The most appalling disaster ever suffered by the Western Isles happened on New Year's morning 1919 when the Admiralty yacht Iolaire was wrecked on the Beasts of Holm.

The First World War was over and many islesmen had died during the four and a half years of slaughter.

An estimated 800 would never return to their island homes.

But those 260 Royal Navy ratings who arrived by train at Kyle for the two hour sail to Stornoway were looking forward to their first peaceful New Year and were happy to be boarding the Admiralty yacht on this last day of 1918.

They crew of the Iolaire, which numbered 23 were also eager to getr back to their home base at Stornoway.

For some who had served abroad, this would be their first reunion with their families since they joined up more than four and a half years before.

It was estimated to be a five or six hour sail for the Iolaire which left Kyle about 8pm .

The crossing of the Minch was uneventful but a rough sea was experienced just before the yacht got to Stornoway.She struck the rocks just outside the harbour and she toppled to starboard.

She slid off the rocks she had struck then went down stern first, with only the masts above the surface.

According to one survivor the Iolaire had heeled over just as the boats were being lowered.

Between 50 and 60 men jumped overboard and were dashed up on the rocks and drowned.

One man, Seaman J F Macleod from Ness- later honoured for his bravery -, succeeded in making the shore with a line and a rope was attached and pulled ashore from the wrecked vessel.

Two other seamen helped anchor the rope and so provided a life-saver for the 34 men who managed to use it to pull themselves ashore.

One of those who used the rope was leading seaman Angus Nicholson who recalled at the fatal accident enquiry into the tragedy how he had been in the charthouse when the Iolaire struck the rocks.

He told the court that when the yacht struck the rocks he thought it was the Arnish beacon rock but by the light of rockets saw it was the Beasts of Holm which had claimed many lives throughout the years.

He was aware that the course had been changed shortly before the Iolaire struck but had no idea why.

He did point out that the yacht had stayed afloat for 45 minutes and in that time seven or eight rockets had been fired. He saw both the lifeboats on the starboard side being launched but they were swamped and most of their occupants drowned.

There was rocket life-saving apparatus aboard which he believed could have been employed in the rescue. He said he was unable to locate any lifebelts. He had searched for them, not having been told where they might be found.

A leading seaman who said he had walked the deck most of the trip said he saw none of the officers of the yacht.

But little light was ever shed on the real cause of the disaster.

Witnesses told the enquiry all the lights on the coast were perfectly visible. The glare from the lights in Stornoway was quite visible Alll of the witnesses who had seen the officers were agreed that so far as they could judge all were perfectly sober.

All were, however, equally emphatic that no orders were given from the bridge nor any attempt by any officer to take command of the situation. The master, Commander Mason had been seen on the bridge firing the rockets.

In command of the vessel was an experienced navigator who was described as being both cautious and capable.

Aware that Hogmanay was a time for celebrations, the enquiry heard many assurances that drink was not to blame.

As one Crown representative stated: "Every witness in the case who saw either officers or crew testified that the had showed 'not the slightest sign of intoxication' and he was perfectly satisifed that no member of the crew was in the slightest degree affected by liquor.

There was some criticism of the navigating officer who on seeing another vessel making for Stornoway Harbour he should have slackened speed.

The Admiralty's representative said the enquiry had been as full and complete as possible. They had conducted their own enquiry and had not thought fit to find fault of any kind.

An over-running of the course for a few minutes, a mere error of judgment, was sufficient to account for what happened and to say on that error that the navigating officer was incompetent was unfair to his memory.

The sheriff who conducted the enquiry advised the jury to be cautious about assuming the role of censors because it would be their experience that a great many casualties at sea must forever remain enigmas.

And he reminded them that those who could speak as to the cause of the disaster had perished with the vessel.

But the jury did find that the officers in charge had not exercised sufficient prudence in appproaching the harbour and slowing down and that after the accident no orders were given by the officers with a view to saving life.

However they did record their satisfaction that no one on board was under the influence of intoxicating liquor .

Only 75 of those aboard survived that Hogmanay of horror, the Hogmanay that always casts a shadow over celebrations on those Western Isles.

Although the known dead is put at 205 there could have been a few more.

There can only be presumed reasons for the disaster for the people who really know took the answer with them to their watery graves.

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