A sea mine recently discovered under gravel on the Sandaig shore, is now on display outside An Iodhlann. When a Bomb Disposal Team dug up the mine on the 3rd of August, it was found to be empty of explosive, safe and reasonably intact. We have positioned it so that its innards are visible, as well as the locations of detonation horns and the hole where a time-sensitive self-destruct mechanism was installed. Hundreds of pebbles and shells are fused onto its surface. Tens of thousands of similar mines were laid around the Hebrides and the North Sea during the first and second world wars.
One of the ceramic red poppies from the display of 888,246 from the Tower of London in 2014 commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war. Each represented one British or colonial life lost. Bought and donated by Greta Travers who was posted to Tiree as a WAAF in 1945, during the second world war. The poppy was placed in the ground in front of the RAF Halifax memorial at Tiree’s airport for a while during 2015. See also 2017.12.2
Efficiency Medal bearing the head of King George VI on one side and on the other the words “For Efficient Service”. Instituted in 1908, the Efficiency Medal was awarded to members of the Territorial Army (UK), Colonial Auxiliary Forces and Indian Volunteer Forces, with more than 12 years service. This version of the medal was issued during 1949-1952 and includes the word “INDIAE”. The recipient’s name is engraved on the rim: 544938 CPL W MACLACHLAN AYR YEO. The ribbon would have been dark green with yellow borders. Found in a garden in Scarinish.
Softback book ‘Eilean Uaine Thiriodh’ by Margaret Bennett and Eric Rose, 2014. ‘The Green Isle of Tiree’ is a biography of Ethel MacCallum who, in 1942, was evacuated from an orphanage in Glasgow to the Island of Tiree. She became fluent in Gaelic and, with her natural gift for music and song, was encouraged to write her own compositions. The book includes some of her original work on a CD.
Brass artillery shell casing dated 1941 found in 2014 amongst the belongings of the late Les Crawte in ‘Windrush’, Milton, his last home on Tiree. Engraved on the bottom: LOT1 EOC 1941 [symbols x3] 12Pr 12CW[remainder obscured].
Small book about RAF Connel Ferry and its role during World War II. Includes the sinking of `SS Breda` and `The Coll Hurricane`. Published by the author.
Email from Charles Pressley to An Tirisdeach (2009) with attached article about the HMS Sturdy
Email from Charles Pressley to An Tirisdeach (11 July 2009) stating his interest in the published articles about the wreck of the HMS Sturdy at Sandaig in 1940, his association with Tiree and friends and relatives of those who were on the Sturdy, and his attached article about the Sturdy that he wrote for the West Sussex Gazette following a visit to Tiree in 1999.
Family trees for the MacNeils of Balevullin, and the MacCallums (of Tiree) who captained ships during WWII
Family trees of the MacNeils of Balevulin and the MacCallums (of Tiree). Donald Archie MacCallum was captain of “SS Designer”, and Donald MacCallum was captain of the “Baron Inchcape” (internet photo included). Also internet photo of the ship “Huntsman” and a list of the fate of ships of the Harrison Line, with other internet pages about the Harrison Line Shipping Co.
Copies of a report and accompanying letters written by Lt-Cmdr Cooper of HMS Sturdy in 1945
Copies of a report about the recovery of POWs from Macassar, and two accompanying letters written by Lt-Cmdr Cooper of HMS Sturdy in 1945. The original report was written soon after the POWs had been recovered and outline the POW`s experiences, inter alia, of many of the survivors of the sinking of the HMS Exeter. Retyped from a carbon copy of the original report by a crew member of the Maidstone who had preserved the record for over 60 years.
Copy of letter containing information about Captain Donald Archibald MacCallum of Tiree, ca 2005
Photocopy of a letter from “George” to Donald MacLeod about a convoy of Navy vessels torpedoed during World War II. Includes information on Captain Donald Archibald MacCallum of Tiree, was lost when his ship “Designer” was sunk on 9 June 1941.
A sea mine recently discovered under gravel on the Sandaig shore, is now on display outside An Iodhlann. When a Bomb Disposal Team dug up the mine on the 3rd of August, it was found to be empty of explosive, safe and reasonably intact. We have positioned it so that its innards are visible, as well as the locations of detonation horns and the hole where a time-sensitive self-destruct mechanism was installed. Hundreds of pebbles and shells are fused onto its surface. Tens of thousands of similar mines were laid around the Hebrides and the North Sea during the first and second world wars.
