Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Seaman Murdo MacKay, Royal Naval Reserve, who was lost at sea when H.M. Yacht Iolaire was wrecked off Stornoway in January 1919

1914-15 Star (B.4511. M. MacKay. Smn. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (4511B M. MacKay. Smn. R.N.R.) together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Murdo MacKay) the plaque drilled in two places and fixed to board with wire, otherwise extremely fine (4) £80-£120

Seaman Murdo MacKay, R.N.R., H.M. Yacht Iolaire died on 1 January 1919, aged 31, and is buried in Eye Cemetery, Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

H.M. Yacht Iolaire, while bringing 250 men of the Royal Navy from Kyle of Lockalsh to Stornoway, ran aground on rocks at the entrance to Stornoway Harbour in a gale. All the crew perished while of the passengers only about 40 were rescued. An account of this disaster is given in the book “S.O.S.’ by David Masters.