Donald Macdonald, “Domhnall Ghilleasbuig Sorcha”, was born on 2 February 1897 on the Hebridean island of South Uist. From his childhood in South Lochboisdale, Donald served on the British Great Lakes ships, sailed and farmed on and around the Great Lakes in Canada, and lived through the Great Depression in America. He returned to South Uist when subsequent events prevented him from returning to the United States.

He spent the early days of the Second World War in the Merchant Navy and the remainder as a rigger in the Clyde shipyards. He lived in Glasgow through the Blitz, where he courted his sweetheart Ann. Returning to South Uist he finished building his house before marrying her in 1942. Donald was widowed in 1954 and left to raise 5 of their 6 children single handedly. Encouraged by friends to document his varied and interesting life, Donald spent his early Eighties handwriting his life story before dying peacefully in 1985 at 88 years of age.
 
His is a human story. It is told with complete unselfconsciousness and lack of pretentiousness. His memoirs reflect authentic old themes in an honest and dignified way. His Uist childhood is fascinating and can be looked upon as a contribution to the social history of the island.
 
“MacDonald left behind a wonderfully observed account of the experience of war, seen through the eyes of a man who had a full measure of the human qualities found in the inhabitants of the Scottish Highlands and Islands”
 
“The Hebridean crofter who went to war and saw hope and courage in a skylark”
 
£22.95 + postage & packaging
 
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