Saoghal na gàidhlig

Neart nam Boireannach

anns a’ chiad cogadh

Catrìona Chamshron

4/30/2015

Clàr Innse

RO-RÀDH 3

BOIREANNAICH AIG AN TAIGH 3

DAOINE UASAL 3

DAOINE BOCHD 4

CAMPA PRÌOSAN 5

BANAIS 6

BUIDHEAN RED CROSS 6

LITREACHAN 7

BANALTRAM 7

SCOTTISH WOMEN’S HOSPITALS 8

BOIREANNAICH AIG AN FHACATARAIDH 8

BALL-COISE 9

BÀRDACHD 9

CO-DÙNADH 10

CLÀR-LEABHRAICHEAN 11

CLÀR-AMAIS 12

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Ro-RàdhTha ùine inntinneach ann an eachdraidh de boireannaich aig àm Chiad Chogaidh bho nan Eilean Siar agus àiteachan eile. Chaidh na boireannaich agus na teaghlaichean aca fhàgail tro na bliadhnachain 1913 – 1918 nuair a chaidh na daoine aca no na mic no bràithrean aca don bhlàr. Tha an t-àm seo cudromach ann an eachdraidh air sgath na thachair dhaibh agus na rinn iad. Dh’fhàg tòrr fhìreanaich dachaigh aig diofar ùine tro na bliadhnachain gu h-àraidh bho Leòdhas, ach dh’fhàg mòran nigheanan cuideachd mar a chì sinn. San aiste seo, tha mi airson sùil a chur air beatha nam boireannach aig an àm seo a’ gabhail a-steach - boireannaich aig taigh, boireannaich air falbh agus bu toil leam coimhead air sampall bàrdachd.

Boireannaich aig an taighDaoine Uasal

Dè mu dheidhinn nam boireannach a bha a’ fuireach aig an taigh? Uill, ann an dòigh, bha am beatha aca cho àbhaisteach na b’ urrainn, gu sònraichte am measg nam boireannach uasal. A rèir Isobel NicDhòmhnaill à Port Rìgh.

“The summer of 1914 was even more golden and joyful than the previous year… Mother writes, the children are all well in the best of health and spirits… no one except Father has fears about the future…”

(MacDonald, 1091)

“but then all too soon after that joyful day on Aug 2nd it comes… and so the war shattered that island summer…” (MacDonald, 1102)

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Cha robh sin ri ràdh gun robh am beatha furasta. Thòisich riaghailtean airson ìm, siùcar agus bainne a chaomhnadh. Ged a bha bainne às na crogan ann, cha toil a h-uile duine e.

1915 ‘ To complicate matters, our milk supply has been stopped for a month…”

(MacDonald, 1203)

Daoine bochd

Bha e na bu doirbhe airson nam boireannach air an croit leis an duine aca a’ falbh gu h-àraidh aig àm buannachd na mòine san fhoghar. Mar as trice, bhiodh an clann gan cuideachadh agus fireannaich eile mura biodh iad ag obair aig muir.

“The weather has been warm and dry and peat cutting is in full swing. This has had a considerable effect on the (school) attendance of the older children. There are few young men in the village and work has to be done by the women and children.” (Kyleakin Public School Log Book4)

Chleachd na boireannaich cliabh airson mòine no rudan eile mar iasg, buntàta agus clachan a thogail.

“The creel was not so much a gadget or article of furniture as a symbol and a way of life.”5

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Bha an cliabh na suidhe air a dronnag agus bha e na b’ fhasa a togail ann an dòigh sin. Gu trice, bhiodh fighe air a dhèanamh nuair bha i a’ coiseachd air ais chun taighe aice.

Campa PrìosanSan fhoghar, uaireigin, nam bhiodh na fir anns a’ champa prìosan, dh’fhaodadh iad a dhol dhachaigh ach chan fhaodadh iad a bhith anmoch air ais gu campa no nach faodadh duine eile a dhol dhachaigh airson cuideachadh leis an fhoghar.

“Although the weather of late has been unsuitable for harvest work, still more of the people have their barley gathered into the barnyards and by the end of this week many of them will have the oats also gathered in. But on account of scarcity of labour some families are behind with their work and it is to be hoped more men will yet be granted harvest leave.”6

5

“More than a hundred of these men were from the Isle of Lewis. They were interned in Groningen in Holland, in a camp dubbed HMS Timbertown. Eilidh Macleod’s great-grandfather was one of these Lewis internees ...her great-aunty Ina got permission for her own father to get leave to help with the harvest.”7

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BanaisThairis air Leòdhas agus eilean eile chaidh diofar tachartas ann mar bhainnsean nuair a thàinig na daoine òige dhachaigh air fòrladh. Bha an àm sin sona agus thog iad an spiorad air an àiteachan.

“Angus Campbell, R.N.R., 54 North Tolsta, married Mary MacIver, daughter of Mr. Norman MacIver, 32 North Tolsta, on April 27th. On the same day, Angus MacKay, R.N.D., .... North Tolsta, was married to Christina MacKenzie,… The first named bridegroom is a son of Mrs. Campbell, North Tolsta, whose seven sons were called up at the beginning of the war.” 8

Is e seo an dealbh bainnse aig an Dr. Iain MacDonald agus a bhean, Catherine. Rugadh e air 10/10/1893 agus b’ esan a bu shine den trì-deug san teaghlach. Bha athair, Tormod agus a mhàthair, Anna à 5 Crowlista, Ùig. Bha esan anns a’ chiad chogadh.

Buidhean Red CrossBha rudan eile a’ tachairt anns an Eilean Sgitheanach. Thòisich Bean Uasal MacDhòmhnaill pàrtaidh fuaigheil airson ‘Red Cross’ mar sgrìobh Màthair Isobel MacDhòmhnaill ann an 1914...

“We meet at 3, sew until 4:45 and then have tea..... Lady MacDonald insists the (garments) are to be entirely hand sewn!... by oil lamp...” (MacDonald, 1159)

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LitreachanAig an toisich dhen Chogadh agus gu tric tron na bliadhnachan faigheadh na boireannaich litreachan bho dhuine aca, ach nuair a chaidh am blàr Festubert a’ dol air agus an dèidh sin, bha e na bu doirbhe a chuireadh am post tron na loidhne agus chluinneadh iad naidheachd bho daoine eile.

“This week day after day no letter arrived for anyone. We knew that they were in a big fight.... but the poor mothers’ could get no word of their boys...”( (MacDonald, 12310) agus an dèidh Festubert “All Skye was mourning for lost fathers, husbands and sons, like Scotland after Culloden.” (MacDonald, 12511)

BanaltramChaidh boireannach eile a h-altramas agus rudan eile airson iomairt cogaidh a chuideachadh. Bha mòran buidheann ann mar ‘First Aid Nursing Yeomanry’, ‘Queen Alexandria Nurses’ agus ‘Scottish Womens’ Hospitals (SWH)’ anns a’ Shèirb. Tha a h-uile buidhnean gu math cudromach ann an eachdraidh, ach ’s ann am buidheann mu dheireadh, chaidh boireannaich bho Eilean Sgitheanach agus Leòdhas ann a rèir Alan Cumming bho Comar nan Allt. Rinn e tòrr rannsachadh mu an deidhinn. Bha triùir bho Eilean Sgitheanach - peathraichean Màiread agus Catrìona NicNeacail à Strolomus, Isobel Ross às an t-Àth Leathann agus Jane Cameron à Tolastadh à Thuath, Leòdhas.

“The Scottish women’s Hospitals were one of those (relief units ) .... Unique because, right from the beginning, they were set up with two very specific aims: firstly, to help the war effort by providing medical assistance and secondly... to promote the cause of women’s rights and by their involvement in the war, help win those rights.” 12

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Scottish Women’s Hospitals

Nuair a chaidh Elsie Inglis, prìomh ball le SWH, dhan oifis a' chogaidh, chaidh innse dhi a’ dol dachaigh agus suidhe shìos agus bi ciùin, ach, ’s e boireannach làidir a bh’ innte agus chumail i a’ dol leis. B’ ann an 1914 dh’fhosgail a’ chiad ospadal ann an Calais agus on uair sin, chaidh ospadal fhosgladh anns an Fhraing, a’ Ghreug, an Ruis agus àiteachan eile, gu h-àraidh anns a’ Shèirb far an deach na boireannaich bho na h-eileanan. Chumail Isobel Ross leabhar-latha den ùine aice anns a’ Shèirb. Sgrìobh i gach

là mu dheidhinn rudan a’ tachairt agus mu a beatha ann.

“....I feel quite at home here (Serbia), it is just like Skye but very parched and dry looking.” (Ross, 1113)

“.... the bombardment has begun. The guns started at 5 a.m. this morning .... The noise is quite deafening.... A Serbian officer told us that we are only 5 miles from the fighting...” (Ross, 2514)

“Christmas Eve - we had a service in the Mess tent... (some of us) went round the patients’ tents singing carols.” (Ross, 6015)

Boireannaich aig an fhacataraidhAon rud eile a rinn na boireannach bho na h-eileanan aig àm sin. Chaidh iad gu factaraidh àirneis-chogaidh ann an Sasainn. Bha tòrr bhoireannach bho Leòdhas ann, mar a sgrìobh Comunn Eachdraidh Tholastadh bho Thuath anns a’ phàipear naidheachd Stornoway Gazette.

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“Several young women from this district left for the South last week to start at munition work. This township has sent out a large number of munition workers. Mr. MacDonald, 61 North Tolsta, has four of his daughters employed in munition factories.”16

Ball-Coise

Ged a bha an t-àm seo dorcha agus doirbh airson tòrr dhaoine, bha spòrs ann cuideachd. Bha ball-coise bhoireannaich na bu motha aig tòiseach na 20mh linn agus b’ àbhaist dhaibh a’ cluich nuair a bha beàrn ann aig an fhactaraidh. Gu tric, chluich iad an aghaidh nam buidheann bho fhactaraidhean eile airson airgead a thogail do bhuidheann carthannais. B’ e Dick Kerr Ladies FC 1917-1965 a’ bhuidheann bhoireannach ball-coise a b’ ainmeile ann an eachdraidh.17

BàrdachdBha bàrdachd boireannaich cudromach aig an àm seo cuideachd agus ‘s ann an Tolastadh bho Thuath a dh’fhuireach Mairead NicLeòid. Bha an duine aice anns an nèibhidh tron chogadh agus ged a sgrìobh bàrdachd i mus do dh’fhalbh e, bha e ann an àm seo gun robh i sgrìobh pìos mun chogadh ‘Oran air a’Chogadh:1914-1918’

“In this song the War’s reality pervades the poet’s perspective and makes her question the preconceptions which she and her community held before the conflict:

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O nach cianail ri aithris ’s an latha ’s am bheil sinne beò,Cha chualas a-riamh air an talamh a leithid de chogadh cho mòr,’S e leithid de innealan sgriosail nach cualas idir an seòrs’Ach is coltach gur iomadach bliadhna bho bha’s ’gan dèanamh bho chleòc’.”

(Bartlett, Niall Somhairle Finlayson, 201418)

Cha robh gus an dèidh bhàsaich an duine aice anns a’ Chèitean 1916 gun robh i a’ faireachdainn am beud agus a’ fulangach a bha na coimhearsnachd a’ faireachdainn tron Chogadh agus sgrìobh i pìos sònraichte mu a dheidhinn. ‘S e ‘An ‘Leave’ Mu Dheireadh’ an t-ainm a th’ air.

“Nuair a bhois mi stigh leam fhìn bidh mi smaoineachadh a ghràidhCho òg ’s a chaidh ar dealachadh ann an toieachas ar làAn cupan chaidh a lìonadh dhuinn air iarraidh a bhith tràight’Is gun dh’ òl mi deoch bha searbh dheth ‘s cha chaill mi bhlas gu bràth.”

(North Tolsta Historical Society ,88-8919)

Co-dhùnadhThug a’ chiad Cogadh tòrr bheatha dhe dhaoine agus dh’ fhulangach mòran boireannach agus na teaghlaichean aca an dèidh a’ Chogadh. Tron ùine sin ge-tà, sheall na boireannaich don dhùthaich gun robh iad neart agus làidir gu leòr a rinn obair mar na fir. Chumail iad an dùthaich seo a’ ruith ann an iomadh dòighean, ach chaidh cha mhòr a h-uile boireannach air ais do thaigh aca fhèin an dèidh a’ chogadh. Ged a bha e iomadh bhliadhna mus do thàinig rudan air ais gun àbhaisteach, rinn cuid dhiubh obair fhathast agus cha robh e ùine fada gus an do rinn tòrr bhoireannaich obair a-mach an taigh.

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Clàr-leabhraicheanBartlett, Niall Somhairle Finlayson (2014) The First World War and the 20th century in the

history of Gaelic Scotland: a preliminary analysis. MPhil(R) thesisKyleakin Public School Log Book, May 21, 1915MacDonald, Isobel A family in SkyeRoss, Isobel Little Grey PartridgeNorth Tolsta Historical Society, Clachan Crìchehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0287mxq (accessed 04/06/15)www.dickkerrladies.com/ (accessed 04/14/15)www.scottishwomenshospitals.co.uk/ (accessed 03/16/15)http://www.tolsta.info/index.php/timeline/21-1910/38-district-news (accessed 04/06/15)http://www.tolsta.info/index.php/land-and-sea/37-crofting/228-the-creel (accessed 04/06/15)

Clàr-amais‘An ‘Leave’ Mu Dheireadh’, 10Alan Cumming, 7Àth Leathann, 7bainne, 4bainnse, 6ball-coise bhoireannach, 9bàrdachd, 9bhainnsean, 6buannachd, 4Catrìona NicNeacail, 7champa prìosan, 5cliabh, 4Comunn Eachdraidh Tholastadh, 8Dick Kerr Ladies, 9dronnag, 4Elsie Inglis, 8factaraidh, 8

Festubert, 7fòrladh, 6ìm, 4Isobel NicDhòmhnaill, 3Jane Cameron, 7Leòdhas, 3Màiread, 7Màiread NicLeòid, 9nèibhidh, 9NicDhòmhnaill, Isobel, 3ospadal, 8Port Rìgh, 3riaghailtean, 4Scottish Womens’ Hospitals, 7siùcar, 4Strolomus, 7Tolastadh, 7

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1Iomraidhean MacDonald, Isobel A family in Skye, td. 1092 Ibid td. 1103 Ibid td. 1204 Kyleakin Public School Log Book, May 21, 19155 http://www.tolsta.info/index.php/land-and-sea/37-crofting/228-the-creel, Morrison, One Man’s Lewis6 http://www.tolsta.info/index.php/timeline/21-1910/38-district-news 28/9/177 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0287mxq Isle of Lewis, Scotland: Timbertown8 http://www.tolsta.info/index.php/timeline/21-1910/38-district-news 4/5/179 MacDonald, Isobel A family in Skye, td. 11510 Ibid td. 12311 Ibid td. 12512 www.scottishwomenshospitals.co.uk/13 Ross, Isobel Little Grey Partridge td. 1114 Ibid td. 2515 Ibid td. 6016 http://www.tolsta.info/index.php/timeline/21-1910/38-district-news 31/8/1717 www.dickkerrladies.com/index.htm18 Bartlett, Niall Somhairle Finlayson (2014) The First World War and the 20th century in the history of Gaelic Scotland: a preliminary analysis. MPhil(R) thesis19 North Tolsta Historical Society, Clachan Crìche, td. 88-89