PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARLY EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT.
THE HEBRIDEAN SETTLERS.
their sons' places. They now did very well, as the young people were first
class.
A number of the young men volunteered for the Boer war and re-ceived land scrip on their return. They applied this, and became posses-
sors of excellent farms, with good buildings and schools. Their loyalty
was very pronounced in the Great war, nearly a hundred enlisting at its
early stage. Some of them were over age but they disguised their years
as much as possible and I am afraid were not very scrupulous in the dec-
larations they had to make; in fact I suppose if I said they died piously in
their anxiety to get to the front I should not be far from the truth. They
suffered many casualties. One of them who had worked for me as a boy
became highly distinguished. He was in the Boer war and became a
sergeant, helping to capture the Boer General Cronje. He remained in
the British Army as a member of the permanent force and obtained a
Captains' Commission. He was promoted further to Colonel and while
holding that rank was killed in France while leading a cavalry charge.
He had many decorations and was several times mentioned in dispatches.
His honored name was Malcolm Docherty. His father and mother died
recently, but he leaves several brothers who are prosperous farmers north
of Saltcoats. Most of the original old settlers are alive and enjoying a
comfortable old age. This concludes Mr. McNutt's experiences.
Bibliography follows:
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