Lest We Forget

Pat Duffy, a sixth-generation Islander, has released Lest We Forget, his second book exploring community life and history in Fort Augustus and the surrounding area.

Lest We Forget is a community-focused book that offers a glimpse into Island life during the 20th century. It is divided into three sections.

The first section consists of 13 short stories as seen through the eyes of the author, growing up in rural Fort Augustus during the 1960s and ‘70s. This section will send the reader down memory lane, with a few chuckles along the way.

The second section deals with a more serious matter: the military contributions of local Islanders from 1914 to 2025. It delves into the lives of five local military members who died during the First and Second World Wars, highlighting their civilian lives and how they met their death overseas. This section also includes a list of 176 community members who served during this period.

The third section contains a list of 1152 people buried in St. Patrick’s Ancestral Cemetery, along with a brief note on each individual. This section offers a valuable resource for anyone researching their family history with roots in the Fort Augustus area.

“There is so much history in Island communities and the window of opportunity of retaining that history is quickly closing,” says Duffy. “My hope is to record as much of it as possible so current and future generations can maintain a link to the contributions and sacrifices made by their ancestors.”  

To purchase the book, contact the author at patduffy.2058@gmail.com or 902-213-0702.