Mairi Riobach/Mary MacCrain (1737-1855?) - an 'Eccentric Centenarian' on Jura

A newspaper report from 1853 tells of an 'Eccentric Centenarian': 'There is living on the estate of Ardlussa, Jura, a woman named Mary MacCraig alias Mairi Riobach, who is now in her one hundredth and sixteenth year. She was born in the Island of Islay, and has been weakly in mind from her youth. She has led a wandering life, and has not a relation alive. She stands about four feet three inches in height, sings Jacobite songs, and dances a few steps of a hornpipe' (Elgin Courant, and Morayshire Advertiser, 11 November 1853).

There seems to be a little bit of uncertainty about her age and indeed name. Marc Calhoun, author of Beehive Dwellings of the Hebrides, has posted a picture of what is presumably her grave in the Kilchianaig burial ground at Inverlussa on Jura. The inscription reads 'Mary MacCrain died in 1856 aged 128. Descendant of Gillour MacCrain who kept 180 Christmases in his own house and died in the reign of Charles I'. 

image from Marc Calhoun blog

At Scotland's People there is a death register entry for a Mary MacCraine on Jura, giving date of death as December 22 1855 at Lussagiven and stating her age as 118 years - unsuprizingly the cause of death is stated to be 'old age'. Her birth place is actually given as Brosdale -  the name of a small island off the south of Jura, as well as a nearby area on Jura itself near to Jura House. Her father is listed as Donald McCraine, tenant farmer, and mother Mary McNeven.  So while there is some doubt about her date of birth she does seem to have lived to a ripe old age. I think we can be fairly confident that Mary MacCraine (in death certificate), Mary MacCrain (on gravestone) and Mary MacCraig (in 1853 press report) are all the same person.

1885 Ordnance Survey Map showing Brosdale on Jura

But what of her supposedly even more venerable ancestor Gillour MacCrain? There's a plaque in Jura's Kilearnadail cemetery (see photograph by Armin Grewe at his Islay Pictures blog) that repeats the 'kept 180 Christmases' claim and dates his death as 'about 1645' - plainly the plaque is more recent. This tale goes back to Martin Martin who in his 'A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland' (1703) recorded after a visit to Jura that 'Several of the Natives have liv'd to a great age. Gillouir Mack-Crain liv'd to have kept 180 Christmasses in his own house . He died about fifty years ago, and there are several of his acquaintances living to this day, from who I had this account'. 

Various explanations have been given for this, other than him being the longest living human. It has been suggested that locals were pulling Martin's leg, or that MacCrain may have been a Roman Catholic in a time when Catholics and Protestants couldn't agree on the calendar so you could theoretically have celebrated Christmas twice a year.   Old Weird Scotland  suggests that around this time 'Gaels celebrated “Big Christmas” (An Nollaig Mhòr) and New Year, “Little Christmas” (An Nollaig Bheag)' so again you could get in two Christmases a year - or 180 in a 90 year lifetime.

As for Mary MacCrain's  Islay connection mentioned in the 1853 article, who knows? Though in the course of at least 118 years I expect she must have crossed the Sound of Islay a few times!

A discussion of the MacCrain name which mentions Mary's grave, from The Highland News, 4 August 1900:

MacDonnells Race: Rathlin Island, Islay and danger on the seas

Musician Phil Cunningham's BBC programme 'The narrow sea, the farthest shore' (2022) explores the cultural links between the west of Scotland and the north east of Ireland across the Narrow Channel. Islay is mentioned a number of times and in particular the skipper of a boat who regularly travels this journey today tells him about a turbulent stretch of water by Rathlin Island, near Ballycastle in County Antrim:

'This particular place is just known as MacDonnells Race* because when you get a fast flow of water it is known as a race. A family of four brothers went over to Islay to celebrate and get all the goods they needed and on the way back they hit a very bad piece of very fast water and the boat sunk on them and the four brothers were drowned so they christened if after them'

Of course that got me searching for details of this tragic event. Another version of the tale is given by Anne Winter in her account of sailing between Islay and Rathlin Island in 2019:  'We could see rough water to the north east of the headland: the MacDonnell race, named after the MacDonnell brothers, who were drowned returning to Rathlin when they were caught in a vicious tide race.  Their father watching from land raised his arm as if to move the boat’s tiller to steer them out of harm’s way.  Legend has it that his arm stayed in the same position for the rest of his life'. Winter mentions visting the Rathlin Island Boathouse museum so assume she picked up this story there.

The name goes back to at least the mid-19th century.  The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle published an article in February 1856 on 'Rathlin Sound and General Directions for the North Channel, Ireland' by R. Hoskyn, Admirality Surveyor for the NE Coast of Ireland. Hoskyn writes that 'Off Altacarry Head a rocky bank extends two thirds of a mile to the northward; where from thirty fathoms it deepens to ninety in a distance of two cables further. The tide, in its passage across it  forms a race known as McDonald Race'. 'Sailing Directions for Ireland' published by the United States. Hydrographic Office (1934) likewise warn of 'overfall extending 1350 yards from the shore, called Macdonald Race'

I haven't found any specific historical report of the four drowned brothers, perhaps it is a local legend based on an actual happening more than 170 years ago, though there are other strong historical connections between Rathlin and the MacDonald name. Rathlin Castle was the base for the MacDonnells (sometimes spelt MacDonalds) in their bid for control of parts of Antrim, ended by an infamous massacre in 1575 when English forces led by John Sorreys and Francis Drake stormed the island. The MacDonnells had branched off from the Islay based MacDonalds of Dunyvaig. That's another story but it shows how the history of Islay is bound up with happenings in Ireland just as much as in Scotland.

In any event, newspaper reports do list plenty of maritime tragedies with Rathlin and Islay connections.

For instance, in 1856 a Mr Mann of Portrush was on his was way by sea to Islay when he found an upturned boat. There was no sign of the crew, believed drowned after capsizing on their way from Ballycastle to Rathlin (Belfast Morning News, 10/6/ 1858). In 1917 a Rathlin Island fireman, M'Guilkin was one of three seamen who drowned when the Clyde Shipping Company's tug Flying Falcon was caught in a storm off Islay (Londonderry Sentinel, 11/10/1917).

The wreck of  the schooner Nations at Rathlin Island was reported in the Ballymoney Free Press (11/3/1880), with the boat going down on its way from Islay to Larne with a cargo of grain. The crew survived, though the Captain's brother had been drowned a year earlier after being washed overboard from the same boat. The captain pronounced the boat to be 'an unlucky vessel' and intriguingly seems to blame the prophesy of an Islay woman:  'The captain, who is a native, attributes the disaster to a woman in Islay. When his brother was about to start on his fatal voyage this woman said "broad as your shoulders are, you'll never return again". Since that she said the same to another native of the Island and he too was lost. The captain is not quite certain that she had the power to injure the vessel, but he strongly suspects she had'. That raises the whole folklore of 'the sight' in Islay, in particular the ability to predict somebody's death, another interesting topic in its own right.

* The spelling is variously given in different places as MacDonnell, McDonnell, McDonald, MacDonald or any of the above with an s a the end.

Update - On twitter (30/1/22) Douglas Cecil, a Rathlin Islander and ferry skipper, tells me that 'there is a small stone cairn built on the cliffs of the North Side of Rathlin which looks directly across to McDonnells Race where the father was said to have been keeping a lookout from'

Islay Regatta 1870: sea sports and land sports

From Glasgow Herald, 5 September 1870:

'On Wednesday last, the 30th [August 1870] the annual regatta came off in Lochindaal Bay,  at the village of Bowmore. The committee displayed much activity, taste and energy in all their arrangements previous to the commencement of the proceedings of the day. At an early hour flags were hosted at the most conspicuous places nearby more and at some of the principal shops in the village. The wind was about SW by Southf and a strong breeze blew during the whole day. The weather was also very beautiful so that parties in great numbers, from all parts of the island, made their appearance on the ground at an early hour, avaling themselves of the most suitable stations to have a full view of the bay. 

The boat races started with one 'confined to skiffs 25 feet keel' which was won by Mr Fraser of Port Ellen's boat 'Annie'. Following this there was a yacht race won by Captain Graham of Port Ellen's 'Fion'. The third race 'confined to boats 16 feet keel' was won by Mr M'Affer [McAffer] of Bowmore's 'Spunkie'.   There was then an open race won by Mr M'Aulay [McAulay] of Portnahaven's 'Elizabeth'.

Finally there was a rowing match for 'four oared skiffs' - 'This was a very exciting race, as the men seemed equally matched for the natives of Portnahaven are a hardy, muscular and strong race and accustomed to the oar. The race started as fair as could be, the boats playing right in the wind's eye'. It was won by Mr Connolly of Portnahaven's boat 'Margaret'.

'This concluded the sea sports and thereafter commenced the land sports, the prizes for which were given by gentleman residing at present at Mr Campbell's hotel, Bridgend'. The races included a 300 yards boys race won by A.M'Gregor [McGregor] and a 400 yards race for men won by D. Ferguson. There was also a long jump (won by John Kirk) and a 'high leap', while Mr Samuel McIntyre from Bridgend won the 'putting the stone competition' involving an 18 lb weight.

Islay fishermen 1890s: strike, riot and tragedy

Life for fishermen on Islay in the 1890s, as at many other times, was precarious and dangerous. These reports highlight several incidents from the period, including two court cases and a drowning.

The first report is of a strike by fishermen from Port Wemyss, which led to three people being jailed. They seem to have been convicted under Combinations of Workmen Act 1825, a law passed to restrict trade unions and picketing.

ISLAY FISHERMEN CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL COMBINATION 

(Aberdeen Journal, Saturday 22 November 1890)

'A case of illegal combination among fishermen has just been tried at Inveraray before Sheriff Campbell Shairp. Three fishermen, Duncan Anderson, George Anderson, and Malcolm M’Neil, residing at Port Wemyss Islay, were charged with having on the 27th August last, at Loch Grinnard, Islay, formed part of a disorderly crowd for the purpose of preventing the lawful landing and disposal of herrings from fishing boats, and the lawful conveyance of the same from Loch Grinnard to Bruichladdich, and with having committed a breach of the peace. The men pleaded not guilty.

Mr MacLullich, Procurator-Fiscal, prosecuted, and Mr George Crawford, writer, appeared for the defence. A number of witnesses were examined, including several fish buyers and fishermen. From the evidence it appeared that the fishermen in the district had held a meeting and resolved to strike. The motive for this was the low price they were getting for their fish. On the night of the 26th August five boats went out, and this action on the part of their owners was resented by the other fishermen, who gathered in a body next morning to prevent the landing of the fish. There were from forty to a hundred persons in the crowd according to different witnesses. A successful attempt was made to prevent the men in the boats from putting the fish ashore, and some carts which had been sent to convey the herrings from Loch Grinnnard to Bruichladdich were forcibly turned back. Threats were made by some members of the crowd, although no actual violence was committed.

Mr MacLullich asked the Sheriff to deal severely with what was an act of illegal combination. Mr Crawford, for the defence, submitted that the men did nothing but what they were legally entitled to do. They simply said, in a civil way, 'You are not to land your fish.'

The Sheriff —They said 'You are not to do it': that is distinctly illegal. Mr Crawford held it was not proved that anything any of the prisoners did was really in the nature an an illegal act. His lordship found the charge against the three men proven. The charge, he said, was a very serious one. It was a very distressing thing to see decent men like the accused, who wore not men of the criminal class at all, charged with such an offence. The offence was one of a very important character. It was a breach of the peace of the worst description. The law in regard to such affairs as they had been engaged in was perfectly clear. It was that they might strike among themselves as much as they liked, and they might refuse to work to any employer; but the moment they tried to prevent other people from working, from taking any contract, the law would at once visit that offence in a way that would show what a grievous offence it was. It had been said there was no violence used on this occasion. The only reason no violence was used was that none was needed. The crowd came in such force that no man there could cope with it. They prevented the fishermen in the five boats from landing their herrings, and they turned the carts. They were thus interfering with people who were perfectly free to enter into any arrangements if they chose. They had done that in an out-of-way part of the country, where it was not easy to protect the people who were molested. Duncan Anderson and Malcolm M'Neil, who had been previously convicted, were each sentenced to 60 days imprisonment with hard labour; George Anderson was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment'.

The following year there was another dispute at Gruinart, this time a clash between Islay fishermen and their counterparts from Campbeltown. The latter in were fishing off Islay using trawl nets, whereas the Islay fishermen only used drift nets. This was seen as a threat to the livelihood to the Ileachs and the Campbeltown fisherman, on the beach at Gruinart, 'were surrounded by 500 fishermen, who pelted them with stones and other missiles' (Dundee Courier, 25 September 1891).

A court case relating to 'The Islay Fishermen's Riot' took place at Inverary, again before Sheriff Shairp, in December 1891, with eight people charged with contravening 'the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875 and also with mobbing and rioting'

The dangers facing fishermen were highlighted in 1893 when two fishermen were reported drowned on a skiff  'manned by Donald Anderson, aged 20, son of the owner, and Alexander Graham, aged 34'. They failed to return to Port Ellen, and later 'the mast and sail of the boat were found washed up on the beach... The bodies had not been recovered' (Edinburgh Evening News, 31 January 1893).

Islay First World War Dead in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour

Marquis De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour was a privately published 'biographical record of all members of his majesty's naval and military forces' who died in the First World War. The first of five volumes was published in 1916. It seems that friends and family members paid for the entries, and it is not a comprehensive list of the war dead. But the volumes do include biographies of 26,768 Army, Navy and Air Force men, with many photographs. Some of the volumes are freely available to look at/download on archive.org (volume one here, volume three here) while the fulll text is also accessible to subscribers at genealogy sites such as ancestry and genesreunited.

I have searched all volumes for Islay connections and have come across four records:

David Dick, born at Foreland, Islay in 1888,  went to Calgary in Canada in 1907 and worked as a farmer. He enlisted in November 1914 and went to the Western Front with the 2nd Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and died at No. 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in November 1917 'from wounds received in action at Passchendale'.

Henry McCuaig Lamont was born in Port Ellen in 1888 and his wife Maggie McCuaig was also from Islay, though he seems to have gone to school in Glasgow. He had been in the army before the war, and rejoined the Royal Scots regiment in 1914. He was killed in action at the Battle of Le Cateau in August 1914.

Neil McKerrell was born in Bowmore in 1897 and grew up in Glasgow. He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in 1915 and served as a driver with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine. He died of pneumonia in 1918, and is buried in the military cemetery in Beirut.

Murdoch Archibald Mactaggart was born in Islay in 1895, the son of Colonel Murdoch Mactaggart of Royal Bank, Bowmore and Flora MacGilchrist (whose father the Rev. John MacGilchrist had been Minister of the Kilarrow Parish Church in Bowmore - the round church). He worked at a solicitors firm in Bowmore before joining the army in 1913. A captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, he was killed in action at Roeux near Arras in May 1917.

The First World War Dead from Islay

Port Ellen War Memorial

Today is the 100th anniversary of the entry of Britain into what was to become known as the First World War - or as they called it immediately afterwards, the Great War (not imagining then that another terrible conflict could happen again so quickly). Here's a list of 203 First World War casualties believed to have been born in Islay, or living in Islay prior to enlisting.  This does not include those from elsewhere who died in the seas around Islay during the war, which I will come back too in a later post.

Yesterday I published a list of the names mentioned on Islay war memorials. I have now cross-referenced this with information on Islay casualties from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, which 'provides information about men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars and the places where they are buried or commemorated'. This includes a lot more detail than the Islay war memorials, including date of death, age, details of relatives and burial place. I have not found CWGC records for all those listed on the Islay war memorials, and conversely I have found Ileachs at CWGC who do not seem to be mentioned on the Islay memorials.

Where I have combined information from the two sources into one entry on list, I have only done so where all details match. There may be a few people listed twice on the list below therefore, but we shouldn't assume the same name means its one person - a lot of people did have the same name as somebody else on Islay.

In the table below I have included name, what Islay memorial they are listed on (if any), where on Islay they were from (as stated on memorial or on CWGC), regiment, date of death, age, and names of relatives (usually parents but sometimes wife).

I couldn't fit all the information I have on this page. If you want to see the full spreadsheet click here. The expanded spreadsheet also includes rank, battalion as well as regiment, service number, and place of burial or remembrance (which indicates where they died).

Please do let me know if you notice any errors or ommissions, or you have any further information. Either leave a comment or email me at neilgordonorr at gmail.com (replace 'at' with @).

Name	Islay Memorial	Where on Islay  were they from?	Regiment	Date of death	Age	Relatives (from CWGC)
David Anderson	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH)	28/04/1916	36	Son of James & Minnie McKay Anderson
James Anderson	Bowmore	Carnain	A&SH	12/04/1918	22	Son of Catherine Anderson
John Anderson	Bowmore	Carnain	A&SH	13/11/1916	22	Son of Angus and Catherine Anderson
James Baker	Bruichladdich	Kilchiaran	Cameron Highlanders	17/05/1915	21	Son of John Baker & late Mary Baker, Daell, Bridgend
Samuel Baker	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
Andrew Barr	Bowmore	Gartbreck	Royal Garrison Artillery	14/12/1918	29	Son of Robert Barr & Jane Leggat, Barr
D. Bell	Port Ellen		Canadian Highlanders
Duncan Bell	Bowmore	Bowmore	Canadian Highlanders			Same as above?
R. Black	Port Ellen		A&SH
Donald Brown		Ballygrant	A&SH	21/06/1915	21	Son of Donald & Agnes Brown
James Brown		Gart Loise	Royal Naval Reserve	08/12/1918	62	Son of Archibald & Catherine McCall Brown, husband of Sarah Brown
Peter Brown	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH	21/04/1915	24	Son of Mrs Jessie MacKay, 122 Frederick Crescent, Port Ellen
John Buie		Caolila	A&SH	09/04/1917	22	Son of Angus Buie, Caolila
J. Burns	Port Ellen		Royal Naval Reserve
Archibald Cameron	Bruichladdich	Gruineart
Archie Cameron	Port Wemyss
John Cameron	Bowmore	Newhouses	Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)	28/09/1918	19	Nephew of J. McArthur, Dock House, Bridgend
N. Cameron	Port Ellen		Scots Guards
Neil Cameron		Bridgend	Royal Scots Fusiliers	23/04/1917	38	Son of Angus & Catherine Cameron, Newton Cottages, Bridgend
Neil M. Cameron	Bowmore	Newton	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Alexander Campbell	Bruichladdich	Tayvullin
Arch. J. Campbell	Bowmore	Bowmore	Seaforth Highlanders
D. Campbell	Port Ellen		Royal Marines
J. Campbell	Port Ellen		A&SH
John Campbell		Keills	Royal Naval Reserve	04/04/1919	28	Son of Mrs M Campbell, Keills, Port Askaig
John Campbell		Glenegedale	Highland Light Infantry	15/07/1917	24	Son of Mrs Margaret Fraser of Glenegidale Lotts, Port Ellen
Malcolm Campbell		Port Askaig	Royal Engineers	27/05/1918	25	Son of late Robert & Mary Campbell, Port Askaih, husband of Elizabeth Campbell, 152 Cragside Place, Blyth, Northumberland
William Campbell	Bowmore	Newhouses	A&SH	10/04/1917	21	Son of Malcolm & Annie Campbell, Newhouses, Bridgend
William Campbell	Bowmore	Balitarsin	Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)	04/07/1917	23	Son of William & Annie Campbell
John Cullen	Bowmore	Bridgend	A&SH	15/09/1916	21	Son of Robert Cullen, Bridgend
A Currie	Port Ellen		Gordon Highlanders
Alexander Currie	Port Wemyss	Portnahaven	Royal Naval Reserve	05/03/1917	35	Husband of Mary Ferguson Currie, 4 Church St, Portnahaven
Robert D. Currie	Bowmore	Bowmore	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
David Dick	Bruichladdich	Foreland
George Craig Dickie	Bruichladdich	Greineal
J. Donald	Port Ellen		Gordon Highlanders
James Duncan			Royal Garrison Artillery	23/09/1918	37	Son of Alexander & Anne Jamieson Duncan, born Islay
James Dunlop	Bowmore	Raw	A&SH
A Ferguson			East African Military Labour Corps	22/09/1918	41	Son of John Ferguson, born Islay
Alexander Ferguson	Bruichladdich	Machrie	Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)	14/10/1915	23	Son of Mrs M Ferguson, Machrie
Donald Ferguson	Port Wemyss
John Ferguson	Port Ellen	Cornabus	A&SH	16/05/1917	27	Son of Mrs Janet Ferguson, Cornabus
J Finnie		Mulrush (Mulreesh)	Machine Gun Corps	25/04/1917	32	Son of William & Ann Finnie, Mulrush, Ballygrant
A. Bruce Forbes	Bowmore	Eallabus	A&SH	29/10/1918	30	Son of James Forbes M.V.O. & Barbara Donald Forbes (nee Jackson)
N. Fraser	Port Ellen	Lagavulin	A&SH	19/09/1918		Son of E. MacDougall (formerly Fraser, Lagavulin)
Donald Gilchrist			Mercantile Marine	14/12/1917	37	Born Islay
John Gilchrist	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH	09/04/1917		Son of T. Gilchrist, 17 Shore St, Bowmore
O. Gilchrist	Port Ellen		Merchant Service
Donald Gillies	Port Wemyss
Neil Graham	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH (or CWGC has Gordon Highlanders)	12/08/1918	32	Son of Alexander & Catherine Graham; husband of Christina Graham, Frederick Crescent, Port Ellen
John Grant	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH	06/08/1916	27	Husband of Margaret MacCuig Grant, South Side, Port Ellen, son of Margaret MacLachlan Grant, Gartachossan Cottage, Bridgend
John Grant	Bowmore	Gartachossan	A&SH
Donald Gray	Bowmore	Knockanbiorch	Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)	12/10/1917	25	Son of Duncan & Rose Ann Gray, Gartachossan, Bridgend
James Gray	Bowmore	Gartmain (war memorial)/Knockanbiorch (CWGC)	Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)	03/02/1917	19	Youngest son of Duncan & Rose Ann Gray of Knock-an-bearach, Bridgend. One of six brothers who servied, two of whom fell
Neil Hamilton	Bowmore	Bowmore	Royal Field Artillery
Douglas Harvey	Bruichladdich	Bruichladdich
A. Heads	Port Ellen		A&SH
John Holmes	Port Wemyss	Portnahaven	Royal Naval Reserve	10/09/1918	18	Son of Catherine MacAulay McArthur (formerly Homes) of 16 Shore St, Portnahaven and the late John Holmes
John Hunter	Port Ellen		A&SH	23/08/1918	31	Son of Robert & Mary Campbell Hunter, Islay
J. Hutchinson	Port Ellen		Highland Light Infantry
Angus Johnston	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Royal Naval Reserve	25/04/1918	31	Son of Donald & Mary Johnston, South Side, Port Ellen
Dugald Johnston	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH
Duncan Johnston	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Cameron Highlanders	18/02/1915	25	Son of Donald & Mary Ramsay Johnston, South Side, Port Ellen
Duncan McKay Johnston			Royal Scots Fusiliers	21/08/1918	31	Son of late Duncan Johnston & Margaret McAllister Johnston, 29 Baird Street, Govan. Born Bowmore
R. Johnston	Port Ellen		Gordon Highlanders	10/01/1915	33	Husband of Martha F. Johnston, 83 Taylor St, Glasgow. Born in Islay
Alexander Justice	Bruichladdich	Bruichladdich
N. Kennedy		Keills	Machine Gun Corps	07/03/1019	23	Son of Malcolm & Catherine Kennedy, Keills, Port Askaig
N. Kennedy	Port Ellen		A&SH
Donald Lamont	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte	Royal Naval Reserve	18/02/1917	18	Son of Anne Lamont, Port Charlotte
N. Leitch	Port Ellen	Duich Lotts	Highland Light Infantry	20/05/1916		Nephew of  Mrs A. McGibbon, Diuch Lotts, Port Ellen
Francis Livingston			Royal Naval Reserve	01/06/1916	23	Son of Jessie Reid Livingston, of 81, Prince Edward St., Crosshill, Glasgow, and the late James Livingston. Born at Bowmore
Donald Logan	Bowmore	Bowmore	Seaforth Highlanders	28/07/1918	32	Son of Duncan and Ann Logan of, Bowmore, Islay; husband of Ann McDuffie Logan, of Bowmore, Isla
H. MacAllister	Port Ellen		Royal Naval Reserve
Hector MacAllister	Port Wemyss
Donald MacArthur	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Royal Naval Reserve	28/12/1917	26	Son of Peter and Ann Sinclair McArthur, of Frederick Crescent, Port Ellen, Islay
Duncan MacArthur	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Highland Light Infantry	01/07/1916	36	Son of Annie McArthur, of 75, Frederick Crescent, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, and the late Peter McArthur
G. MacArthur			Cameron Highlanders	25/11/1914	24	Son of Gilbert McArthur; husband of Maggie McNair McArthur, of 51, Castle St., Strathaven, Lanarkshire. Born at Bowmore
H. MacArthur	Port Ellen		A&SH
John MacArthur	Bowmore	Bowmore	Scottish Rifles
Neil MacArthur	Port Wemyss
Peter MacArthur	Port Wemyss
R. MacArthur	Port Ellen		King's Own Scottish Borderers
J. MacCallum	Port Ellen		A&SH
A. MacCalman	Port Ellen		Royal Garrison Artillery
N MacDonald	Port Ellen		Highland Light Infantry
A. MacDougall	Port Ellen		Royal Field Artillery
Alexander MacDougall		Caolila	Cameron Highlanders	28/09/1915	23	Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Macdougall, of Colila, Islay, Argyll.
D. MacDougall	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH	09/04/1917		Son of D. McDougall, of 89, Lagaverton Rd., Port Ellen,
D. MacDougall	Port Ellen		Gordon Highlanders
Donald MacDougall	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Seaforth Highlanders	16/06/1918	19	Son of Donald and Margaret MacDougall, of Distillery Cottages, Port Ellen,
Duncan MacDougall	Bowmore	Bowmore.	Scottish Rifles
Hugh MacDougall	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Gordon Highlanders	16/05/1917	35	Son of Duncan and Ann McDougall, of Port Ellen
John MacDougall	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH	12/04/1917	28	Son of Allan and Mary MacDougall, of 13, Charlotte St., Port Ellen, Islay.
John MacDougall	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)	22/10/1917	27	Son of Dugald McDougall, of 12, Charlotte St., Port Elle
Malcom MacDougall	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH	28/03/1918	19	Son of Dugald and Flora McDougall, of 5, Gloucester St., Tradeston, Glasgow. Native of Port Ellen
Charles MacEachern	Port Ellen	Lagavulin	A&SH	17/04/1918	21	Son of Colin and Margaret McEachern, of Lagavulin
A. MacFarlane	Port Ellen		Royal Naval Reserve
D. MacFarlane	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Royal Naval Reserve	20/01/1919	26	on of Donald and Catherine MacFarlane, of 72, Frederick Crescent, Port Ellen
J. MacGibbon	Port Ellen		Royal Naval Reserve
John MacGibbon	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Royal Naval Reserve	24/07/1917	41	Son of Mr. and Mrs. MacGibbon. Born at Port Ellen,
Gilbert MacIndeor	Bowmore	Lyrabus	Machine Gun Corps	20/07/1917	20	Son of Gilbert and Jane McIndeor, of Blackrock, Bridgend, Islay.
J. MacIntyre	Port Ellen		A&SH
J. MacIntyre	Port Ellen		Royal Field Artillery
Donald MacKay	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Machine Gun Corps	17/07/1917	25	Son of Malcolm and Janet McKay, of 106, Frederick Crescent, Port Ellen
John MacKay	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH
Walter MacKay	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH	12/04/1918	27	Son of Neil and Jessie Mackay, of The Seaview Hotel, Bowmore, Islay
Alexr MacKellar	Port Wemyss
D. MacKerrell	Port Ellen		A&SH
Angus MacKinnon	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH	14/10/1916	21	Son of the Rev. James Mackinnon, M.A. and Margaret Mackinnon, of the Manse of Kildalton, Port Ellen
John MacKinnon		Gruinart	Highland Light Infantry	22/03/1918	28	Son of Neil and Mary MacKinnon, of Bunanuilt, Gruinart, Bridgend
A. MacLachlan	Port Ellen		A&SH
Duncan MacLean	Port Wemyss
Neil MacLean	Port Wemyss	Portnahaven	Mercantile Marine	06/09/1917	39	Son of the late John and Barbara McLean; husband of Annie McLean (nee Bell), of 15, King St., South Side, Portnahaven, Islay, Argyllshire. Born at Portnahaven.
J. MacLellan	Port Ellen		A&SH
A. MacMillan	Port Ellen		Merchant Service
D. MacMillan	Port Ellen		Canadian Infantry
D. MacMillan	Port Ellen		Royal Naval Reserve
J. MacMillan	Port Ellen		Royal Engineers
J. MacNab	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	A&SH	12/05/1919	48	Son of Alice McNab, of Islay Hotel, Port Ellen, Islay, and the late John McNab
John MacNiven	Port Wemyss	Port Wemyss	Royal Naval Reserve	05/11/1916	23	Son of Catherine Robertson Macniven, of Portwemyss, Islay, Argyllshire, and the late Archie Macniven
N. MacPhail	Port Ellen		Gordon Highlanders	30/12/1919	30	Son of Malcolm and Ann McPhail, of Isla
R. MacPhail	Port Ellen		A&SH
James MacRae		Bruichladdich	Gordon Highlanders	15/11/1916	34	Son of Duncan Macrae, of Rockside School, Bruichladdich, Bridgend, Isle of Islay.
D. MacTaggart	Port Ellen		A&SH
H. MacTaggart	Port Ellen		Gordon Highlanders
John MacTaggart	Port Wemyss
Murdoch Archibald MacTaggart	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH	16/05/1917	22	Son of Col. M. Mactaggart, of Bowmore, Islay, Argyllshire, and the late Flora MacGilchrist Mactaggart.
Gilbert McArthur	Bruichladdich	Fornaseig
John McArthur	Bruichladdich	Fornaseig
N. McArthur		Port Charlotte	A&SH	27/07/1916	21	Son of John and Annie McArthur, of Octofad, Port Charlotte
Alexander McCalman	Bruichladdich	Gruineart
C. McCalman	Port Ellen		Cameron Highlanders
Gilbert McCalman	Bruichladdich	Gruineart
Gilbert McCormick	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
Ronald McCormick	Bruichladdich	Conisby	Royal Field Artillery	23/11/1917	24	Son of Mrs. J. McCormick, of Coinsby
D McDougall		Bowmore	Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)	09/05/1918	25	Son of John McDougall, of Flora St., Bowmore
Hugh McDougall		Keills	Royal Naval Reserve	19/02/1917	45	Son of Hugh and Euphemia McDougall, of Heather House, Portaskaig, Islay; husband of Isabella McDougall, of Keills, Portaskaig, Islay.
John McDougall		Bowmore	A&SH	21/07/1916	25	Son of E. McDougall, of Shore St., Bowmore, Islay, and the late Hugh McDougal
Archibald McFadyen	Bruichladdich	Gruineart
Donald McFadyen	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
James McFadyen	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
John McGibbon		Kildalton	Royal Naval Reserve	31/01/1916	16
Martin McGilvray	Port Ellen	Bowmore	Royal Engineers	10/11/1917	32	Son of Mary Sinclair MacGilvray, and the late Charles MacGilvray; husband of Minnie MacGilvray, of Giddana, Bowmore, Islay. In the Colonial Service, Nigeria.
Peter McIndeor	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte	Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)	19/07/1918	24	Son of John and Ann McIndeor, of Port Charlotte,
A. McInnes	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Royal Naval Reserve	13/05/1916	32	Son of Alexander and Mary Bell McInnes, of Kildalton, Port Ellen; husband of Mary McInnes, of 1, Lagavulin Rd., Port Ellen
Alexander McIntyre	Bruichladdich	Tayvullin
Colin McIntyre		Mulrush (Mulreesh)	A&SH	26/08/1917	30	Son of Mary Kennedy, of Mulrush, Ballygrant,
M. McIntyre	Port Ellen		Cameron Highlanders
Charles McKay	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
Donald McKeachan			A&SH	01/09/1916	21	Son of Jane Campbell McKeachan, of Ballygrant, Portaskaig, Isle of Islay, and the late John McKeachan
A McKenchine		Bridgend	Machine Gun Corps	19/10/1918	29	Native of Bridgend. Son of Angus McKechnie; husband of Annie Ferguson McKechnie, of Red Houses, Bridgend,
J. McKerrell	Port Ellen		Australian Imperial Forces
John McKinnon	Bowmore	Bunanuilt	Highland Light Infantry
Archie McLean	Bruichladdich	Bruichladdich
J McLean		Keills	A&SH	21/04/1918	38	Son of John and Christina McLean, of Keills, Port Askaig
Malcolm McLean	Bruichladdich	Carnduncan
Alasdair McLellan	Bruichladdich	Bruichladdich
Angus McLellan	Bowmore	Blue House	A&SH
Archibald McLellan	Port Ellen	Cragabus	Seaforth Highlanders	22/09/1917	37	Son of Robert and Ann McLellan, of Upper Cragabus, Port Ellen
John McLellan	Bruichladdich	Foreland	Royal Scots Fusiliers	12/04/1918	26	Son of Peter and Margaret McLellan, of Woodside, Foreland, Bruichladdich, Islay
John McLellan	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
R. McLellan		Port Ellen	A&SH	15/07/1918	20	Son of John and Isabella McLellan, of 14, Clark St., Moorpark, Renfrew. Native of Port Ellen, Islay, Argyllshire.
R. McLugash		Tighvullin	A&SH	27/03/1917	22	Son of Neil McLugash and Mary Campbell (his wife) of Tighvullin, Kilchoman, Islay
Alexander McMillan	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte	King's Own Scottish Borderers	25/01/1917	27	Son of Alexander and Annie McMillan, of Distillery House, Port Charlotte
Alexander McMillan			Mercantile Marine	24/02/1918	34	Son of Annie McMillan (nee Weir), of 9, Clyde St., Anderston, Glasgow, and the late Donald McMillan. Born at Islay
D McMillan			A&SH	26/07/1916	20	Son of Alexander and Annie Muir McMillan, of Distillery House, Port Charlotte, Islay, Argyllshire. Native of Campbeltown
Duncan McMillan	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Machine Gun Corps	30/10/1916	20	Son of Neil McMillan, of Frederick Crescent. Port Ellen, Islay.
Duncan McMillan	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
James McMillan			Royal Engineers	19/03/1918	32	Son of James and Catherine McMillan, of Kildalton, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay; husband of Jane McIntyre McMillan, of 19, Hope St., Glasgow
John McMillan	Bruichladdich	Octamore
William McMillan	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH	12/06/1916	23	Son of John and Betsy McGillvary McMillan, of Flora St., Bowmore
P. McNeill	Port Ellen	Duich Lotts	Royal Engineers	27/06/1916	32	Son of Hector and Marion McNeill, of Duich Lotts, Port Ellen, Islay
Arch. McNiven	Bowmore	Knockanbiorch	A&SH
Peter McNiven	Bruichladdich	Conisby	Highland Light Infantry	12/07/1915	25	Son of James and Christina McNiven, of Conisby, Bruichladdich
Alex. McPhail	Bowmore	Gartnatra	Australian Army
John McPhail	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte	King's Own Scottish Borderers	26/04/1917	33	Son of Duncan and Janet Watt McPhail, of Port Charlotte,
Robert McPhail	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
Alexander McPhee	Bruichladdich	Kilchoman	A&SH	31/03/1916	22	Third son of Duncan and Margaret McPhee, of Kilchoman
John McPhee		Freeport	Royal Naval Reserve	24/03/1916	28	Son of Alexander and Mary McPhee, of Freeport, Port Askaig,
Angus McTaggart	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
D. McTaggart			A&SH	19/06/1918	36	Son of Donald McTaggart, of Islay
Malcolm McTaggart	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
James McVorran	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH	22/08/1918	22	Son of Mrs. Christina McVorran, of Flora St., Bowmore
John Morrison	Port Ellen	Lotts	Seaforth Highlanders	16/10/1916	24	Son of Mary and the late John Morrison, of Lotts, Kildalton
Peter Morrison	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
R. Paul	Port Ellen		Royal Naval Reserve
D. Quintin	Port Ellen		A&SH
G. Quintin	Port Ellen		A&SH
Alex. Shaw	Bowmore	Islay House Square	Royal Scots Fusiliers
Angus Shaw		Bridgend	Scottish Horse	17/12/1915	36	Son of Mrs. Ann Morrison, of Dock House, Bridgend
Angus Shaw	Bowmore	Carnain	A&SH
D. Shaw		Keills	Seaforth Highlanders	31/07/1917	30	Son of Malcolm and Flora Shaw, of Keills, Isle of Islay
Neil Shaw	Bowmore	Monachorra	Highland Light Infantry
Donald Sinclair	Port Ellen	Port Ellen	Highland Light Infantry	29/11/1917	20	Son of Neil and Margaret Sinclair, of 107, Frederick Crescent, Port Ellen,
A. Smith	Port Ellen		A&SH	19/03/1916	34	Son of John and Annie Smith, of Kildalton
A. Torrie	Port Ellen		A&SH
John Turner	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte	A&SH	30/12/1917	23	Son of Alexander and Mrs. Annie Turner, of Port Charlotte, Islay; husband of Annie Turner, of Port Charlotte.
Richard Percy Waller			Royal Air Force	22/05/1918	20	Son of Alfred Percy and Emily Elizabeth Waller, of Croft House, Blairlogie, Stirling. Born at Islay
Alexander Watt	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte
George Weir	Bowmore	Bowmore	A&SH
J. White	Port Ellen	Machrie	A&SH	25/03/1919		Son of Mrs. Isabella A. White. Machrie
Dugald Whyte	Port Ellen	Kilnaughton	A&SH	16/12/1915	21	Son of Donald and Betsy Whyte, of Kilnayhton, Port Ellen, Islay. His brother Walter Whyte also fell.
Walter Whyte	Port Ellen	Kilnaughton	A&SH	18/08/1916	20	Son of Donald and Betsy Whyte, of Kilnaughton, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, brother of Walter (above)