Colour photograph of a wreath commemorating the wrecking of the destroyer HMS Sturdy during WWII. It is being held by the captain of the Queen Mary cruise ship.
Organised by Commander Michael Gibson of Plymouth, the wreath was thrown overboard in the summer of 2015 as the Queen Mary cruised past the Hebrides. HMS Sturdy foundered on rocks at Sandaig during a storm in October 1940. Five lives were lost, but were it not for the actions of Tiree folk, in particular Captain Donald Sinclair, the toll would have been much higher. The dedication on the wreath reads: “Dedicated to the bravery of Captain Donald Sinclair and those who helped in the rescue effort of HMS Sturdy and in remembrance of all those lost on Empire Eland in 1941”. Captain Sinclair was on the Empire Eland when it was torpedoed by a U-boat in the Atlantic.
Colour photograph of the captain and crew of the Queen Mary cruise ship with a wreath commemorating the wrecking of the destroyer HMS Sturdy on rocks at Sandaig during WWII.
Organised by Commander Michael Gibson of Plymouth, the wreath was thrown overboard in the summer of 2015 as the Queen Mary cruised past the Hebrides. HMS Sturdy foundered during a storm in October 1940. Five lives were lost, but were it not for the actions of Tiree folk, in particular Captain Donald Sinclair, the toll would have been much higher. The dedication on the wreath reads: “Dedicated to the bravery of Captain Donald Sinclair and those who helped in the rescue effort of HMS Sturdy and in remembrance of all those lost on Empire Eland in 1941”. Captain Sinclair was on the Empire Eland when it was torpedoed by a U-boat in the Atlantic.
Black & white photograph of Neil and Chrissie MacPhail’s house at Kirkapol around the 1980s. Built around 1900 by Donald MacPhail, with the porch added around 1990.
Black & white photograph of (L-R) Alex MacPhail, Chrissie MacPhail (nee MacFadyen) and Florence MacPhail, outside Neil MacPhail’s house at Kirkapol in the 1980s. Alex was Neil’s cousin who lived in Vista, Manitoba with his wife Florence. The house was built around 1900 by Donald MacPhail.
Photograph of a letter from V C Stewart, the Registrar General, to Neil MacPhail, Kirkapol, dated October 1980, thanking him for his 55 years of service as Registrar on Tiree.
Black & white photograph of (L-R) Chrissie MacPhail (nee MacFadyen), Neil MacPhail, Kirkapol, and their daughter Mairi Griffith (nee MacPhail), at Buckingham Palace in 1980 on the occasion of Neil receiving an MBE for his services as Registrar.
The bible in Gaelic titled “Tiomnadh Nuadh”, 1901. Tiomnadh Nuadh are Tighearn agus ar Slanuighir Iosa Criosd, air a Tharruing o’n ghreugais chum Gaelic Albannaich agus air a chur a mach le h-ughdarras ard-sheanaidh Eaglais na h-Alba.
Hardback book of extracts from the Bible translated into Gaelic. On the inside front cover is written in ball-point pen “Bhuineadh an leabhar seo do Dhonnchadh is Eilidh Dhòmhnallach, Bail’ Ùr, Bail a’ Phuill, Eilean Thiriòdh. Fhuair mi e anns an t-seann bhàthaich aca air deireadh an t-samhraidh seao chaidh.” Signed “Ailean Bòideach, 11 na de’n Ghiblean 1981”.
