MY researches (which began several years ago) regarding " The Brave Sons of Skye," having now come to a close, it only remains for me to offer, once more, my warmest thanks to those ladies and gentlemen who have so cordially helped me in my work, and without whose enthusiastic assistance this book would never have seen daylight. Much of the military history of the Island of Skye has undoubtedly been lost for ever; but, while we deplore this loss, we have reason to be proud of the noble heritage of valorous deeds—some of which are still unique in the annals of war—that has come down to us from the " brave and the true " of our kith and kin. Let this fact be remembered for ever, to the credit of the people of Skye, that, in the many official records (and they lie not, neither do they screen the worthless) which were searched in the course of this inquiry, only three cases of alleged misconduct against Skyemen came to light, and that, after due investigation, all the three charges broke down, and the individuals concerned were " honourably acquitted."

The ordinary daily pay of private soldiers varies from one shilling to one shilling and ninepence, and of non-commissioned officers from one shilling and threepence to six shillings, according to rank and branch of the service. A private soldier receives without payment a daily ration of three-quarters of a pound of good meat and one pound of bread. Vegetables and groceries are provided for by a stoppage from his pay of threepence or threepence-halfpenny a day. On active service a fuller ration, including vegetables and groceries, is issued free. After deducting all stoppages, however, a well-conducted soldier has, at his own disposal, about five shillings a week. Gratuities varying from £2 to £12, according to length of service, are paid to men passing from the colours to the reserve. Soldiers serving in the reserve are paid fourpence or sixpence a day according to the class in which they are placed.

If a soldier stays in the army for twenty-one years, and serves for at least three years as a non-commissioned officer, he earns a pension for life varying from £22 to £50, according to his rank and service as a noncommissioned officer. If he becomes a warrant officer he can earn a pension of £80 a year.

A soldier may, if he qualifies himself for it, rise to be a commissioned officer. There are at the present time in the army over seven hundred officers who enlisted as private soldiers. With the view of affording Government employment to deserving soldiers, the Postmaster-General has decided that certain vacancies among provincial letter carriers, and the auxiliary postmen in London, are in future to be offered to discharged soldiers and Army Reserve men. Work is also provided for many old soldiers in the Royal Arsenal, the Royal Army Clothing Department, the Army Ordnance Department, the Customs, and other Government Departments, as well as in the Police forces, Railway Companies, Corps of Commissionaires, and otherwise through agencies established for the purpose at the headquarters of all regimental districts, and by means of the National Association for the Employment of Reserve and Discharged Soldiers whose chief office is in London, but of which numerous branch offices have been established in other large towns.

Schools.

Schools for the education of non-commissioned officers and men are established in nearly all military stations, with a view to enable men who are desirous of promotion to obtain the qualifying certificate of education. The schools are under the control of the generals commanding districts, and are managed and conducted by experienced schoolmasters. There are no charges for tuition, and books and all the necessary materials are supplied free. During the daytime the schools are used for the education — free — of soldiers’ children and the children of pensioners in the employment of the Crown.

Regimental Institutes

In every unit there is a Regimental Institute, formed for the exclusive benefit and convenience of the troops, and with the following objects :— To supply them with good articles at reasonable prices, without in any way interfering with their right to resort to any other shops or markets, and to organize and maintain the means available for their recreation and amusement.

The Regimental Institute is divided into two branches:—

(1.) Refreshment department, which includes the canteen, grocery shop, and coffee room.

(2.) Recreation department, which embraces the library, recreationroom, skittle alley, shooting gallery, cricket, football, sports, theatricals, &c., &c.

Libraries.

Libraries are established in all military stations. Their object is to afford to the troops the means, within the barracks, of employing their leisure hours usefully.

Libraries are established in all military stations. Their object is to afford to the troops the means, within the barracks, of employing their leisure hours usefully.

The books embrace every subject, including light literature, sciences, languages, travels, adventures, &c., &c.

Recreation Rooms.

Recreation rooms are established with the same object as libraries.

When the construction of barracks affords it, there are two rooms. One is used as a recreation room, the other as a room for games. Usually in the latter a coffee bar is placed, where the soldier can obtain refreshments of almost every description, at nearly the cost price of the articles.

Writing materials are also supplied and every facility given to the men to spend their leisure moments in a profitable manner. The rooms are well furnished, lighted, warmed, and supplied with every necessary.

John MacInnes.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

Territorially considered the Isle of Skye does not occupy a high place among the islands of the world, occupying only some 700 square miles of the earth’s surface, yet wherever the Gaelic language is spoken and Skye mentioned it is almost invariably referred to as “the Island” (“An t.-Eilean”) par excellence.

Tradition tells us of the heroine, Princess Sgathach, who dwelt at Diin-Sgathaich in Sleat (so named after herself), where she presided over the most notable military college of that dim and distant time. Skilful of thrust, cunning of fence, and matchless in the use of the “gath-bolg” were the pupils of the royal school of Diin-Sgathaich; but first and foremost among them all was the mighty chief of Skye, Cuchullin, who led a party of his countrymen against the Romans.

Be the many marvellous tales regarding Skye’s heroes and heroines of prehistoric times true or not, a spirit of warlike enterprise has existed in the island from the earliest period of which we have any authentic record, and has been fostered by passing events (involving the strife of arms) century after century up to the present day. But it is with the share that “the Brave Sons of Skye” took in Britain’s great wars in foreign lands that this work more particularly deals.

William Pitt (afterwards Earl of Chatham), addressing the House of Commons, said: “I have sought for merit wherever it could be found. It is my boast that I was the first Minister who looked for it, and found it in the mountains of the north. I called it forth, and drew into your service a hardy and intrepid race of men; men who, when left by your jealousy, became a prey to the artifices of your enemies, and had gone nigh to have overturned the State in the war before last. These men in the last war were brought to combat on your side; they served with fidelity, as they fought with valour in every quarter of the globe.”

“The Island of Mist” made a noble response to the patriotic appeal of the great Minister. We have it on the authority of a former Adjutant-General of the Forces that, in the 40 years preceding 1837, Skye had furnished for the public service 21 Lieutenant-Generals and Major-Generals, 45 Lieutenant-Colonels, 600 Majors, Captains, and subalterns, 10,000 private soldiers, 120 pipers, four Governors of British Colonies, one Governor-General of India, and one Adjutant-General of the British army. It has also been stated on the same testimony that 1,600 Skyemen fought in the British ranks at the battle of Waterloo.

“They have had representatives in every Peninsular and Indian battlefield. Of the miniatures kept in every family more than one half are soldiers, and several have attained to no mean rank. . . . And in other services the Islesman has drawn his sword. Marshal MacDonald had Hebridian blood in his veins. . . . The tartans waved through the smoke of every British battle, and there were no such desperate bayonet charges as those which rushed to the yell of the bag-pipe. At the close of the last and the beginning of the present century half the farms in Skye were rented by half-pay officers. The Army List was to the island what the Post Office Directory is to London.”