New England Sawmillers in Scotland - Sawmill Unit No 3 - on site in Strathcarron, Ross-shire
The Images are courtesy of https://www.actonhistoricalsociety.org/ww1-sawmill-unit.html Also check out Records No 4778 – 4789 or under ‘Groups’ the ‘American sawmillers in Scotland 1917’.
Most of the team of Sawmill Unit No 3 gathered in front of what could be the site office or perhaps the bunk house in Oct 1917. The number of people per team has usually been reported as around 35 and some members may be missing. The man in the front middle with the white sleeves is Webster Blanchard, foreman of Unit No 3. He was the son of Arthur Blanchard of Blanchard and Gould Lumber Company who provided the finance and initiative to fund a complete sawmill unit that was known as Blanchard and Gould Company or Bulldogs Unit but officially as New England Sawmill Unit No 3. The slightly older man could be one of the senior administrators that managed the affairs of all ten units. The distinctive dog has featured in a number of photographs of Sawmill Unit No 3.
The photographs taken by a member of this company (Webster Balanchard?) that have survived and placed on line by the Acton Historical Society, Massachusetts provide an invaluable record of the work and actions by a band of around 350 men in ten milling groups that helped Britain out in WW1.
Any comments very welcome.
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Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Forestry Areas, Groups of people