HRH Princess Anne lays a wreath at Port Ellen’s war memorial last Friday
The commemoration service in Port Ellen’s Pier Square.
ISLANDERS, descendants, and dignitaries respectfully remembered First World War soldiers and sailors who lost their lives in two separate 1918 sinkings off Islay. Last Friday 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 Otranto sank 100 years ago. Other dignitaries attending included: the consul general of France in Scotland, the acting ambassador of Germany and the consul general of Germany in Scotland. Pipers from 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.