The Iolaire disaster of 1 January 1919 is the defining tragedy of the modern Outer Hebrides. A converted yacht carrying Lewis servicemen home from the First World War struck the Beasts of Holm rocks at the entrance to Stornoway harbour and sank within hours, killing 201 men. The impact on Lewis — which had already lost hundreds of men in the trenches — was devastating. There are villages where nearly every family lost someone that night.
The memorial, completed in 2019 on the centenary of the disaster, stands near the rocks where the Iolaire went down, on the southern headland at the entrance to Stornoway harbour. The site is accessible on foot or by car from Stornoway town centre. The memorial takes the form of a wave, drawn as a continuous stone line, with the names of the dead. It is one of the most affecting pieces of public art in Scotland.