Tragic tale of Lewis pupils wiped out by war adapted

The tragic story of a Scottish island headmaster who saw nearly 150 of his pupils go to war never to return alive is being turned into a play.

The Gaelic play, entitled Sequamur, was created by isle of Lewis writer DS Murray and tells the story of William J Gibson, the rector of The Nicolson Institute in Stornoway.

At the outbreak of World War I encouraged his pupils to sign up for the war effort.

The play outlines how he dealt with the subsequent events which saw 148 of his former pupils being killed in action.

Simultaneous translation will be available for those who do not understand Gaelic.

The play is the final production in the World War I commemorative series by the Gaelic Arts Agency, Pròiseact nan Ealan, and named Gairm nan Gàidheal – Call of the Gael.

The performance is at An Lanntair in Stornoway on June 27.

The other PNE war productions in the Western Isles – which have been staged in Point, Harris, North Uist and Barra – have told the stories of these individual parishes.

Gairm nan Gaidheal has enlisted locals to act and to assist in stage management and costume to produce this multi-stranded production full of music, song and theatre.

Professional actors Kenny Macrae, Daibhidh Walker and Maggie Mackenzie have strengthened the cast to help portray the various accounts of wartime Lewis.

Mr Murray said: “I’d like to thank many people for their help in bringing Sequamur to life.

“They include Cammie Maciver for his conversation one night in An Lanntair which sparked the idea, Stornoway historians, Colin Scott Mackenzie, Malcolm Macdonald, Sandy Matheson and Norrie MacGregor who assisted me in investigating both Gibson’s life and the town’s involvement in the Gallipoli campaign, Iain Finlay Macleod whose patience and skill helped me to shape the work, and Erica Morrison, Chrissie Macrae and the staff at Proiseact nan Ealan who provided us all with so much support.

“Finally I’d like to thank Kenny Macrae, David Walker and the rest of the actors and theatre staff for the marvellous and moving production.”

Immediately following the An Lanntair performance a piper will lead the audience to the old school building on Francis Street where the World War I commemorative plaque hangs and where a tribute will be paid to the former pupils of the Nicolson Institute who fell in the Great War.