When I Heard the Bell
The Loss of the Iolaire
Published on 18. April 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-83983-056-3 (ISBN)
Description
On 31 December 1918, His Majesty's Yacht Iolaire sailed from Kyle of Lochalsh for Stornoway, bearing home to the Hebrides nearly 300 naval veterans of the Great War.
She never made it. At two in the morning, the ship ran aground by the mouth of Stornoway harbour, and over 200 men drowned in what remains Britain's biggest peacetime disaster at sea since the loss of the Titanic - devastating the Isle of Lewis and scarring a generation.
Acclaimed journalist John MacLeod examines the events of that dreadful night and uncovers a story not only of official incompetence, error and neglect but also of individual heroism, and the resilience and faith of a remarkable people.
She never made it. At two in the morning, the ship ran aground by the mouth of Stornoway harbour, and over 200 men drowned in what remains Britain's biggest peacetime disaster at sea since the loss of the Titanic - devastating the Isle of Lewis and scarring a generation.
Acclaimed journalist John MacLeod examines the events of that dreadful night and uncovers a story not only of official incompetence, error and neglect but also of individual heroism, and the resilience and faith of a remarkable people.
Reviews / Votes
'Evocative and wholly wonderful' -- Roger Hutchinson * The Scotsman * 'Vividly written' * Press and Journal * 'Compelling ... fuelled by fury' * The Herald * 'Extremely impressive ... holds, grips, moves and - sometimes - shocks and appalls' * Shetland Life *More details
Edition
Reissue
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 147 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
417 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83983-056-3 (9781839830563)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
John MacLeod was born in Lochaber in 1966. After his 1988 graduation from Edinburgh University, he began his career at BBC Highland in Inverness and quickly established himself as a freelance writer. He has won several awards, including Scottish Journalist of the Year in 1991, and has contributed to many publications including the Scotsman and the Herald. He currently writes a Thursday column for the Scottish Daily Mail and is the author of a number of highly acclaimed books.