Sunart Forest — Glencripesdale squad
Photograph courtesy of Duncan MacLean, Kinlochmoidart who has provided some information on the people and the organisation of the work force at Sunart Forest at this time.
The Glencripesdale squad formed part of the full workforce for Sunart Forest which at its peak filled two lorries driven by John Cameron from Newton (Big John) and Archie MacNaughton from Acharacle.
The people heading over to Glencripesdale across Loch Sunart from the summer time mooring at the very end of the Camastorsa plantation (near to Camasinas) from the left:
Allan MacColl (Dorlin)
Allan Cameron (Alan Mor -Duneira Kentra)
Duncan Cameron – Ganger (Duncan Tuim – Arivegaig)
Allan MacNaughton (at back – Acharacle)
John MacGillivray (Jockan MacGillivray – Moss)
Iain MacColl (part hidden – Dorlin)
James Cameron (Jimmy Beag - Newton)
Not in the photograph but part of the squad were Allan MacNeil (Purdy MacNeil - Arivegaig) and Duncan MacLean (Acharacle).
The boat featured is the Gannet before the large cabin was added. The very first boat used for a short time was a converted ship’s life boat and was named as ‘The Betty’ by the workers.
Frank Thom, Huntly, recalls when he was forester at Sunart Forest for a brief spell that the original engine in the Gannet was air cooled and following the addition of the cabin the heat was such that the men could not sit inside. A new engine was subsequently fitted (a marine version of a Ford Thames Trader engine) which had a large sump and had to be fixed in a position with its drive shaft well above that of the line of the prop shaft. The solution was to add a gear box the one chosen which for some inexplicable reason reduced significantly the revolutions going to the prop shaft. The only solution to getting some speed was to run the engine flat out and then it was so noisy inside the cabin that the men could not hear themselves talk!
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Groups of people, Ships, boats and sea transport, Sunart Ardgour and Morven