LOYALTY OF HEBRIDES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 5

LOYALTY OF HEBRIDES

PURCHASE OF AEROPLANE DEVOTION TO CAUSE MEN IN FIGHTING SERVICES (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 9 The people of the islands of Lewis and Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, who are mostly fishermen and crofters, are sending more than £6OOO to Mr Churchill to be devoted to the purchase of an aeroplane. In a telegram to Mr Churchill, which he has gratefully acknowledged, the islands’ Spitfire Committee says: “On the anniversary of the declaration of war the people of Lewis and Harris, in the Outer Hebrides, are proud co convey to you their unswerving loyalty and devotion to the national cause. “Since September these islands have claimed the high honour of having more men proportionately in the fighting services than any other part of the Empire. Many villages have had close on 20 per cent, of their total population on service since the outbreak of war. Casualties have been three times higher than for the country as a whole.

“The people still at home, wishing to maintain that record of those on active service, have to-day forwarded a sum of more than £6400 to the Ministry of Aircraft Production for the purchase of a fighter aeroplane to be called the Lewis and Harris fighter.” This sum was collected in a single week with the enthusiastic support of the crofting and fishing communities of the islands. Typical of the spirit which accomplished this result is the comment of a crofter who contributed £l, declaring that he had not £1 to give, but he would sell his calf to get it.