Isle of Eriskay
Eirisgeigh

To the outside world Eriskay has two major claims to fame. It's known as the place where Prince Charles Edward Stuart landed in Scotland on 23 July 1745, to start the Jacobite Rebellion. It's also known as the place where in February 1941, the SS Politician ran aground just north of Eriskay on the island of Calvay.
She was on her way to Kingston, Jamaica, and New Orleans, her hold filled with cotton, stoves, cutlery, medicines, baths, biscuits and 260,000 bottles of the finest whisky.

Once captain and crew had been made safe the islanders fell to work 'salvaging' the cargo. The rest is history thanks to the Compton Mackenzie book and the Ealing Comedy film.

In real life the salvage attempt was difficult, and it was eventually decided to let the Politician remain where she was. Charles McColl, the local customs official (who had already estimated that the islanders had liberated 24,000 bottles of whisky), ensured that there would be no more temptation. He applied for, and was granted, permission to explode her hull, to the amazement of locals and whisky drinkers to this day.

Site: Isle of Eriskay

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