Not remembered

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) keeps records on all British service personnel, killed in the First and Second World Wars. In their files, accessible on the Internet, you can find out about the more than one million servicemen and -women who lost their lives in those conflicts.

Its files are comprehensive, but not complete. This evening, with the aid of a fellow researcher elsewhere in Scotland, I traced the details of:

Private NORMAN MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 10 South Dell,
Service unit: 3rd Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 3/5645
Date of death: 16 March 1917 at the age of 23
Died of wounds at home
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Private Morrison is not remembered by CWGC. As soon as I have obtained the details of his burial, a case can be submitted to have Norman included on the registers of the CWGC. After 93 years (and a few days), we will finally be able to give him the honour and remembrance on the scale that he deserves. He is mentioned on the local memorial at Cross, only a mile or two up the road from his home.

Picture post - 27 March

Sleeping quarters in the Blackhouse - the haze is peatreek
Callanish
Arnol

Young and old - the storyteller and his granddaughter, sharing the telling of a story

Sunday 28 March

Overcast and cold, much like yesterday, but without the sunny intervals. Temperature down to 6C at the moment. Awoke this morning to the sight of the Norwegian fish survey vessel GO Sars coming into port. Not seen that one for 4 years. The GO Sars travels the Atlantic in search of shoals of fish, for Norwegian fishing vessels to scoop up.

The other unusual sight was the ferry, docked stern first. She normally docks bow first. I'll check how she is lying when passengers board, by 2pm - an hour from now. Talking of hours, our clocks were put forward by an hour last night, and I'm feeling suitably hung-over - without having overindulged.

I'll be uploading pictures later this afternoon about yesterday's trip to the West Side.