When they first arrived in Inverness, the young American sailors took over the Infant Department of Merkinch School until the Glen Albyn Distillery was ready. What excitement for the children!
US Naval Base 18 at Glen Albyn malt whisky distillery.
Once the men had moved out of this part of the school, they were still highly visible and the School Log reveals in May 1918 that the Senior Assistant Mistress was giving special lectures to the older girl pupils in Hygiene, Personal Cleanliness and Purity. Clearly she was discouraging fraternisation with the sailors!
The Log also reveals that in Christmas Week that year, pupils aged over 8 in the various town schools were entertained by the American sailors in the Rose Street Hall, which was beautifully decorated. A large Christmas tree was erected, covered with gifts for the children. About 8000 gifts were distributed and a varied programme of entertainment provided by the American sailors – a treat for the children in austerity Britain. The Americans gave money for playground equipment for Merkinch School and this was erected by men from the Rose Street Foundry.
A Brass Plaque in Merkinch School Reads:
THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE TO
COMMEMORATE THE STAY OF THE MEN OF THE
AMERICAN NAVAL BASE 18 IN INVERNESS
DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918, AND IN
GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THEIR
KINDNESS IN PROVIDING APPARATUS FOR
THE MERKINCH SCHOOL PLAY GROUNDS
The Inverness Courier of 18 March 1919 contains an account by an American sailor of life at Base 18, Inverness, and of how the mines were assembled. He was very clear that there was so much powerful explosive material at the site that had an accident occurred, Inverness would probably have been wiped off the map. No wonder it was kept a secret from the people of Inverness!
The Senior Assistant Mistress was unaware that there was actually much more to worry about than health and purity issues!
The Inverness Courier of 29 November 1918 reported American Thanksgiving Day Celebrations in Inverness. After a Dinner in the Station Hotel, there was a Ball in the Northern Meeting Rooms (the American YMCA). The Courier reporter noted: “The Eightsome Reel proved very interesting.”
So many mines were laid in the North Sea that it took the Americans several months to clear them after they were no longer needed. No doubt this was much to the delight of the local young ladies! Indeed, some young ladies set off for America with their new husbands after the war was over.
Photographs copyright of publishers, click on photos to view sources.
Info courtesy of research by Mrs Eileen MacAskill of The Inverness Field Club. Edited by Ian Cripps.
Highland WW1 Education 