ISLANDERS, descendants and dignitaries paid respects to First World War soldiers and sailors who lost their lives in two separate 1918 sinkings off Islay.
On Friday May 4 a large crowd, including HRH The Princess Royal, the cabinet secretary for culture, tourism and external affairs Fiona Hyslop, the Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell MP and the United States ambassador to the UK Robert Wood Johnston gathered at noon in front of Port Ellen War Memorial on Islay for the main commemorative service to remember the US and British lives lost when SS Tuscania and HMS Otran- to sank 100 years ago.
Islay Pipe Band led a parade into Port Ellen, including children from all the island schools carrying the 41 state flags representing the areas of the USA which were home to the servicemen lost in the Tuscania and Otranto tragedies.