The sinking of The Iolaire (Eagle in Scots Gaelic), remains one of the worst British Maritime Disasters during peacetime.

On the evening of 31st December 1918 the ship set out from Kyle of Lochalsh travelling to Stornoway. She carried 283 passengers (there has since been reports of overcrowding which may indicate there were more passengers on board that weren't officially recorded) most of whom were islanders returning home from The First World War.

As the ship approached port in Stornoway she hit The Beasts of Holm and sank. She was a mere mile from port, and metres from shore. But at the time not many knew how to swim and the soldiers were wearing their heavy uniforms which dragged their wearers down.

There were only 82 survivors.

One man, John Macleod of Ness saved 40 lives by swimming to shore with a rope that men were able to hold to find their way to shore.

The memorial at Holm was erected in 2019 and feature the road used by John Macleod.

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Elevation 10 m

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Thursday 11 December

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Location: Sandwick, Eilean Siar, Scotland, United Kingdom

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