Memorial stone cairn to be erected to commemorate fishing disaster

Plans for a memorial cairn to be erected in memory of three fishermen who lost their lives in Loch Hamnaway over a century ago have been granted.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar granted planning permission for the memorial stone cairn with a granite engraved slab to be erected on the Isle of Lewis.

It is set to be installed on a site at Feannag Na Fiadh, lb Tolsta Chaolais, which was the croft of one of those who died in the accident.

Documents submitted with the original planning application by Carloway Community Council state that the fishing boat, ‘Boy’s Delight’ (SY 542), with a crew of ten, left Tolsta Chaolais on 9 January 1908 to fish in Loch Hamnaway.

On the evening of Saturday January 11 1908, four of its crew left the larger fishing boat in a small coble boat to check their nets, but tragically, a large wave swamped the small craft and three of the four fishermen on board were drowned.

They were Angus Morrison (Aonghas Thormoid Aonghas), 40, of 1b Tolsta Chaolais, Kenneth Macaulay (Coinneach lain Bhig), 27, of 7a Tolsta Chaolais and John Macleod (lain lain Neill), 34, of 19 Tolsta Chaolais.

Malcolm Macarthur (Calum Fada) of 8a Tolsta Chaolais survived the accident.

Reporting by Local Democracy Reporter Peter Urpeth