but celebrations have been cancelled due to the adverse weather.
I may have another update later today.
Tomorrow, it will be St Andrew's Day, but celebrations have been cancelled due to the adverse weather.
I may have another update later today.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
The Clearances - a myth debunked
First published on Pentland Road
I quote from Wikipedia on the background to this statue, which was erected near Helmsdale in 2007:
[It] commemorates the people who were cleared from the area by landowners and left their homeland to begin new lives overseas. The statue, which depicts a family leaving their home, stands at the mouth of the Strath of Kildonan, and was funded by Dennis Macleod, a Canadian mining millionaire of Scottish descent. An identical 10 ft-high bronze "Exiles" statue has also been set up on the banks of the Red River at Winnipeg, the city founded by those who left Scotland for Canada.
Mr Macleod has said that the statues celebrate the achievements made by Scots who went to Canada. Well, I would be quite happy to acknowledge the fact that some of the Scots did go on to do great things. But those having departed Helmsdale, and that's what we're talking about, certainly did not do well. I am going through the Napier Commission's Report, which was sitting at Helmsdale on 6 October 1883. The answers to questions 38252 and 38253 actually serve to negate the reasoning for the erection of the statue.
38252. Then you stated that the expatriated people, some of them, found their way to America, where they experienced a worse fate. What ground have you for believing that the emigrants generally experienced a worse fate ?
—The fate of my great-grandfather's family. My great-grandfather's family, except himself, all went out in Lord Selkirk's expedition to the Red River. My grandfather was married before he went out, and I have seen in my grandfather's house and my father's house a pile of correspondence describing the vicissitudes they underwent. They were left exposed on the north coast, and they had to find their way from Hudson's Bay to the Red River settlement; and they were exposed to the rigours of a lengthened winter, and, to crown all, the Indians came in and killed some of them, and the rest fled over the winter's snow to Canada. Only seven or eight managed to survive and settle in Canada afterwards.
38253. Are there many evicted families from this part of the country who cast in their lot with Lord Selkirk's settlement ?
—Yes, and that accounts for the difference between those who settled here and those who were in Kildouan before.
38254. Mr Fraser-Mackintosh.
—Had Lord Selkirk a settlement called Kildonan?
—Yes, and it is called Kildonan to this day. It is near Winnipeg. Fort Garry was the principal town in the old Red River settlement, and it has now become Winnipeg. You will see an account of it in the book called The Great Lone Land, by General Butler.
I quote from Wikipedia on the background to this statue, which was erected near Helmsdale in 2007:
[It] commemorates the people who were cleared from the area by landowners and left their homeland to begin new lives overseas. The statue, which depicts a family leaving their home, stands at the mouth of the Strath of Kildonan, and was funded by Dennis Macleod, a Canadian mining millionaire of Scottish descent. An identical 10 ft-high bronze "Exiles" statue has also been set up on the banks of the Red River at Winnipeg, the city founded by those who left Scotland for Canada.
Mr Macleod has said that the statues celebrate the achievements made by Scots who went to Canada. Well, I would be quite happy to acknowledge the fact that some of the Scots did go on to do great things. But those having departed Helmsdale, and that's what we're talking about, certainly did not do well. I am going through the Napier Commission's Report, which was sitting at Helmsdale on 6 October 1883. The answers to questions 38252 and 38253 actually serve to negate the reasoning for the erection of the statue.
38252. Then you stated that the expatriated people, some of them, found their way to America, where they experienced a worse fate. What ground have you for believing that the emigrants generally experienced a worse fate ?
—The fate of my great-grandfather's family. My great-grandfather's family, except himself, all went out in Lord Selkirk's expedition to the Red River. My grandfather was married before he went out, and I have seen in my grandfather's house and my father's house a pile of correspondence describing the vicissitudes they underwent. They were left exposed on the north coast, and they had to find their way from Hudson's Bay to the Red River settlement; and they were exposed to the rigours of a lengthened winter, and, to crown all, the Indians came in and killed some of them, and the rest fled over the winter's snow to Canada. Only seven or eight managed to survive and settle in Canada afterwards.
38253. Are there many evicted families from this part of the country who cast in their lot with Lord Selkirk's settlement ?
—Yes, and that accounts for the difference between those who settled here and those who were in Kildouan before.
38254. Mr Fraser-Mackintosh.
—Had Lord Selkirk a settlement called Kildonan?
—Yes, and it is called Kildonan to this day. It is near Winnipeg. Fort Garry was the principal town in the old Red River settlement, and it has now become Winnipeg. You will see an account of it in the book called The Great Lone Land, by General Butler.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)