3 ' ZIHarry MacTavish

Harry MacTavish’s birthplace, the family farm in Iona, dates back to I 823 . But it lies vacant now. Harry learned his trade in the wood-working factory on the old farm and built a new house and new factory for himself in 1934. He lived there alone until his 1964 marriage to German—born Rose F ifer.

Harry was the great wit of the Belfast area. Although he could be serious, subdued, even bitter at times, his stories and one-liners are his legacy, and the retelling of them, his friends’ greatest entertainment.

1 don’t know what your politics is. None of my damn business. I always loved [politics] but there was never a price on me at all. Do you see? There was a price on a lot of stuff. And if you had the price you’d get the man and if you hadn’t you wouldn’t... . It didn’t matter a damn to me which party was canvassing or doing the running. Oh well, I’d say I found the government on the Island better...than the federal. And I found the Libs better than the Cons. [But] it’s the same racket.1

I’ve kept nothing back. I spent four years in the lines so I decided, by God, whatever I could get, could come.

Shell Hardened

When I went to school I read a lot in history about war and I decided, I,“ see it for myself. What it’s like. And if I come back it’s all right and lfl don’t I’lljust be another dead one... That’s the way I sized it up. But I came

1- Harry may have been having some sport with the interviewer, because it was a well— known fact in the Belfast area that Harry was a true and faithful supporter of the Conservative Party.

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