A guide to the Clans and Tartans of Scotland: From Scottish Clan Information to Clan Merchandise, Handmade Kilts, Highland Outfits ... everything a true Scot should need and know.

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January 31 in Scottish History

Today in 1788 Prince Charles Edward Stewart, "The Young Pretender", died in Rome. After leading the ’45 rebellion Stuart slid into a life of obscurity. He ended his days as an alcoholic in Rome, known as the Duke of Albany, with a failed marriage behind him, and his dreams of a Stuart restoration unfulfilled.

On January 31 1918, the Battle of the Isle of May occurred - 100 men died in a series of collisions in the Firth of Forth, involving submarines and surface ships. The exercise was so secret that not even Royal Navy minesweepers patrolling the sea just a couple of miles away were aware of it. On a misty night, with all navigation aids switched off, it was not surprising that disaster resulted. Among several fatal collisions two K-class submarines were sunk. The K-4 was rammed by the K-6 and sank with all on board. The K-17 was hit by HMS Fearless and, although her 56 crew managed to escape, only eight survived in the chaos which followed. Surface vessels soon arrived on the scene, passing over the area so fast that many of the men swimming in the water were sucked under and drowned.