Biography

Donald Alasdair Johnson was born in 1889 and lived in Ardmore. He moved to Glasgow at the age of eighteen and worked at sea before getting a job in the dockyards. He served in the Royal Naval Division during World War I and was injured twice in the line of duty. He returned to South Uist after the war and married Annie MacLean, who died in 1962. Donald Alasdair was also a fine storyteller and learnt most of his stories from his father, who was originally from Eriskay.

Donald Alasdair was recorded by fieldworkers from the School of Scottish Studies on numerous occasions between 1969 and 1975. His recordings mostly consist of stories, local history, customs, songs and tunes.