The forthcoming 100th anniversary of the departure of the SS Marloch from Loch Boisdale has inspired the development of an unique memorial to mark the mass emigration of islanders who left the island seeking a better life.
The Marloch memorial is being planned for South Uist where the journey to the New World began for so many islanders.
While the April 1923 sailing will be the focus of this memorial the organising group hope it will be the start of a series of projects and a journey to help islanders and emigrants embrace their history and allow generations of suppressed hurt, loss, absence and grief to be recognised.
Organisers said: “Our islands suffered greatly during the clearances and the economic circumstances created by the landlords at the time also led to people choosing to look across the Atlantic to improve their lives so it is fitting that Stòras Uibhist, the community owned landlord, is involved in taking this project forward.”
Stòras Uibhist director Donnie Steele said: “We see this as the first stage of a wider project working towards making Lochboisdale a destination; a place for people to remember the clearances and the people that chose or were forced to leave.”
Mr Steele added: “We want people to come here to reconnect with the families of those who once called this place home.
“The potential of the memorial to attract local, national and international visitors as part of a strategic approach to regenerate our islands is clear and the irony that marking the loss of 300 people, virtually a generation of islanders, could benefit the economy is not lost on the group.’
The plans are part of a wider Lochboisdale regeneration plan currently being undertaken by Stòras Uibhist in partnership with the comhairle and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Paul Steele, leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “The cultural and natural assets of our islands are second to none and vital to creating a thriving economy.
“Nothing is more important to that than our people, so this project by the descendants of those who stayed, encouraging the descendants of the people who left to come back to visit or even consider returning to stay, has a nice duality to it, reflecting the movement of so many people 100 years ago.
“The idea for this project came from work on an artwork trail I was doing with our young people through the South Uist Youth Development Group and coalesced with posts on social media about the Marloch’s upcoming anniversary and the desire to commemorate the people who have left our islands.”
Initial proposals were developed and following discussions with Donald MacDonald, a modern day South Uist emigrant living in New Zealand, the monument began to take shape.
Mr MacDonald said: “This memorial is not only for those who left but for those who stayed and kept the home fires burning.
“It is a celebration of the home as well as a reference to all those who leave Uist. There almost has to be a space where there is an understanding that yes it was ok to leave.
“The monument represents the physical and emotional journey we’ve been on ever since, capturing the connections between the travellers and the crofter.”
The unveiling of the monument will be one of a series of events and activities being organised by different groups throughout Uist and Barra to mark the anniversary of the SS Marloch.
Plans for memorial to mark mass wave of Hebridean emigration to Canada
20 November 2022
SS Marloch