Everything about Iolaire totally explained
The
Iolaire (
Scottish Gaelic for
Eagle) was an
Admiralty yacht whose sinking on the
1 January 1919 in
the Minch strait was one of the worst maritime disasters in
United Kingdom waters during the
20th century. At least 205 men perished of the 280 aboard.
Note on the name: whilst the word "iolaire" in Lewis Gaelic is pronounced [ˈjoɫəz̟ə], varying slightly according to dialect, the English-speaking crew used a
spelling pronunciation of [ˈaɪəˌlɛəɹ], and this was adopted by Gaelic-speakers as its name.
History
The
Iolaire was carrying sailors who had fought in the
First World War back to the Scottish island of
Lewis. She left the port of
Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland late on the evening of the
31 December 1918. But, at 2:30am on
New Year's Day, as the ship approached the port of
Stornoway, a few yards offshore and a mile away from the safety of Stornoway Harbour, she hit the infamous rocks "The Beasts of Holm", and eventually sank. The final death toll was officially put at 205, of whom 181 were islanders, but as the ship was badly overcrowded and as there was a lack of proper records the death toll could have been slightly higher. John. F. Macleod from Ness, Isle of Lewis saved 40 lives. Only 75 of the 280 (officially known) passengers survived the disaster, 73% perished in the incident.
The sailors were wearing their full uniforms including heavy boots, so swimming from the wreck was difficult. Many songs and poems, such as "An Iolaire (The Eagle)", describe the women of these men finding their men washed up on the shore the next day.
This was, and is, the worst maritime disaster in United Kingdom waters in peacetime since the wreck of the
SS Norge off
Rockall in
1904, and the worst peacetime disaster involving a British ship since the
Titanic on
April 15 1912.
An Admiralty enquiry shortly after didn't find a satisfactory explanation for the disaster. A memorial was erected in
1960 at Holm, outside Stornoway.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Iolaire'.
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