Fàilte! (Welcome!)

Fàilte! (Welcome!)
This blog is the result of my ongoing research into the people, places and events that have shaped the Western Isles of Scotland and, in particular, the 'Siamese-twins' of Harris and Lewis.
My interest stems from the fact that my Grandfather was a Stornowegian and, until about four years ago, that was the sum total of my knowledge, both of him and of the land of his birth.
I cannot guarantee the accuracy of everything that I have written (not least because parts are, perhaps, pioneering) but I have done my best to check for any errors.
My family mainly lived along the shore of the Sound of Harris, from An-t-Ob and Srannda to Roghadal, but one family 'moved' to Direcleit in the Baighs...

©Copyright 2011 Peter Kerr All rights reserved

Thursday 8 April 2010

Coast Guards of Stornoway

It appears that the Coast Guard presence in Stornoway appeared during the late1880s:

1871
Kenneth Mackenzie, 54, Coast Guard Superannuated Chief Boatman, 29 Kenneth St b. Stornoway

1881
Ralph Mackenzie, 56, Pensioner Coast Guard, 32 Kenneth St, b. Stornoway

1891
Willam Lott, 55, Divisional Officer of Coast Guard, Head, The Cottage, b. Kent, England
Joseph Carlisle, 58, Commander Coast Guard (Boatman), 18 Newton St, b. Girton, Ayr
Joseph Trout, 41, Coast Guard Officer, 2, Sea View Terrace, b. England
William H Rutland, 37, Coast Guardsman, 3 Sea View Terrace, b. England
Archibald Savage, 36, Ship Carpenter Coast Guard, 4 Sea View Terrace, b. England
James Smith, 34, Coast Guard (Comm.Boatman), 5 Sea View Terrace, b. Glasgow
William H Ellis, 32, Coast Guard Service, 6 Sea View Terrace, b. England
William Cotter, 31, Boatman Coast Guard, 7 Sea View Terrace, b. England
Patrick Moore, 32, Coast Guard Boatman, 48 Cromwell St, b. Ireland
Ralph Mackenzie, 66, Coastguard Pensioner, 41 Bayhead St, b. Stornoway

1901
Patrick Green, 37, Commissioner Boatman HMC, 4 Sea View Terrace, b. Swansea, S Wales
John Squires, 31, Coast Guard Boatman, 6 Sea View Terrace, b. England
William Stock, 40, Coast Guard Boatman, 8 Sea View Terrace, b. England
A J Pennington, 38, Carpenter Coast Guard, 10 Sea View Terrace, b. Davenport, England
John Gillanders, 44, Boatman Coast Guards, 12 Sea View Terrace, b. Applecross, Ross
William H Chick, 34, Boatman Coast Guards, 14 Sea View Terrace, b. England
Harry Callum, 30, Coat Guard, 16 Sea View Terrace, b. England
Ernest Davie, 30, Coast Guard Boatman, 22 Sea View Terrace, b. England
Arthur J Horsham, 30, Coast Guard Boatman, 24 Sea View Terrace, b. Ireland

It is clear that, with the exception of the two Mackenzie men who are living-out their retirements in their home town, none of the recorded Coast Guards were locals.

I have not listed the families, many of whom were present, but we can see that they predominantly lived in Sea View Terrace and that the vast majority were English. The earliest birth in Stornoway to one of the 1891 families was in 1888, the earliest that I can confirm the Coast Guards had arrived by.

A History of HM Coastguard can be read here: http://www.torbaycoastguard.co.uk/history.html

1 comment:

  1. I have RN long service medal to a boatman in the coast guard who was stationed in Stornoway from 1906 to 1909. Is it possible that you have information on this man ( Thomas Fortheringhame ) Regards Maz

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