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World War 1 caused real hardship for Scottish Traveller families.

The state needed every able bodied man, and Travellers, ‘hitherto neglected by the country of their birth’ (not to mention stigmatised and despised) were ‘deemed worthy to fight’ and were called up when conscription came in. This left the women in a difficult position - the nomadic life was much harder without the men. As soldier’s wives they were given an allowance which gave them a steady income to settle with, but people were often so prejudiced against them they wouldn’t give them houses.

Some suffered extreme hardship. The local baptist minister in Wick, the Rev G. A Jeffrey became a staunch advocate for the families and waged a PR campaign in the press to help.

One 17 year old, Johan MacPhie lost her baby soon after giving birth and then heard the terrible news that her husband’s life was in danger in France as he had caught pneumonia. Rev Jeffrey arranged for Johan to make the long journey to visit her husband serving as a soldier in France. She became the first Wick wife to do this and the story was covered in the local papers.

Local historian Harry Gray tells Louise Yeoman about Johan and her story.

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