The US ambassador to the UK has pledged to "spread the word" about the actions of people on a Scottish island when dealing with the aftermath of two ship disasters which took place off its coast 100 years ago.

Robert "Woody" Johnson's comments follow a commemoration service to honour the 700 men who lost their lives in the Tuscania and Ontrato tragedies in 1918.

The downing of the ships saw many US personnel lose their lives as well as British troops.

Stories of heroism and humanity have been told of how the islanders responded, which have made Mr Johnson want to tell them to the people of his country.

He said: "I don't think the American people know about this but I think it's important enough - this is a story Americans should really know.

"It will appeal to Americans because it's the kind of attitude that they have on Islay to be able to accomplish something so heroic, with no warning whatsoever.

"How did they act so incredibly well on that day? You could be planning for 10 years and you couldn't do a better job.

"So, my hats off to them, I think this is something that would interest the American people, if they knew. I'm going to spread the word."

The SS Tuscania had almost completed its transatlantic voyage, carrying 2,500 British and US troops, when it was torpedoed by a German u-boat.

Most onboard were rescued by the Royal Navy but more than 200 men were lost at sea, with many swept up on the shore of Islay.

A flag was made by islanders to be flown during the burial of the US troops on the island, stitched together within eight hours.

This was later put into the care of the Smithsonian Institution, across the Atlantic.

Now, after two years of work by Islay museum's Jenni Minto, the flag has returned to go on show in the Museum of Islay Life.

The HMS Ontranto was smashed into by another vessel off the west coast of Islay during a storm in late 1918.

Private David Roberts was among a number of people saved by brothers Donald and John McPhee, who lived on the island nearby.

About 470 people lost their lives in the incident.

Hundreds of bodies washed ashore in the days which followed the wrecking of the ship, on October 6.

Many US troops were saved by HMS Mounsey after the accident but those that could not escape the Otranto were swept toward the Islay reef that wrecked the ship.

A belt and shepherd's crook were the tools used by the brothers to rescue people who had been on board when disaster struck.