Friday 31 July

July is closing as un-summerlike as you can think of. The Scots call it dreich, with drizzle although not much wind.

I have completed the transcription of the Lewis Roll of Honour for the First World War. There are 6,029 names from the over 100 villages and townships across the island. Some are just listed with their name and unit, others have decorations. Nearly 200 perished in the sinking of HMY Iolaire on their return home on New Year's Day 1919. Another 1,100 or so lost their life in the course of the war, or during the years afterwards. Once I have cleaned up the data, I'll give a further breakdown. I now have to contemplate how to plonk it all on the web. I'll probably do it by village.