Photocopy of the certificate from the French government to Captain Neil MacLean, Caoles, which accompanied the Silver Medal of Rescue awarded to him in 1928 for his part in the rescue of a stricken French vessel in 1927. Includes typed notes by Neil MacLean’s nephew, Archie MacLean, on the French used in the certificate and the English translation.
Framed certificate from the Merchant Marine of France to Captain Neil MacLean, Caoles, accompanying the Silver Medal of Rescue awarded to him in 1927 for his part in the rescue of a stricken French vessel.
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Translation: The Minister of Public Works certifies that, by a Decree of 6 March 1928, the President of the French Republic has awarded the Silver Medal for Rescue to Mr N. McLean, English subject, captain of the English steamship ‘Dunston’, in recognition of the part he played, on 4 December 1927, in taking on board his ship the crew members of the French vessel ‘Amphitrite’ which was in peril having been dismasted and disabled in the storm off the coast of Brittany. By the Minister, The Director of Work Services and Navigational Studies, Paris 19 March 1928.
Marine Marchande Médaille de Sauvetage en Argent / Merchant Marine Silver Medal of Rescue awarded by the President of the French Republic to Captain Neil MacLean for his part in the rescue of a stricken French vessel in 1927. The medal is inscribed with “N. Mc Lean 1927” and bears the words “Courage et Devouement“, and is accompanied by a certificate. Includes the original presentation box.
Neil MacLean was born at Carnan, Caoles, and was the master of the British steamship ‘Dunston’ when, on 4 December 1927, he assisted in the rescue of crew members of the ‘Amphitrite’, which had become demasted and disabled in a storm off the coast of Brittany.
Lump of ‘sea coal’ found at Port a’ Mhuilinn, Hynish (grid ref. NL 97995 38780), from one of two shipwrecks, either the coal puffer ‘Regina’ 1872 (Canmore ID# 256038), or the cargo steam ship ‘Marchioness of Lorne’ 1875.
Emailed information about the possible location of the wreck of the Taeping tea clipper on Ladd Reef in the China Sea. The ship sank when it ran aground on its way to New York from China in 1871. The Taeping was previously commanded by Captain Donald MacKinnon, Heanish, who won the Great China Tea Race of 1866.
Collection of five booklets of ‘Tocher – Tales, Songs and Traditions’ from the archives of the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh, 1978-1991, containing Tiree material: Blar nan Sguab / Battle of the Sheaves, No. 18, pg 44; The Dairymaid and the Cattle-Thief, No. 18, pg 49; Marbhrann do Mhrs. Noble / Elegy for Mrs Noble, No. 18, pg 50; A’ Chailleach Bhuana / the Harvest Maiden, No. 18, pg 52; Niall Og’s Harvest, No. 18, pg 54; An Corp-Creadh mu Dheireadh / The Last Clay Image made in Tiree, No. 18, pg 56; The Loss of the Fishing Boats (Balephuil fishing disaster of 1856), No. 18, pg 58; Oran an Fhuadaich / Song of the Storm (Balephuil fishing disaster of 1856), No. 18, pg 60; Diarmad agus Gràine, No. 18, pg 62; Donald Sinclair, No. 20, pg 152; Hector Kennedy, No. 32, pg 69; Latha Bathadh Bhaile Phuill / The Balephuil Disaster (1856), No. 32, pg 90; Oran do Shir Dòmhnall MacPhàrlain / Song to Sir Donald MacFarlane, No. 32, pg 92; Tha mise seo gun chruit gun sgoth / I am here with neither Croft nor Boat, No. 32, pg 94; Gilleasbuig Laidir and the Factor, No. 32, pg 96; ‘Lord’ MacDonald, No. 32, pg 98; Tiree settlers in Ontario, No. 42, pg 362; A’ Falbh a Tiriodh / Leaving Tiree, No. 42, pg 410; Donald MacLean Sinclair, No. 42, pg 424; Neil Lamont, No. 43, pg 67.
Framed memorial poster commemorating Captain Donald Sinclair, Sandaig, who was instrumental in saving the crew of the destroyer HMS Sturdy, which ran aground at Sandaig in 1940. He died during a U-boat attack on his merchant ship SS Empire Eland a year later.
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Photograph of a newspaper cutting about Malcolm Campbell, Tiree, who was stranded on the remote island of St Helena in the south Atlantic Ocean, after his ship was torpedoed in WWII.
Handwritten transcript of a newspaper article about the drowning of a crew of 10 men from Tiree in 1841. Inverness Courier, 15 December 1841.
“Melancholy Accident, Small Isles, Nov. 30th
We are sorry to learn from the Island of Tyree of the loss of a boat consisting of a crew of ten men, that fished for cod on a certain bank at a considerable distance from the land. On her returning towards the shore, she was overtaken by a strong gale fron the S.W., and after buffetting against the mountainous waves and using every human exertion to make out the land for a considerable time, a sudden squall coming on, she filled and all on board met a watery grave. They left families and numerous friends to regret their loss.”
