an episode in the Highland Clearance

[pdcorlis]

Thank you so much for the deeply touching photos and story. They are a sadly powerful way to remember the real history of Scotland.

[Scotcop]

Thanks for sharing, you are a very good writer..and the pics are lovely

[Mael Coluim]

Very poignant, Chris. You are indeed a master story teller and fantastic photographer. I am indeed a fortunate man to have you shown me the Argyll.

[ForresterModern]

Thanks Chris for a great story, well told, and with great pics AND a happy ending.

[ali8780]

a very interesting and sad read. Thank you Chris

[SFCRick]

very fine story and photos, thank you for posting

[English Bloke]

You write beautifully Chris. I enjoyed that, thanks.

[Lachlan09]

The Malcolms of Poltalloch have a long association with Knapdale, Kintyre and the Argylls.

As recently as 1967, the son of Malcolm of Poltalloch was murdered in a treacherous arab ambush in Aden, whilst fact-finding in advance of the Argylls posting there.

The news of it resounded up and down Kintyre and Knapdale. Willie Gillies, ex-8th Argylls (WW2) told it to me, by which time the story had grown.

[Lachlan09]

According to the local Kintyre version, Major Bryan Malcolm had just arrived at the local Aden airport as part of an advance party and had just stepped out of the plane. He was shaking hands with Arab dignitaries when one pulled a gun and shot the unarmed Major Malcolm dead. Arab treachery ! The treachery angle went deep with the Highland psyche.

However, that’s not how it happened. Major Malcolm was accompanying a patrol of Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in the second of two Land-Rovers going into Crater to rescue stricken troops of the KO Royal Border Regt and King’s Dragoon Guards, pinned down by rebel fire and taking hits. The rebels had the approach area covered too and opened fire on the Land Rovers when they were at the ambush spot. That day, 22 British soldiers were killed, including Major Malcolm.

[MacBean]

This is a touchy subject. My various antecedents came over to the US long before the clearances, and rather before there was a US. I think this is true of many if not most Scots here, so it isn't common that we really have a stake in this abuse. Some thoughts that have come to me as I pondered the story:

I was glad to hear that those being evicted fought back.

As for their faring better for having been cleared, the same has been said of enslaved Africans.

How many Scots left their homeland and why?

Who now owns the land? (Have the original problems been resolved?) (Should we come back?)