The MacCorquodale Castle

• Scottish Kings
• The Battle of Sterling Bridge
• Joan of Arc
• The Execution of Joan of Arc
• Monumental Statue of Joan of Arc
• Queen Elizabeth I of England
• Mary Tudor, also known as Bloody Mary (sister to Elizabeth I)
• English Kings

FAMOUSE SCOTTISH LEADERS

I hope you enjoy these wonderful pictures as much as I do.

 Portrait of Robert Bruce

 Robert Bruce confirring a charter upon the Citizens of Edinburgh

 Portrait of William Wallace

 The Trial of William Wallace

 Mary Queen of Scots

Here are some links from the original MacCorquodale Castle that still work.

• The Realm of the Druid Princess – This is a wonderful site full of more Scottish links. A must see!
• Gavin’s Homepage – A beautiful collection of Scotland pictures.
• The Internet Guide To Scotland – Books, castles, family history. You name it, it’s here.
• The Island of Tiree – Another site from Gavin Shaw. I couldn’t resist putting this one on by itself, my ancescters once settled in Tiree.

Following is an extract from a book which was kept by the Dean of Lismore. The Dean of Lismore Argyll was the keeper of Highland Literature in the 15th century. The particular volume this extract was taken from had layed burried away in a family attic collecting dust and seemingly forever forgotten until an Uncle took interest in having a part of the writting translated from Galic into modern English. To his surprise the following was found.

First known Gaelic Poetess.
The Poem was recorded in 1431 A.D.

Her name, Effric MacCorquodale, married to Hector Torquil MacNeill of Castle Sween, Knapdale Argyll.
Note: at that time the name MacCorquodale was in transition from Norse to Gaelic (ie. Effric Neyn Coreitill ).

On her husbands death, the Dean of Lismore describes her poem as very spirited.

Efric laments her husbands death as follows.

ROSARY, THOU KINDLEST SORROW;
THOUGH ART EVER MY DELIGHT;
TELLING OF THE NOBLE BOSOM;
WHERE I LAY UNTIL TONIGHT.

DEATH HAS FILLED ME WITH IT’S SADNESS;
WHERE’S THE ARM I CLUNG TO LONG?
AH! I SAW IT NOT DEPARTING;-
HIS THE VALIANT AND THE STRONG.

JOYFUL VOICE OF SOFTEST MUSIC;
KNOWN IT EVERYWHERE REMAINS;
LION OF MULL OF THE WHITE TOWERS,
HAWK OF ISLAY OF SMOOTH PLAINS.

THERE’S NO JOY AMOUNG OUR WOMEN;
AT THE SPORT MEN ARE NOT SEEN;
LIKE THE SKIES WHEN WINDS ARE SILENT,
SO WITH MUSIC IS DUN SWEEN.

ON CLAN-NEILL THEY’VE TAKEN VENGEANCE;
SEE THE PALACE OF THE BRAVE!
CAUSE TO US OF SAD LAMENTING,
TILL THEY LAY US IN THE GRAVE.

                 Effric Neyn Coreitill

TORPEDOED IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC APRIL 1, 1942.

THE UNKNOWING STORY, UNTIL NOW, OF THE FATE OF JOHN MACCORQUODALE, FIRST OFFICER ON THE SS RIO BLANCO ON THE FIRST OF APRIL 1942.

JOHN MACCORQUODALE WAS BORN ON THE ISLE OF TIREE TO DONALD MACCORQUODALE AND MARY CAMERON IN 1899 IN THE INNER HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND. AT THAT TIME, TIREE WAS A 100 PERCENT GAELIC SPEAKING ISLAND.

ALL OF JOHN’S BROTHERS AND SISTERS (9) HAVE PASSED ON EXCEPT FOR A SISTER LIVING ON THE ISLE OF LEWIS. HIS CHILDREN, LIVE IN SKYE AND THE WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND.

THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME JOHN WAS TORPEDOED DURING THIS WAR AND UNFORTUNATELY, JUST PRIOR TO THE TORPEDO STRIKE HE WAS IN THE CARGO HOLD AND HAD HIS LEG INJURED. THIS WAS DETRIMENTAL TO HIS SURVIVAL AND HIM PASSING AWAY FROM EXPOSURE IN THE LIFEBOAT WHICH WAS RECOVERED BY A SHIP 14 DAYS AFTER THE RIO BLANCO SANK.

HE ACTUALLY SAW THE RESCUE SHIP BUT DIED THAT SAME DAY.

UNTIL 1999 HIS FAMILY AND RELATIVES WERE UNAWARE OF MOST EVENTS CONCERNING THE FATE OF THE RIO BLANCO. NOT EVEN THE DATE OF THE SINKING. THANKS TO THE BOOKS OBTAINED FROM AMAZON ON SUBMARINE WARFARE 1939-45 AUTHOR CLAY BAIR, AND AN APPEAL ON THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION AND A RESPONSE FROM A PERSON UNKNOWING IN GERMANY. WE NOW HAVE THE DETAILS AS FOLLOWS.

SHIP SS RIO BLANKO, TORPEDOED IN 1942 APRIL THE 1ST OUTWARD BOUND FROM THE USA WITH CARGO OF FOOD.

SUNK BY U-BOAT 160. APPROXIMATELY 400 HUNDRED MILES SOUTH OF CAPE SABLE, NOVA SCOTIA AND EAST OF CAPE COD MASSACHUSETTS USA.

U-BOAT 160-SUNK IN 1943 WITH LOSS OF ALL CREW (57) BY AN AMERICAN AVENGER AIRCRAFT FLYING FROM THE U.S. CARRIER ‘SANITISE’ THIS HAPPENED NORTH WEST OF THE MADEIRA ISLAND AND SOUTH COAST OF THE AZORES, UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT HAVE THE NAME OF THE AMERICAN PILOT TO COMPLETE THE STORY OF THE THREE MEN INVOLVED IN THIS STORY.

FOR CHRISSY

FROM
JOHN C. MACCORQUODALE
FEB 2000