Loss of HMS Otway

Not since 2nd February 1915, when HMS Auxiliary Cruiser "Clan Macnaughton" was wrecked in a gale, has Lewis suffered so grievous a sea loss as she did last week when the Auxiliary Cruiser "Otway" was torpedoed and sunk. In the first-named disaster, the ship went down with all hands on board, no less than nine of the crew being Lewis Naval Reservists - two natives of Aird Tong, two of Calbost, one of Arnol, one of Borve, one of South Dell, one of Breasclet and one of Portvoller.

In the case of the Otway, thought the ship was lost, the bulk of the crew, fortunately, were saved. Among the crew of between 300 and 400 there were no fewer than 38 Lewismen. Altogether ten men were killed when the torpedo struck, and of these six were natives of Lewis, namely:

Evander Macleod, Lower Bayble
Peter Stewart, Lower Bayble
Donald Campbell, North Tolsta
Donald Macphail, Bragar
Murdo Mackay, Shawbost
Murdo Macdonald, Eorodale, Ness

To the relatives of the deceased the deepest sympathy of the whole community is extended.