Dates: 1910s

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2000.84.3

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The crew of the ‘Baron Polwarth’

Photograph of the crew of the ‘Baron Polwarth’ in 1916.

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Courtesy of Mr Lachie MacDonald

The ‘Baron Polwarth’ was a tramp steamer that plied its trade around the British coasts and European ports. Owned by the tramp ship company Hugh Hogarth & Sons, which later became the Baron Line, the ships were recognisable by their buff and black funnels.

The owners had a reputation for being overly economical when feeding their crews. As a result, the line was nicknamed the ‘Hungry Hogarths’. The crew of the ‘Baron Polwarth’ included several sailors from Tiree.

One of them, Dougall Lamont, son of Archie Lamont of Cornaigmore, died as a result of an accident on board in January 1916. His remains were brought home to Tiree and interred in Kirkapol cemetery. His fellow crew members clubbed together and bought a marble book which was placed on his grave.

Black and white photograph of the crew of the `Baron Polwarth`, Ardrossan in 1916.

Crew of the Baron Polwarth, Ardrossan, 1916. L-R: (back row) Charlie MacDonald, Ruaig, uncle to Mary Flora MacKinnon, Balephetrish and Margaret MacInnes, Ruaig; John MacKinnon, Balephetrish, uncle to Ian MacKinnon (Iain Aonghais), ‘Lochview’, Kilmoluaig; Charles MacDonald, uncle to Lachie MacDonald, Middleton; John MacArthur, father of John MacArthur, Middleton Farm; (middle row) Hugh Cameron; Walter MacDonald, Moss, uncle to Johann MacKinnon, Barrapol and Neil Brownlie; unknown; (front row) possibly Walter Mackinnon, Greenhill; unknown.

2000.84.7

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Black and white group photograph taken in the 1918.

Group photograph taken in the 1918. L-R: (front row) Charlie MacDonald, uncle of Lachie MacDonald, Middleton; John MacArthur, father of John MacArthur, Middleton Farm; Neil Sinclair (Niall a Dan), brother of the late Alasdair Sinclair (Alasdair Ruadh), Greenhill.

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2003.180.1

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S.S. ‘Cygnet’

Postcard of the S.S. ‘Cygnet’ approaching Gott Bay pier.

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Courtesy of Mrs Ishobel MacDonald

Built as a cargo steamer, the S.S. ‘Cygnet’ was launched from Inglis’ Yard on the Clyde in 1904. She received a boiler and the starboard engine salvaged from the MacBrayne steamship ‘Flowerdale’ which was lost off Lismore earlier that year.

Initially on the Glasgow-Inverary route, the ‘Cygnet’ was modified after World War I to accommodate passengers and transferred to the Oban-Coll-Tiree-Castlebay-Lochboisdale route. She was sold in 1930 and broken up the following year.

Alasdair Sinclair of Brock remembers the ‘Cygnet’ as a dreadful wee boat: ‘There was nowhere at all to sit…You just stood on deck ankle-deep in water and watched your luggage floating about.’

Black and white postcard of the ferry approaching Tiree pier.

The ferry `Cygnet` approaching Tiree in the 1920s. The SS `Cygnet` was launched in 1904, relieved the Outer Isles ferries until the end of WWI, then was based in Oban and conducted the Islands mail services until 1930 when she was sold. (Original postcard in Filing Cabinet 8 drawer 2)

1998.184.3

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Dr Dan MacKinnon of Ruaig

Photograph of Dr Dan MacKinnon of Ruaig in Balemartine during World War I.

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Courtesy of Mr Donald MacKinnon

Dr Dan MacKinnon (Dòmhnaill Eòghainn na Sraide) is pictured on his motorbike in Balemartine during World War I. Born at Tor a’ Bhaile in Ruaig in 1890, he was educated locally and in 1913 qualified as a doctor in Glasgow.

After working briefly at the Grampian Sanatorium in Kingussie, he returned to Tiree in 1914 as the island’s doctor. He once had a spill from his motorbike in Heanish. Although unhurt and able to continue on his rounds, the racing engine and spinning wheels caused some consternation to those who came to his aid.

He enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917 and went off to the war, returning to Tiree in June 1919 but resigning the following year to take up the post of Parochial Medical Officer in Aberfoyle. He died unmarried in 1938 and is buried in Kirkapol cemetery.

Black and white photograph of Dr Dan MacKinnon of Ruaig in the 1910s.

Dr Dan MacKinnon of Ruaig on his motorbike in Balemartine in the 1910s. Houses (L-R): Lachlan MacNeill (former Post Office); Flora Lamont, John Paterson (thatched houses); MacArthurs’ houses. Dr Dan was born at Tor a’ Bhaile in Ruaig in 1890, came back to Tiree in 1914 as its doctor and enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917.

1998.174.1

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Black and white postcard of Am Bail`Ur / The New Village, Balephuil, around 1900.

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Postcard of Bail`Ur, Balephuil around 1900. Houses L-R: Taigh Iain Bhlac (his first thatched house at present-day cattle-grid); Taigh Iain ’ic Dhòmhnaill Mhòir (MacDonald); Taigh Mòr an Tuathanaich / Dhomhnaill Mhic Nèill (MacNeill); Taigh Nèill Òig / Chaluim Nèill Òig (Sinclair); Taigh Dhonnchaidh Mhurchaidh (Campbell); Bùth Iain ‘ic Dhòmhnaill Mhòir (MacDonald); Taigh Sheumais Bhàin (MacDonald); Taigh Fhearchair/Taigh Chailein Fhearchair (MacDonald); Taigh MhacÀidh (Mackay) / Ealasdair Iain Mhòir / a’ Ghreusaiche  (MacArthur); Taigh Màiri Bheag; Taigh Ealasdair Bhrùin (Brown); Bùth/Taigh Ealasdair Lachainn (Mackinnon); Taigh Dhòmhnaill ‘ic Lachainn (Mackinnon); Taigh Chlèabhair (John Kennedy); Taigh na Coinneimh /  Balephuil Mission House; Taigh Chaluim Nèill (Brown); Taigh Ghilleasbaig Chaimbeil (Campbell)

Amendments to house names provided by Ailean Boyd, Balephuil.

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