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The Drowned and the Saved: When War Came to the Hebrides
WINNER OF THE SALTIRE SOCIETY HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018
Next morning at about 6 o’clock my mother wakened us to say there had been a shipwreck and bodies were being washed ashore. My father had gone with others to look for survivors ... I don’t think any survivors came in at Port Ellen but bodies did.
The loss of two British ships crammed with American soldiers bound for the trenches of the First World War brought the devastation of war directly to the shores of the Scottish island of Islay.
The sinking of the troopship Tuscania by a German U-Boat on 5 February 1918 was the first major loss of US troops in in the war. Eight months after the people of Islay had buried more than 200 Tuscania dead, the armed merchant cruiser Otranto collided with another troopship during a terrible storm. Despite a valiant rescue attempt by HMS Mounsay, the Otranto drifted towards Islay, hit a reef, throwing 600 men into the water. Just 19 survived; the rest were drowned or crushed by the wreckage.
Based on the harrowing personal recollection of survivors and rescuers, newspaper reports and original research, Les Wilson tells the story of these terrible events, painting a vivid picture which also pays tribute to the astonishing bravery of the islanders, who risked their lives pulling men from the sea, caring for survivors and burying the dead.
Next morning at about 6 o’clock my mother wakened us to say there had been a shipwreck and bodies were being washed ashore. My father had gone with others to look for survivors ... I don’t think any survivors came in at Port Ellen but bodies did.
The loss of two British ships crammed with American soldiers bound for the trenches of the First World War brought the devastation of war directly to the shores of the Scottish island of Islay.
The sinking of the troopship Tuscania by a German U-Boat on 5 February 1918 was the first major loss of US troops in in the war. Eight months after the people of Islay had buried more than 200 Tuscania dead, the armed merchant cruiser Otranto collided with another troopship during a terrible storm. Despite a valiant rescue attempt by HMS Mounsay, the Otranto drifted towards Islay, hit a reef, throwing 600 men into the water. Just 19 survived; the rest were drowned or crushed by the wreckage.
Based on the harrowing personal recollection of survivors and rescuers, newspaper reports and original research, Les Wilson tells the story of these terrible events, painting a vivid picture which also pays tribute to the astonishing bravery of the islanders, who risked their lives pulling men from the sea, caring for survivors and burying the dead.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 1, 2019
This book had a lot more meaning and impact because of my recent visit to Islay, where the majority of the story takes place. Islay is an island off the West coast of Scotland, one of a chain in the Hebrides. In 1918, during WW I, 2 troopships full of American soldiers, heading to the Western Front in France, sank off the coast of Islay. One was torpedoed by a German submarine and the other collided with a fellow ship in the convoy.
The drowned and the saved from these 2 ships washed up on the shores of Islay, to be nursed or buried by the inhabitants. This is the story, told in numerous first person accounts by the Scots and Americans involved. Much of what is told is grim, but much is inspiring. I was particularly impressed by the role of the American Red Cross in both of these events.
A monument to the drowned and the saved Americans was erected on the Island. My brief visit didn’t allow me to visit the monument, so now I’ve a reason to return.
The drowned and the saved from these 2 ships washed up on the shores of Islay, to be nursed or buried by the inhabitants. This is the story, told in numerous first person accounts by the Scots and Americans involved. Much of what is told is grim, but much is inspiring. I was particularly impressed by the role of the American Red Cross in both of these events.
A monument to the drowned and the saved Americans was erected on the Island. My brief visit didn’t allow me to visit the monument, so now I’ve a reason to return.
May 9, 2023
Review Disclaimer - I do not read a lot of non-fiction. So I don't have a lot to compare this to.
The Story - This was definitely a side of World War I that I have not read or heard a lot about. As if crossing the ocean wasn't treacherous enough, the boats also had to worry submarines, torpedoes and more. I was intrigued by the stories of the men that were on the Tuscania and the Otranto - I can't even imagine the fear and the loss they all experienced.
The Writing - I struggled with this book a bit. While I was engaged and interested in the stories of the two events, I felt that a lot of things were repetitive in the book. That made it a slow go for me in reading this book. But ultimately, I'm glad I did because we need to be reminded of these stories and hope we never find ourselves in another World War.
The Story - This was definitely a side of World War I that I have not read or heard a lot about. As if crossing the ocean wasn't treacherous enough, the boats also had to worry submarines, torpedoes and more. I was intrigued by the stories of the men that were on the Tuscania and the Otranto - I can't even imagine the fear and the loss they all experienced.
The Writing - I struggled with this book a bit. While I was engaged and interested in the stories of the two events, I felt that a lot of things were repetitive in the book. That made it a slow go for me in reading this book. But ultimately, I'm glad I did because we need to be reminded of these stories and hope we never find ourselves in another World War.
February 18, 2020
Well researched and thoughtful book about two troopships sunk off Islay during the last year of The Great War. I am ex-police from a rural area and what struck me was the fortitude of the local police sergeant who had to document the hundreds of bodies from the stricken ships. I cannot imagine anyone I served with going through that twice, we live in different times. Although a melancholy subject , the author has done fine work to make these incidents more widely known.
December 31, 2021
Enthralling chronicle of the sharp collision of the modern world at war and the simple, pragmatic people on the remote archipelago. Inured to unrelenting harshness, the quiet strength of the people of the Hebrides is written in respectful, clean prose and praises a quality of character that seems to be slipping to the past. A must-read for those seeking perspective in World War history, and a reminder of the youth lost in war.
October 14, 2018
A very interesting read about WWI and an incident I wasn’t aware of.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews