AS the year 1918 arrived for the tiny Isle of Islay, the town folk hunkered down for the Winter, following their day to day routine on this sleepy Island of coastal villages and farmland. This Island of Scottish heritage, preserved in old traditions and architecture, and long in human history, is nestled off the mainland coast of Scotland in the North Channel and is part of the Southern Hebrides. At times, folks would gather at the local pubs and churches for social interaction, where talk of work, family, and sport could be exchanged. Many of the young lads whom were otherwise residents of Islay, were off in Europe fighting the war.

Without warning, or time to prepare, two major disasters were about to descend upon their shores. Nothing could have braced them for the tragic events that were about to unfold. Of the two disasters, the troopship Tuscania sank Feb. 5, 1918, with a loss of 210 American Soldiers, and 45 of the ships crew; and the troopship Otranto which sank Oct. 6, 1918 with a loss of 351 American Soldiers and 80 of the ships crew. See: Tuscania burial

There were stories of heroic behavior, and of the generous giving to those in need. The American Soldiers were treated as if they were family. The Islanders gave food and shelter and medical aid to the survivors. They recovered the bodies that landed upon their shores and gave each one a proper burial.

 

The Great War would come to an end when Germany surrendered November 11, 1918. Two years later in the summer of 1920 the American Red Cross financed the construction of a Monument to be built on the Island of Islay. The Monument stands in the shape of a Light House high above the cliffs where so many were lost in the wrecks of the Troop Transport Tuscania and the Otranto.

Also in 1920 a project began to exhume all the American Soldiers from their graves on Islay and relocate them to either Brookwood War Cemetery in England, or return them to the States. All the Tuscania soldiers were exhumed with the exception of one man. The family of Private Roy Muncaster requested that his body remain undisturbed. The good folks of Islay ensured that his grave would be attended to as if he was one of their own.

Wisconsin Newspaper article (paper unknown)
June 30th, 1920

BODIES OF TUSCANIA VICTIMS TO BE EXHUMED AND RETURNED TO U.S.

PARIS - Exhumation of the bodies of 489 American soldiers which were washed upon the rocky shores of the Island of Islay off the Scottish Coast after the sinking of the transports Tuscania and Otranto in 1918, will be started July 1st 1920 it was announced here today.

The Scottish Clan which inhabits the lonely spot has taken tender care of the graves and the chief has given a pledge that the Clan would look after the graves as if they were its own, until the end of time. The Chief pleaded that the bodies be left on the Island, but relatives in many cases wished the return of the bodies and it was decided by the Graves Registration Service to remove them all.

The coast of Islay is so steep and rocky that the coffins will have to be carried down steep trails cut in the rocks or lowered by ropes and tackle to a waiting barge, which will convey them to a Transport standing off shore.