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Ian Maitland 1905 – 1942 Ian Maitland was born in 1905, at Fasnacloich, Appin, Argyll. He was a son to John (a gardener to the Bulloch family at Fasnacloich) and Barbara Maitland. He had two brothers and two sisters. Before the war, Ian was a chauffer for the Bullochs and also worked as a signalman on the railway. He was married to Mary Rowan MacLean (the tailors daughter, Achosrigan). In 1929 their daughter Flora MacColl died in Fasnacloich, from TB, at the age of just 8 months. His wife fell victim to the same disease in 1936 at the age of…

William John McGeachy 1912 – 1944 William McGeachy was born in 1912, the son to William and Catherine McGeachy of Port Glasgow. As children, he and his two sisters, Agnes and Barbara, were fostered out to the family Leslie at Rosebank, Portnacroish, Appin. All three gave their services during WW2. Agnes was a nurse and Barbara served in the Red Cross. William joined the ‘Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ and fought in the 9th Battalion. William McGeachy was killed on the 11th August 1944 and buried at Port Glasgow Cemetery. He was 32 years old and Appin’s second WW2 casualty.

Port Appin Hall, 1948. Originally in use at Glenetive and transported down to Port Appin, by the late Johnny MacColl, Achosrigan, on his coal lorry. Names: Jimmy Dunlop, Bobby Rowan sen., Robert Ross, Anne Scott Rae, Archie Cameron, Annie MacFadyen, Ian MacFadyen, Lorn Cameron, Nanny Paton, Jessie MacCowan, Emma MacGregor, Mrs MacGregor, Robert Maclennan, Leslie Stirling?, Mrs Gordon Duff .

Pictures from Fasnacloich and Invercreran.

In no date order

Connel Ferry Station to Ballachulish Station (in no date order)

Poem about the Red Book of Appin IT’S a far, far cry to Appin, But worth your while to go If ye would learn the secrets That Highland witches know: They’re written in a red book Concealed within a rock; Its iron bands keep reiving hands From meddling wi’ the lock. There still are folk in Appin Who ken the story fine, Of how a witchy gentleman With features aquiline Walked over a big mountain And stepped into the glen Where Ian dubh with collie true Watched o’er his cattle-pen. ‘Good evening,’ spoke the traveller. ‘To you the same,’ said…

“One of the most harrowing family tragedies ever recorded in the Highlands” Shuna in 1873 was farmed by Archibald Cameron and his wife Margaret. They had 10 children, aged between 3 and 18. They were expecting their 8th early in April. One can imagine that the eldest daughter Margaret, 18 would have assumed many of the household duties, while Alec, 16, would be his father’s right-hand man in rounding up the sheep and gathering the hay. At 13 Catherine would no doubt be a great help in supervising her younger sisters, Sarah 11, Anne 12, Isobel 3, Archie 8, Mary…

Notes from Alexander Donald MacKenzie written in 1912 A. Donald MacKenzie born at Blarchasgaig, Strath of Appin, Argyleshire, on the 24th of November 1836. About 1745 there must have been a considerable number of MacKenzies in the Strath of Appin, thirteen of them followed the Stuarts of Appin in the rising of that year in support of the Stuart Cause. There was a legend amongst them that they were descended from on e McKenzie who lived in a very lonely spot near the top of Glencreran on the south side, called “Barr-na-Muic,” which means the point, promontory, or hill of…