Compiled information about the Steamship Laristan which ran aground on rocks at Craignish, Hough, in 1942. Includes the log of the ship’s movements around the time it ran aground, an extract from a book about shipwrecks, and an extract from Home Commands’ War Diary – Casualties and Defects. The ship was also known under the names of Cherrywood and Empire Gulf.
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Black & white photograph of seaman Ralph Frederick Smith (right) who was rescued by Tiree residents when his ship, the SS Laristan, ran aground on rocks at Craignish, Hough on January 19th 1942. Ironically, having survived the wrecking of the Laristan, Ralph Smith died at sea three months later when his next ship, the Empire Dryden, was torpedoed off the USA coast. Ralph’s Seaman’s Card with details of his death can be viewed here.
Pages mentioning Tiree from the WWII Admiralty War Diaries from 6 June 1939 to 14 November 1944, marked “Most Secret”, including records of shipping and convoys, U-boats, mining, defensive actions, casualties, military intelligence, communications with allied forces, and SS Laristan. Courtesy of Martin Briscoe, Fort William.
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Photograph of the Steam Ship Laristan at sea in the 1940s.
Black & white photograph of the SS Laristan at sea. This was “the replacement Laristan – one of Common’s tankers.” The Laristan was wrecked on rocks at Craignish, behind Ben Hough, in 1942.
Recollections of the wrecking of the SS Laristan in 1942
Typed recollections of Alice Atkins (Ian Atkins` mother) regarding the shipwreck of the SS Laristan at Hough on January 19th 1942.
Letter from Mike Hughes to Alice Atkins requesting information about wartime Tiree
Typed letter from Mike Hughes to Alice Atkins dated 25.7.95 requesting information about her father`s and her experiences when her father was stationed at RAF Tiree during WWII. Mentions George Holleyman.
Audio recording of Janette Cameron reading a Gaelic translation of Alice Atkins` recollections of the shipwreck of the SS Laristan in 1942.
Janette Cameron reading a Gaelic translation of Alice Atkins` recollections of the shipwreck of the SS Laristan at Hough in 1942. Janette (daughter of Murdoch & Eilidh Cameron) later performed the reading at the 2000 Mod. Poor quality recording, not digitised.
