Organisations > Clan Donald roll of honour

Jjtstorical Jforetoorb
Part One
In preserving- for all time a record of Clansmen of Clan Donald who gave their
lives for their Country in the Great European War and of those whose distinguished
services were rewarded by honours bestowed upon them, it is appropriate that some
notice should be taken of the traditions to which they were heir and which, no
doubt unconsciously in many instances, inspired their valour.
The Clan system with its internal feuds, and continual struggle for existence,
formed an excellent school of Military Training, and from the earliest period of its
history the Clan Donald had many distinguished warriors at its head and in the
ranks. The Clan derives its origin from very ancient sources, and its history, from
Conn of the Hundred Battles and Colla Uais down to Somerled of the Isles, whose
military genius wrested the Isles from their Scandinavian conquerors and restored
the Celtic influence which was then well nigh extinguished, is a history of battle.
From the time of Somerled to the present day there has never been a lack of
distinguished clansmen who have taken part in the wars of their period, and the
names of Angus Og, Donald of Harlaw and Alistair MacColla, Montrose's great
Lieutenant, are imperishable names in Scottish History.
It is almost impossible to estimate the importance of Somerled in the history of
the Clan and of Gaeldom. Without him there would have been no Celtic Lordship
of the Isles, and the great heritage of Gaelic Poetry and Music which has come
down to us would probably have been lost for ever.
The fortunes of Somerled's family had fallen to a low ebb as a consequence
of the Norse occupation of the Isles, and about the middle of the 12th Century we
find him living with his father in the wilds of Morven, apparently an unambitious
young man. The men of the Isles were in revolt against the tyrannies of their
Scandinavian rulers when a combination of circumstances placed Somerled at their
head. By his genius many victories were won. He followed up his victories
and in a very short time made himself master of the mainland territories of his
ancestors and assumed the title of Thane of Argyll.
Soon afterwards Somerled had consolidated his position so well that he was
able to throw down the gauntlet to Godred, the Norwegian King of the Isles, and
in a great naval battle off the coast of Isla on the night of Epiphany 1156 A.D. he
gained a victory sufficient to assure to him, in a treaty of peace with Godred,
possession of the whole of the Isles south of the point of Ardnamurchan along with
Kintyre. The treaty of peace did not last very long and two years later we find
Somerled invading Man with a fleet of 53 galleys. He routed Godred, laid the
island waste, and held Man during his lifetime.
It was scarcely to be expected that the rise in power of Somerled could be
viewed otherwise than with feelings of alarm by the Kingdom of Scotland, and so
there were dissensions. It is difficult to judge whether Somerled had made up his
mind to make a bold bid to establish Celtic rule over the whole country or whether
he was only defending his hard-won territory, but it is certain that in 1164 he
gathered a great army of 15,000 men and with a fleet of 160 galleys sailed up the