purserd99
Aignish Monument Lewis 4 Sept 2016
The Aignish riot of Jan 1888 was one of the most potentially disastrous confrontations of the period. The raiders gathered at Aignish farm on the Eye peninsula, face to face with police backed by Marines with fixed bayonets.
With traditional croftland being taken from crofters by landlords and given over to large farms, men found themselves under pressure to house and feed their families as they had done for generations. On Christmas Day 1887, a meeting of landless crofters was held in the Eye Churchyard, Point and it was decided that a deputation should speak to the owner of nearby Aignish farm to inform him that if he did not vacate the farm with his entire stock, within a fortnight, they would drive every beast off the land and reclaim it as their own.
The raiders came at dawn and immediately began driving the stock in the direction of Stornoway. On seeing this, Sheriff Fraser, a Gaelic speaker, went out to meet them. His earnest appeal to abandon their project fell on deaf ears, as they continued to drive the beasts away. Sheriff Fraser called for the marines, but the raiders paid little attention.
About noon, a party of the raiders clashed with the marines, and eleven of them were taken into custody. When the incensed crowd attempted to free their comrades, it took the bayonets of the marines to keep them at bay. Missiles of all kinds began to fly, and the situation appeared ugly.
It was Sheriff Fraser, ably assisted by Superintendent Gordon, who, by his coolness and tact prevented a dangerous confrontation from having tragic consequences. Many of the raiders were militia men or Royal Naval Reservists, trained in the use of firearms, and capable of taking drastic action against the marines, a branch of the services never popular with the Islanders. There is no doubt that if a single shot had been fired, there would have been much bloodshed.
The Sheriff finally read the Riot Act, and explained its provisions in Gaelic, but this seemed to make no impression on those assembled. The arrival of the Royal Scots, however, made them realise there was little more they could do. Tempers began to cool, and all that the raiders could do was to return home, while the prisoners, strongly guarded by marines and soldiers, were marched to gaol in Stornoway.
Early on the morning of l3th January, the prisoners, handcuffed in pairs, and carefully guarded by police and soldiers, were escorted aboard H.M.S. Jackal, and taken to Edinburgh. They were tried before Lord Craighill, and found guilty of the crime of mobbing and rioting. His Lordship sent them to prison for periods ranging from twelve to fifteen months.”
Aignish Monument Lewis 4 Sept 2016
The Aignish riot of Jan 1888 was one of the most potentially disastrous confrontations of the period. The raiders gathered at Aignish farm on the Eye peninsula, face to face with police backed by Marines with fixed bayonets.
With traditional croftland being taken from crofters by landlords and given over to large farms, men found themselves under pressure to house and feed their families as they had done for generations. On Christmas Day 1887, a meeting of landless crofters was held in the Eye Churchyard, Point and it was decided that a deputation should speak to the owner of nearby Aignish farm to inform him that if he did not vacate the farm with his entire stock, within a fortnight, they would drive every beast off the land and reclaim it as their own.
The raiders came at dawn and immediately began driving the stock in the direction of Stornoway. On seeing this, Sheriff Fraser, a Gaelic speaker, went out to meet them. His earnest appeal to abandon their project fell on deaf ears, as they continued to drive the beasts away. Sheriff Fraser called for the marines, but the raiders paid little attention.
About noon, a party of the raiders clashed with the marines, and eleven of them were taken into custody. When the incensed crowd attempted to free their comrades, it took the bayonets of the marines to keep them at bay. Missiles of all kinds began to fly, and the situation appeared ugly.
It was Sheriff Fraser, ably assisted by Superintendent Gordon, who, by his coolness and tact prevented a dangerous confrontation from having tragic consequences. Many of the raiders were militia men or Royal Naval Reservists, trained in the use of firearms, and capable of taking drastic action against the marines, a branch of the services never popular with the Islanders. There is no doubt that if a single shot had been fired, there would have been much bloodshed.
The Sheriff finally read the Riot Act, and explained its provisions in Gaelic, but this seemed to make no impression on those assembled. The arrival of the Royal Scots, however, made them realise there was little more they could do. Tempers began to cool, and all that the raiders could do was to return home, while the prisoners, strongly guarded by marines and soldiers, were marched to gaol in Stornoway.
Early on the morning of l3th January, the prisoners, handcuffed in pairs, and carefully guarded by police and soldiers, were escorted aboard H.M.S. Jackal, and taken to Edinburgh. They were tried before Lord Craighill, and found guilty of the crime of mobbing and rioting. His Lordship sent them to prison for periods ranging from twelve to fifteen months.”