Beasts of Holm
The Inner Rock (without the green perch) is the rock which the "Iolaire" struck on New Year''s morning 1919.
1st January 1919
The loss of His Majesty’s Yacht Iolaire in the early hours of New Year’s Day 1919 is undoubtedly the most tragic single occurrence to befall the combined island of Lewis and Harris.
In all 174 Lewismen and seven Harrismen were drowned at the Beasts of Holm in sight of the Stornoway harbour lights with many bodies not recovered.
Thanks to the bravery of John F. Macleod from the Port of Ness most of the survivors got ashore from the line he secured to the rocks. Despite the proximity of the shore a gale had blown up as the yacht approached Stornoway and the location of the wreck was an exposed one leaving the sea a cauldron that experienced swimmers could not survive in. Men were dashed on rocks and the lifeboats, which were launched, were quickly swamped in the darkness of the night.
Although there was a radio aboard, the Telegraphist could not generate power to transmit due to water in the batteries and the rockets fired, although spotted by the Stornoway Royal Navy base named Iolaire, did not generate the speedy rescue that was necessary before all was lost. When the yacht’s lights failed those left aboard must have felt a shiver as they clung perilously to the railings, with the roar of the waves crashing on the rocks and the rending of the hull on the Beasts piercing their very souls.
Out of the crew of 27 there were seven survivors who joined the rescued islanders on the road to Anderson Young’s farm for shelter once it was realised nothing could be done after the vessel heeled over leaving nothing but her masts exposed.
As dawn rose, one sailor, Donald Morrison from 7 Knockaird, was rescued from a mast, shortly after another mast held onto by three others had been broken by the storm.
Beasts of Holm
The Inner Rock (without the green perch) is the rock which the "Iolaire" struck on New Year''s morning 1919.
1st January 1919
The loss of His Majesty’s Yacht Iolaire in the early hours of New Year’s Day 1919 is undoubtedly the most tragic single occurrence to befall the combined island of Lewis and Harris.
In all 174 Lewismen and seven Harrismen were drowned at the Beasts of Holm in sight of the Stornoway harbour lights with many bodies not recovered.
Thanks to the bravery of John F. Macleod from the Port of Ness most of the survivors got ashore from the line he secured to the rocks. Despite the proximity of the shore a gale had blown up as the yacht approached Stornoway and the location of the wreck was an exposed one leaving the sea a cauldron that experienced swimmers could not survive in. Men were dashed on rocks and the lifeboats, which were launched, were quickly swamped in the darkness of the night.
Although there was a radio aboard, the Telegraphist could not generate power to transmit due to water in the batteries and the rockets fired, although spotted by the Stornoway Royal Navy base named Iolaire, did not generate the speedy rescue that was necessary before all was lost. When the yacht’s lights failed those left aboard must have felt a shiver as they clung perilously to the railings, with the roar of the waves crashing on the rocks and the rending of the hull on the Beasts piercing their very souls.
Out of the crew of 27 there were seven survivors who joined the rescued islanders on the road to Anderson Young’s farm for shelter once it was realised nothing could be done after the vessel heeled over leaving nothing but her masts exposed.
As dawn rose, one sailor, Donald Morrison from 7 Knockaird, was rescued from a mast, shortly after another mast held onto by three others had been broken by the storm.