Biography

Angus Campbell, son of Alasdair Mhurchaidh Òig from Swainbost, was born on the 3rd of September 1908 in Ness, Lewis. He was younger than his brother, who was also named Angus and nicknamed Am Puilean [7728]. In the introduction to the book where his brother's poetry was published, Am Puilean wrote: "The nickname Am Bocsair (The Boxer) was given to him as young lad in Cross School because he was skilled and tough in fist fighting among his peers."

His father was a missionary in the Free Church and the family moved to Berneray when Angus was 10. They lived there from 1918 to 1926, and Angus never lost his connection to the island and the people of Berneray.

B' e 'n tlachd dom shùil bhith tàmh ann
An àm an fhoghair chàilear
'S na h-iomairean fo bhàrr-bhuidhe òr-dhait';
Bidh corc is eòrna fàs ann
Gu crothach, torrach, àillidh,
'S bàrr-guc air a' bhuntàta cho glòrmhor.

Is grinn na lochan sàmhach
Fraoch bagaideach cur sgàil orr'
'S na bric a' faighinn tàmhachd nan òban;
Nad inntinn cinnidh mànran
Ag amharc air an sàr mhais
Nan toireadh aoidh air nàdar dhut sòlas

Tha 'n sluagh ro-chridheil, càirdeil,
An eilean uaine Bheàrn'raigh
'S iad furanach nam fàrdaichean òrdail;
An coigreach gheibh e bàigh ann
Na h-euslaintich gheibh slàint' ann.
'N trom-inntinn gheibh i tàladh le ceòl ann.

Later, the family moved to Upper Bernera in Lewis, and from there Angus went to Glasgow. His mother died in 1930, and soon after his father moved to North Uist, and Angus returned to Ness.

"He spent many happy and prosperous years in Ness. He was an extremely good and musical singer and at that time there was no wedding, concert or ceilidh that did not have a fully satisfied audience when he and Kitty MacLeod [3816] sang, one at a time."

He kept a shop in Ness until he returned to Glasgow in 1933, where he worked for about six years at Hawkhead Hospital.

Taigh Ceann a' Chlamhain
nan daoine tha geanail,
'S ann dhòmhsa nach b' aireach
thighinn tarsainn a-riamh air;
Meadhan an earraich
chaidh mise fo chabair,
'S tha mòran am barail
nach fhaigh mi am-bliadhn' às.

Thuirt Màiri mo phiuthar
gun chuir i orm umhail,
Nuair bhrist mi na h-uighean
's cearc-ghuire sa chliabh oirr;
Gun robh fios aig a' bhaile
an Cros 's anns na Dailean
Gur siud far an stadainn
am amadan cianail.

In 1937 he married Mary Murray (Màiri Dhoileara), the niece of Dòmhnall Chràisgein, The Barvas Bard. They first lived in Glasgow but returned to Lewis in 1940 and made their home in South Dell, where Angus began working as a merchant. They had four children: three sons - Donald, Alasdair and Norman - and a daughter, Cairistìona. Alasdair and Norman are known today as writers.

Angus was not strong or fully healthy, as his brother explained:

"He suffered two serious illnesses in Glasgow that weakened his health, and he was never fully well afterward, although he was able to work until about two years before his death. There was no cure or medicine for his illness at that time; and although it was by slow steps of stealth that the illness crept up on him and gradually weakened him, the sad end was inevitable."

In his last years, his poetry reflected his struggles and a deep faith in God, asking for strength and guidance through his troubles:

Air sgath aon-ghin do ghaoil
Èist a' ghlaodh seo bhon talamh
Tha mo lotan ro bhreun
'S chan eil crè annam fallain;
Ged a rannsaich mi geur
Cha robh lèigh dhomh ri fhaighinn
Dh'fhàs an saoghal dhomh searbh
'S chaidh a dhearbhadh dhomh falamh.

Ach tog thusa mi, Dhè,
Stiùir mo cheum air an rathad
Thoir dhomh comas is dèidh
A bhith rèidh riut gun ghearain;
Stiùireadh m' aignidh 's mo smuain
Air an dùthaich tha maireann
Far na dh'ullaich thu àit'
Rinn do ghràdh dhuinn a cheannach.

Angus died in 1949. Some of his poetry was first published in a small book, Òrain Ghàidhlig, in 1943, and a larger collection, Bàrdachd a' Bhocsair, was published by MacDonald Publishers in Edinburgh in 1978.

Singers still appreciate many of his songs, especially Osag Chùbhraidh nam Beannaibh and Air Bhàrr nan Tonn gun Siùbhlamaid."

List of compositions

An Cruthachadh Nuadh