​Whisky Galore
It was off the shores of Eriskay that the ship the S.S Politician foundered in 1941 – and from here that the local seafaring community set sail to salvage her precious cargo of whisky – which was in short supply on the islands during the war years. Island fishermen used their boats to reach the wreck, reportedly bringing thousands of the bottles ashore, which they distributed across the island using the indigenous Eriskay ponies – a hardy Hebridean breed of which there are only around 400 left on earth.
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To prevent staining their fishing clothes with oil from their vessel, they dressed in their wives garments for the murky mission - something of a risk for sailors who reputedly each usually wore a traditional seamless Eriskay jersey knitted to their own unique pattern to facilitate identification in the event of an accident.
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The incident became the basis of Compton Mackenzie’s book Whisky Galore, which was later brought to the big screen by the world famous Ealing Studios, and visitors to Eriskay today can see an original bottle of the whisky brought ashore from the stricken ship displayed behind the bar at the Am Politician Lounge in Balla.
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Of course, contraband is not the only famous thing to have come ashore on Eriskay’s stunning white sands – the island is where Bonnie prince Charlie first set foot on Scottish soil and it is said that the pink flowers that bloom here in the machair grasses grew from seeds he dropped from his handkerchief on his arrival before heading off to the mainland to lead the Jacobite Rebellion. You can follow his footsteps through Eriskay, South Uist and Benbecula on the Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail.​
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In 1941, off the coast of our shores on Eriskay, a dramatic event unfolded that would inspire one of the most beloved tales of Scottish folklore. The S.S. Politician, carrying a precious cargo bound for Jamaican shores, ran aground off Eriskay, setting the stage for a remarkable series of events.
S.S. Politician Origins
The S.S. Politician was launched on 15th November 1921, under the name S.S. London Merchant and owned by Furness Withy and Co. Ltd. Initially, she operated mainly along the coasts of North America until 1930 when, due to the Great Depression, she was laid up on the River Blackwater.
In 1935, she was acquired by Charente Shipping Co. Ltd. and managed by T&J Harrison Shipping Company of Liverpool. She was then renamed S.S. Politician, becoming the second ship with that name owned by the company.
Until the outbreak of World War II, she primarily sailed from the UK to West and East Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.
With the outbreak of the war, the British Merchant Fleet was commandeered by the Admiralty. The "Politician" quietly completed 11 successful runs across the North Atlantic to the West Indies and North American ports. However, her twelfth and final voyage would be far more memorable.
THE MERCHANT NAVY – CONVOYS
At the time of the second world war, Merchant Shipping was the only way to transport all manner of cargoes round the world. From coal and grain to building supplies and foodstuffs, merchant ships carried a wide range of trading goods from port to port, country to country. Additionally, they also transported passengers, making them essential for maintaining trade and supply lines during the conflict.
On February 3, 1941, the SS Politician departed from Liverpool, carrying a mixed cargo bound for Jamaica and New Orleans. Among the items were everyday goods like plumbing fittings, shoes, Forth bricks, and bedding, as well as supplies for the RAF and Army detachments in the West Indies.
However, what truly set this voyage apart was its remarkable cargo. Onboard the SS Politician were not only £290,000/£3,000,00 worth of Jamaican currency but also 22,000cases of different brands of whisky from various Scottish distilleries, transported to Liverpool before being loaded onto the SS Politician. Little did anyone know, this cargo, which was carefully stored in hold number 5, would soon become legendary, sparking stories that would be passed from generation to generation for decades.
S.S. Politician in her wartime colours with Eriskay in the background. photo
Under the orders of the Admiralty, the SS Politician was instructed to sail north through the Minch. Its destination: a rendezvous point with a convoy at the northern tip of Scotland. From there, the convoy would be escorted around the treacherous Butt of Lewis before the SS Politician embarked on its independent journey to New Orleans.
At 10pm on February 4th, while just 20 miles short of the Skerryvore Lighthouse, the Captain was summoned to the bridge to oversee the passage of a southbound convoy. After safely navigating past the other ships, the Captain retired to his cabin, and the SS Politician continued its northward journey at 14 knots, heading for the rendezvous point with the convoy.
Avoiding the usual sea routes haunted by German U-Boats, the captain opted for a longer journey, a decision that would prove costly for both him and the excise man
At 7:45 am on Wednesday, February 5th, 1941, the SS Politician ran aground in the Sound of Eriskay.
And so, the legends and tales began to weave their intricate tapestry. With the grounding of the SS Politician in the Sound of Eriskay, whispers stirred among the islanders and beyond, fuelled by the cargo of whisky.
The crew were rescued and made comfortable, possibly finding refuge in the safety of the old Eriskay school, which had often served as a haven for shipwrecked crews.
The islanders, ever known for their hospitality and resilience, would have rallied together to provide aid and support to the stranded sailors.
Fishing boats were swiftly launched to salvage the goods onboard, particularly the precious cargo of whisky. Islanders eagerly filled their boats with the salvaged goods, which were then shared among the community, some transported in the creels carried by the rare Eriskay Ponies.
In the midst of wartime scarcity, the sudden surplus of Uisge Beatha (Gaelic for Whisky"thewater of life") was a welcome blessing. With whisky in abundance, the islanders embraced the opportunity to have ceilidhs, lifting spirits and providing much-needed relief from the hardships of poverty and war.
As word spread of this cargo, boats and men came from as far away as Lewis and mainland Scotland to gather and share the unexpected bounty from the sea.
The islanders, unaware of the true value of the Jamaican currency, treated it as insignificant. Some even used bundles of it as fuel for their stoves while stories circulated of chests filled with the currency lying around. However, it became apparent that others were aware of its worth when new 10-shilling notes began to surface in tills from Aberdeen to Liverpool.
By 1958, the Crown Agents made a remarkable discovery. A total of 2,329 of these notes had been presented in banks across the globe, reaching as far as Ireland, Switzerland, Malta, Canada, the US, and even back to Jamaica itself.
As word of the event spread and more islanders joined in helping themselves to the hoard, the Government took action. When weather permitted, Eriskay was swarmed with customs officials, insurance agents, the Army, and authorised salvage companies. The whisky was stashed away in every possible nook and cranny, hiding the whisky to evade detection by the Customs officials, who were on the hunt for the loot. With the island's small size and basic telephone system, the islanders often outmanoeuvred the authorities through word of mouth, staying ahead by at least two steps to avoid detection by the Customs officials who were searching for the loot.
Unfortunately, numerous islanders faced arrest and were taken to Lochmaddy Court to face charges.
Unaware of any wrongdoing, we don't believe the islanders acted dishonestly. They genuinely thought they were well within their rights. Salvage rules stated that goods recovered from shipwrecks belonged to those who found them, which reinforced their belief in their actions.
Salvage Attempts to Refloat the SS Politician
On September 20th, 1941, an attempt was made to refloat the 'Politician' and tow her to Lochboisdale, but it failed. Instead, she came to rest on another rocky outcrop and broke her back.
With no hope of salvaging the 'Politician' and approximately 1,000 cases of whisky still believed to be onboard, customs officers Gledhill and McColl received permission to dynamite hold number 5. This decision dismayed the islanders, and Angus John Campbell expressed disbelief, stating, "Dynamiting whisky! You wouldn't think there'd be men in the world so crazy as that."
Despite various salvage attempts, the ship remained stranded until July 1944, when it was broken into two halves. The front section was towed to Glasgow for breaking up, while the rear section was left where it lay.
The TV program "Coast" featured a depiction of how the SS Politician would have appeared at the time. However, some Eriskay locals feel that the ship appears a bit larger than they remember.
Coast Photo
Over the years since the S.S. Politician was abandoned, various empty and broken bottles of "Polly" whisky have resurfaced across the Outer Hebrides each bottle adorned with the embossed message "FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS THE SALE OR REUSE OF THIS BOTTLE". Some bottles were discovered during house renovations or while digging ditches or carrying out croft work while others have been simply stumbled across while out walking.
Today, visitors to Eriskay can see and have their photo taken with some of the original bottles of this whisky, salvaged from the stricken ship, proudly displayed behind the bar at Am Politician in Eriskay. LINK TO Am POLITICIAN IF THEY HAVE A WEBSITE…
When the former Eriskay school is redeveloped into a heritage centre and community hub, we will also have some exhibits from the SS Politician including a bath and a Forth brick, as well as some virtual artefacts.
If you have any artefacts or stories related to the “Polly” or Whisky Galore that you would like to share and potentially have exhibited in the Ionad Eilean na h-Òige building upon completion, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We would be incredibly grateful for your contributions.
