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« Last post by Patrick Anderson on June 01, 2008, 06:01:55 PM »
A retired ship captain friend has informed me that he has checked the book "Off Scotland - a comprehensive record of Maritime & Aviation losses in Scottish Waters " by Ian Whittaker and the details are
PREMIER : Captain Ritchie, ( BF 696 ) , sunk by Gunfire on 7 JANUARY 1918 , 3 miles west of Loch Eynort in portion Lat 57 . 12. 5 N ; 6. 28. 0 W ( which is grid ref 313231 , off the west coast of Skye R.L. ) W " Steam drifter built 1889, 88 tons gross, length 26 metres, beam 5 metres "
That means that Engineman JAMES ALEXANDER WATT , 36 years of age who died at the STATION HOTEL , MALLAIG per his headstone located in Gamrie New Parish Churchyard, Gardenstown , Banffshire died of his injuries from that Enemy Attack on a fishing drifter . His death was recorded by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission as being on 15 JANUARY 1918 .
Does anyone know if the STATION HOTEL , MALLAIG was used as a Military Hospital during the Great War or if not an Auxilliary Hospital ??
Is the STATION HOTEL at MALLAIG still in existance or is the building still there if not in use as a Hotel nowadays ?
Has anyone any information on this fishing boat being attacked by Enemy action ? How did James Alexander WATT get to Mallaig ?
It seems that a short time before this attack by gunfire around the same Loch Eynort other fishing boats were attacked ( Oct 1917 etc )