Remembering today - 30 September

Seaman PETER MACKENZIE, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 23 Borve, died today in 1916 at the age of 37
Seaman WILLIAM MACKENZIE, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 1A Swordale, died today in 1916 at the age of 24

Seaman JOHN MACDONALD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 27 Coll, died today in 1918 at the age of 37
Leading Deckhand DONALD MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 20 Balallan, died today in 1918 at the age of 39
Seaman JOHN MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 14 South Bragar, died today in 1918 at the age of 30
Seaman JOHN MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 14 South Bragar, died today in 1918 at the age of 33

Seaman JOHN MURDO MORRISON, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 24 South Bragar, died today in 1919 at the age of 24

Remembering today - 29 September

Lance-Corporal RODERICK DAN MACLEOD, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, late of 39A Balallan, died today in 1915 at the age of 25

Lance-Corporal DUGALD MACLEOD, Gordon Highlanders, late of 13 Calbost, died today in 1917 at the age of 25
Private ALEX YOUNG, Highland Light Infantry, late of 8 Ballantrushal, died today in 1917

Gunner SAMUEL NICOLSON, Royal Garrison Artillery, late of 13 Garden Road, Stornoway, died today in 1918 at the age of 22

Remembering today - 28 September

Seaman J MACDONALD, Royal Naval Reserve, died today in 1917. His last place of residence is not known.

Gunner NEIL GRAHAM, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late of 40 Upper Coll, died today in 1944 at the age of 21.

Remembering today - 27 September

Private DONALD JOHN MACARTHUR, Scots Guards, late of 12 Plantation Road, Stornoway, died today in 1915 at the age of 26

Captain WILLIAM A WESTGARTH, Merchant Navy, late of 5 Goathill Road, Stornoway, died today in 1942 at the age of 56.

Remembering today - 26 September

Stoker 1st Class ALEXANDER KERSLAKE WADE, Royal Navy, late of 7 Magdala Road, Highgate, London, died today in 1915 at the age of 22
Private MURDO MACLENNAN, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 16 Plantation Road, Stornoway, died today in 1915 at the age of 28
Lance-Corporal ALEX MACLEOD, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 38 Point Street, Stornoway, died today in 1915 at the age of 21

Leading Seaman NORMAN MACINNES, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 2 Hill Street North Tolsta, died today in 1916 at the age of 25
Major NORMAN GEORGE MORRISON MACLEOD, Canadians, late of Woodside Cottage Scotland Street, Stornoway, died today in 1916 at the age of 25
Private JOHN MORRISON, Canadians, late of 8 Lionel, died today in 1916 at the age of 34
Seaman JOHN MURRAY, Merchant Navy, late of 23 Benside, died today in 1916 at the age of 25
Private NEIL MURRAY, Canadians, late of 52 Lower Barvas, died today in 1916 at the age of 30

Private DONALD MATHESON FRASER, Royal Scots, late of Uig Manse Baile na Cille, died today in 1917 at the age of 25
Private JAMES STEWART, Canadians, late of 10 Bells Road, Stornoway, died today in 1917 at the age of 26

MURELLA MACFARLANE, late of 25 Kenneth Street, Stornoway, died today in 1941 at the age of 54.

Remembering today - 25 September

Private JOHN MACDONALD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 3A Mid Borve, died today in 1915 at the age of 22
Private JOHN MACDONALD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 34 Lower Shader, died today in 1915 at the age of 19
Private MURDO MACDONALD, Gordon Highlanders, late of 2 Caversta, died today in 1915 at the age of 20
Seaman MURDO MACKAY, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 50 Lower Garrabost, died today in 1915 at the age of 24
Private DONALD MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 2 Habost, Lochs, died today in 1915 at the age of 27
Private DONALD JOHN MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 21 Carloway, died today in 1915 at the age of 21
Sergeant JOHN MACLEOD, Highland Light Infantry, late of 1 Holm, died today in 1915 at the age of 35
Private JOHN MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 20 Leurbost, died today in 1915
Sergeant JOHN MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 1 Enaclete, died today in 1915 at the age of 25
MALCOLM MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 1 Crulivig, died today in 1915
Private MURDO JOHN MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 17 Balallan, died today in 1915 at the age of 25
Seaman WILLIAM MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 10 Portnaguran, died today in 1915 at the age of 28
Private JOHN MACSWEEN, Cameron Highlanders, late of 3 Tolsta Chaolais, died today in 1915
Private DONALD MATHESON, Cameron Highlanders, late of 26 Brue, died today in 1915 at the age of 20
Private MURDO SMITH, Cameron Highlanders, late of 24 Borve, died today in 1915 at the age of 21
Private MURDO SMITH, Gordon Highlanders, late of 22 Fivepenny, died today in 1915 at the age of 20

Seaman FINLAY MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 4 Aird, died today in 1919 at the age of 22

Flying Officer CHARLES ERIC DEWAR, Royal Air Force, late of 1 Lewis Street, Stornoway, died today in 1941 at the age of 27.

Leading Seaman MURDO MACLEOD, Royal Navy, Patrol Service, late of 32 Newmarket, died today in 1943 at the age of 28

Remembering today - 24 September

Leading Boatman JOHN MACLEOD, Coastguard, late of 33 Ranish, died today in 1914 at the age of 40

Local connections: Ness, 1943

Associated with Fivepenny
Pilot Officer DONALD MORRISON MCLENNAN
Son of Donald and Jessie McLennan, of 2056 West Thirteenth Street, Vancouver.  
Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Service number: J/26332
Date of death: 24 June 1943 at the age of 19
Interred: Burnaby Masonic Cemetery, Plot 12. Sec. G. Grave 1.

You may think, what does a Canadian airman do in the listings for Fivepenny, Ness? Well, it was a tribute in the Stornoway Gazette for 20 August 1943 that made the connection - as the father came from Fivepenny.

Relatives and friends in the Ness district will regret to learn that P.O. Donald Maclennan, son of Mr and Mrs Donald Maclennan, 2056 West Thirteenth Street, Vancouver, has been killed in a flying accident in Eastern Canada. P.O. Maclennan, 19, was born in Vancouver and attended Lord Tennyson and Kitsilano High Schools and University of British Columbia. He enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in July last year and was later attached to the R.A.F. Ferry Command. Mr Donald Maclennan, snr., was a native of Fivepenny, Ness. His son had never been in Lewis.

Remembering today - 23 September

Private DONALD MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 11 Upper Garrabost, died today in 1916 at the age of 20

Corporal DONALD MACIVER, Scottish Rifles, late of 12 Laxay, died today in 1918 at the age of 27
Private MALCOLM MORRISON, Cameron Highlanders, late of 6 Eorodale, died today in 1918 at the age of 26

Sergeant MALCOLM JOHN MACRITCHIE, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late of 4 Ardroil, died today in 1943 at the age of 22.

Remembering today - 22 September

Sergeant MALCOLM MACDONALD, Canadians, late of 3 Stenish, died today in 1916 at the age of 29

Seaman MALCOLM MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 23 Garenin, died today in 1918 at the age of 43

Leading Seaman DONALD MACAULAY, Royal Naval Reserve, late of Bayview Port of Ness, died today in 1940 at the age of 34.

Remembering today - 21 September

Private DONALD MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 8 Tong, died today in 1918

Seaman MURDO MURRAY, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 5 North Dell, died today in 1941 at the age of 29.

Sergeant (Air gunner) KENNETH MACKENZIE, Royal Air Force, late of 5 Ropework Road, Stornoway, died today in 1943 at the age of 22.

Remembering today - 20 September

Private JOHN MACKENZIE, Gordon Highlanders, late of 13 Knock, Point, died today in 1915 at the age of 18

Private JAMES MACKENZIE, 1st Parachute Regiment, late of 3 Ropework Road, Stornoway, died today in 1944 at the age of 30.

Local connections unearthed

There are several names of men who served during WW2, whose links to the Isle of Lewis are not readily recognised. The connection is revealed in the pages of the Stornoway Gazette from the years 1939-1945.

So far, I have located four names.

Stornoway man, Donald Campbell Smith, late of 14 Point Street died on 6 June 1942, and, as an RAF sergeant, is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 93.

John Macdonald was the son of Donald and Annie Macdonald of 1 Upper Adabrock. He perished in the sinking of HMS Grove on 12 June 1942, aged 27.

Murdo Gillies was the son of Donald and Catherine Gillies, of Greenock, previously 36 South Shawbost. He was an artillery man lost during the siege of Tobruk on 30 September 1941,

Another Desert Rat was Lieutenant Donald Maciver, son of Donald Maciver (originally of Laxay), latterly of Glasgow. He was serving in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders when he fell at El Alamein in October 1942.

 We will remember them.

Remembering today - 19 September

Seaman DONALD MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 7 Lionel, died today in 1914 at the age of 23
Seaman JOHN MACRITCHIE, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 42 Swainbost, died today in 1914 at the age of 22

Private DUNCAN MCLEOD, Australian Imperial Forces, A.I.F. 2/2 Motor Amb.Coy., late of Lochcroistean, died today in 1943 at the age of 42

Remembering today - 18 September

Seaman WILLIAM MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 14 Sheshader, died today in 1915 at the age of 23

Gunner KENNETH MACIVER, Royal Field Artillery, late of 9 North Shawbost, died today in 1916 at the age of 25

Company Sergeant-Major DONALD MACDONALD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 5 Balallan, died today in 1918 at the age of 41

Remembering today - 17 September

Seaman ALEXANDER FINLAYSON, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 10 Calbost, died today in 1939 at the age of 20

The Emirau Incident - 3

The sinking of the Rangitane
Stornoway Gazette, 10 January 1941
It should be noted that Alex Macrae died in May 1941 upon returning home. More on his part in the story of the Rangitane in this earlier post on this blog.

It was learned in Stornoway on Monday that Mr Alex Macrae, Chief Freezing Engineer on the British merchantman Rangitane, was among the 500 people marooned on Emirau Island, Terr. of New Guinea, by a German raider and rescued by a British ship from Australia.
Great anxiety had been felt for Mr Macrae's safety for some weeks, after it became known that his ship had been sunk by an enemy raider in the Pacific. The news that he is safe has given great pleasure to many acquaintances in his native town.
Another well known Lewis seaman for whose safety anxiety has recently been felt is Capt Roderick Mackenzie of Sandwick, formerly of the Esperance Bay. Capt Mackenzie retired from the sea and settled down in Australia early in 1940, but the call of his old profession was irresistible. One day when he came home from the golf course he was informed that there was a vacancy and the Company would be delighted if he would take it. He accepted and returned to sea. Not long after the ship had sailed, it was intercepted and sunk by an enemy raider. The news that the ship had been sunk gave great anxiety to his relatives in Sandwick when they were informed, but a later letter brought the news that he was a prisoner of war. No further news has been received up to the time of writing, but his friends hope that he too may prove to be among those rescued from Emirau.

The Emirau Incident - 2

The sinking of the Rangitane
Stornoway Gazette - 9 May 1941

Every member of the community rejoiced with Mrs Donald Mackay, Lighthouse Road, Portvoller, on receipt of the news that her son, Donald, was among the survivors landed in Australia from a British ship sunk by German raiders. Donald was an AB on the Rangitane when she was trapped by three German raiders. There was one to each side and one in front so thefate of the Rangitane was sealed. They shelled her from both sides and in a short time she was burning in three places.

There were some casualties among the crew and passengers, some of them fatal, but Donald was fortunate enough to escape uninjured. Along with others, he was picked up by one of the raiders, and on board were some of the crews of several other vessels, all victims of this nefarious form of warfare.

Among them were two other Lewismen, D. Macleod, Ranish, Lochs (Christchurch, New Zealand); and D. Macdonald, Skigersta, Ness (Wellington, New Zealand). They were on the raider for 12 days, suffering terrible hardships and privations. Donald characteristically makes light of his experience and dismisses it with "It was an adventure which I shouldn't care to repeat".

Because of overcrowding, the raider put them ashore on Emirau Island in the South Pacific. On the island, beside the native population, were two Australians, Mr and Mrs Cook. They had two small boats, and when they saw the raider appear, they hauled one up a creek and hid it among some trees. The wisdom of this precaution was shown, for when the Germans landed, they destroyed the other boat and, having put ashore in all 300 men, women and children, with scanty provisions, left them to their fate. When the Germans were safely away, Mr Cook, offered the remaining boat, with the information that the nearest island was 75 miles away and had a wireless station. The mate gratefully accepted and called for volunteers. Donald was among the first, taking charge of the helm with such enthusiasm that the mate cautioned "Don't upset her, Mac". Donald replied "No fear, sir, she can stand it all". The mate's smiling remark was "You ought to know what a small boat can stand. You comefrom the Hebrides".

His confidence was justified and they got safely to their destination and their message was picked up by a boat which took them off and landed them in Townsville, Northern Queensland, Australia. From there, they were sent by train to Sydney. The journey was many hundred miles, but at every station were enthusiastic crowds to greet tham and shower on them gifts of refreshments and cigarettes. When they got to Sydney, they were boarded at the ship's company's expense at an hotel and provided with a very much needed outfit. Donald's friends will not be surprised to hear that the Sydney outfitter had nothing in stock to fit him. Meantime he has taken employment on the Australian coast and we heartily wish him luck.

On 25 February 1916, his father, who was in the RNR when the World War broke out, lost his life when his ship, the Genista, was torpedoed off Ireland. He left four sons, Dugald, the eldest, is in the Metropolitan Force in Toronto, Canada; Roderick is a coxswain in the RNR; Angusis second in command of one of HM minesweeping trawlers; Donald, the youngest is in the Merchant Service. They carry on their father's tradition, preserving the liberties and privileges for which he fought and died, and nobly upholding the honour of Britain and her empire.

The Emirau Incident - 1

This account of the sinking of the Rangitane (full story on link) seems to make fairly light of the incident and its aftermath. For historical record, it is worthy of a read though.

Stornoway Gazette, 28 November 1941

THE SINKING OF THE RANGITANE
FROM S. THEODORE FELSTEAD'S ACCOUNT IN "THE PEOPLE"

The brief dark hours of a November night last year "down under" were nearly over. At radio stations in Australia and New Zealand, operators, earphones clasped to their heads sat bored but alert. The night had been uneventful except for routine traffic. Then out of space came a message which was to prove the prologue to a drama of murder and piracy almost unparalleled in the annals of the sea.

Rangitane calling - Rangitane calling - suspicious vessel in sight. Stand by for further news.

It was 3.40 am and the captain had retired to his cabin when suddenly the lookout man saw a dark blur on the port bow. The officer of the watch rang for Captain Upton, and in two minutes the master of the ship, with a dressing gown over his shoulders, was on the bridge. The two officers were dumbfounded when they saw not one ship but three, perilously closed to the Rangitane.

The Rangitane's decks were now a blaze of light. From the three ships that had closed right around her searchlights operated from the mastheads closed on her like a trap. As the gunners got the range, shell after shell began to fall on the liner. In five minutes, the Rangitane became a shambles. She was ablaze. Women in their ganoy were calling for help. Many cabins on the port side had been wrecked and to add to the confusion, the electric light had failed. Officers and men comforted the passengers as the shells exploded. In the bowels of the ship, the crew fought fires. Passengers, choked and blinded, struggled into alleyways in the darkness, groping for staircases and lifts. From smashed pipes came streams of water.
The women were marvellous as the Germans themselves testified later. Captain Upton said it might have been a church parade, so calm was everybody.

On the raiders

The 300 odd survivors from the Rangitaine drew alongside the raiders to be greeted by a crowed of shock-headed young Germans, who hung over the railings and jeered. Some of them were taking movie pictures.
Coffee brought from the galley was filthy stuff, full of grounds and black as ink. For food, the Huns provided large slices of bread, smothered with evil-smelling lard that no one could eat.
Heaven alone knows what some of the passengers endured. Children with shattered limbs, women suffering agony from shell wounds and members of the Rangitane's complement with nothing but what they stood up in were herded indiscriminately by the raiders.
Many of the Nazi officers spoke excellent English. The stout doctor,clad in spotless white drill and only anxious to please, expressed great wonderment that none of the women ever gave way to tears. "Well, you see, doctor," replied one of the women, "How can we cry, we haven't any handkerchiefs". This failed to penetrate the doctor's sense of humour, but he sent down half a dozen handkerchiefs. The women complained that they had no clothes, apart from what they were wearing, so he gave them sheets to cut up. Forty-eight hours later English women were walking about the decks of the raiders wearing white shorts and skirts.
When dusk came, the prisoners had to return to the holds, hatch covers were clamped over them and for 16 hours at least there was nothing to do but to sit and stew in the foul airless atmosphere and discuss with endless argument how the raiders had almost to a hundred yards the Rangitane's route.
After wearisome days of steaming, days interspersed with tragedy as ship after ship was sunk by the pirate flotilla and the Island of Nauru was shelled, the raiders reached Emirau Island in the Bismarck archipelago. That was on December 21st. To their joy, the prisoners were told they were going to be put ashore.

On Emirau Island

On the jetty, hands outstretched, were four lean sunburnt Aussies, taking as a matter of course the arrival of the strange convoy and eager to hear what had happened. They had brought a motor lorry to carry women and baggage to their plantation.
On the verandas of their home, the planter and his wife, undismayed at the prospect of looking after 500 strangers, waited to greet them. The guest house was turned into a hospital for the wounded and the rest of the castaways, tired out, slept on the grass.
A greater problem was food. Cook, the cobra planter, who ruled Emirau, slaughtered a greatly prized bullock for fresh meat, and by midday this was cut up and sizzling appetisingly over scores of camp fires dotted along the sands. But a bullock was barely a day's ration among so many, and parties of castaways went roaming over the island for papayas, limes and yams. The natives, descendants of fuzzy haired head hunters and fierce cannibals, were friendly. From their villages they brought sweet potatotes and other tropical vegetables as gifts.
The sunkissed days that followed were as near perfection as anything can be in this world. Around the fires, they would be listening to the whispering surf and talking of home and presently someone would begin to sing "Lily of Laguna", "Home Sweet Home", or some other nostalgic melody. Then they would all join in and the tune would go sweeping over the island to the wheezy accompaniment of an old concertina.
Often the natives would come down from the village and listen to their singing. A missionary had taught them English, and they would sing in high pitched voices, old Chapel hymns or sometimes, to the soft background of strumming ukuleles, they would chant the haunting folksongs of the island. At sunset on Christmas eve, a party of carol singers, men, women and children, set out to tour the principal camps. Twelve thousand miles away in England, other carollers were singing "Good King Wenceslas" and "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him" and there on Emirau the same words went echoing sweetly through the palm trees.
On December 27th, a small steamer dropped anchor off the island. She was the SS Nellore from Queensland and by noon the 500 castaways were lining her decks, waving a last farewell tot he planter and his wife.

Remembering today - 16 September

Warrant Officer ROBERT MACDONALD, Royal Navy, late of 22 New Street, Stornoway, died today in 1915 at the age of 39

Private ALEX MORRISON, Canadians, late of 20 Marvig, died today in 1916 at the age of 39

Seaman NEIL MACDONALD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 21 Ballantrushal, died today in 1917 at the age of 24

Able Seaman JOHN MACKENZIE, Merchant Navy, late of Stornoway, died today in 1918 at the age of 22

Private THOMAS MACLEOD, Canadians, late of 14 Stenish, died today in 1919 at the age of 27

Remembering today - 15 September

Private ANGUS PATERSON, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 5 Upper Barvas, died today in 1914 at the age of 18

Second Lieutenant MURDO MACKENZIE MACFARQUHAR, King's Own Scottish Borderers, late of Dell House South Dell, died today in 1916 at the age of 27
Private NORMAN MURRAY, Scots Guards, late of 14 Upper Bayble, died today in 1916 at the age of 19

Sergeant JOHN SMITH, US Army, late of 2 Maciver's Buildings, Stornoway, died today in 1918 at the age of 35

Chief Engineer ALEXANDER MACLEOD, Merchant Navy, late of 60 Back, died today in 1941 at the age of 41.
JOHN MORRISON, late of 30 Lionel, died today in 1941 at the age of 39.
MURDO MORRISON, late of 30 Lionel, died today in 1941 at the age of 47.

Private CATHERINE MACRAE, Auxiliary Territorial Service, Royal Artillery, attd. 449 Bty., 130 H.A.A. (H) Regt., late of Eishken, died today in 1942 at the age of 25.

Mockery

During its session at Letterfearn, Kintail, in August 1883, the Napier Commission was hearing some breathtaking tales of abuse of crofters and tenants in the villages of Bundaloch and Carndhu. I copy part of the reply from witness John Macrae (in reply to question 31277 by Sir Kenneth Mackenzie).

[...] After that we met with the factor at the schoolhouse, Dornie, but all he did was to make fun of us, telling us to take crops out of the rocks, and to imitate the earth worms who were splendid drainers. And further he told us that the blood went from the heart to the top of the head, and then went downwards to the soles of our feet. This signified that men now-a-days were asking too much, but that they would be checked. A vessel was sent to the country loaded with potatoes by the proprietor, but the factor went amongst the better class of people to give them a supply, and kept from the poorer classes all knowledge of it ; and had it not been for the parish minister, who through charity and kindness got a supply for us, we should have been in a very bad state indeed. Had it not been for the minister of Dornie, many of the poor people here would have been in danger of dying of want during the spring. The nuns provided them with work.

Arrears

One cause for eviction in the 19th century would be that the tenant was in arrears with his rent. During the Napier Commission's hearings at Letterfearn, Kintail, in August 1883, the following was said on the subject by witness Farquhar Macrae of Bundaloch. Sir Kenneth Mackenzie is asking the questions:

31276. What have you to say on behalf of these people?
—I have not much to say, but I have been left destitute as well as my father, who was paying rent before my day. I was the head of the family after my father died. My sheep were taken from me for a trifle, and the whole of the people were treated in the same way. We have been robbed. The proprietor did not wait to see what we might be able to do. We are told that the proprietor declares we were largely in arrears of rent; but the arrears were not so large as represented. Many of these arrears were two hundred years old, lying always in the book, handed over from one proprietor to another. Another thing is, they wished to get hold of our receipts, and when they did they were burned and rent books given instead. Then they renewed the arrears against us for which they had receipts, after the receipts had been destroyed.

31277. I hope you will be cautious to say nothing you are not sure about ?

Remembering today - 14 September

Seaman KENNETH JOHN MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 7B Ranish, died today in 1914 at the age of 19

Seaman KENNETH CAMPBELL, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 9 Portnaguran, died today in 1918 at the age of 23
Private JOHN MACKINNON, Cameron Highlanders, late of 13 Ranish, died today in 1918 at the age of 19

Seaman MURDO GRAHAM, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 84 North Tolsta, died today in 1942 at the age of 27.

Remembering today - 13 September

Seaman ALEX MACRAE, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 23 Upper Bayble, died today in 1918 at the age of 20
Seaman DONALD MORRISON, Merchant Navy, late of 3 Cross, died today in 1918 at the age of 45

Seaman ALEXANDER MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 20 Back, died today in 1941

The diaspora

I have found that there are quite a few casualties with connections to the Isle of Lewis than are officially recognised as such. No fewer than three such examples arose from an article in the Stornoway Gazette of 10 April 1942. The CWGC records for Ivor Morgan Macleod Rees, Walter Lewis Macleod Gilmour and Angus Victor Macleod Gilmour show no obvious connection to the island. Ivor's demise was noted in the Hampstead and Highgate Express. The Gazette adds the family relations, in that Walter and Angus are two cousins of Ivor's who also made the supreme sacrifice. The former two's parents originally came from Portvoller.

The names of all three men have now been added to the online WW2 tribute for Lewis.

Remembering today - 12 September

Private KENNETH MACARTHUR, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 2 Park Carloway, died today in 1916 at the age of 24

Seaman DONALD MACIVER, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 9 Aird Uig, died today in 1918 at the age of 28

Able Seaman MALCOLM MACIVER, Royal Naval Reserve, Patrol Service, late of Back, died today in 1943 at the age of 32.

Remembering today - 11 September

Sergeant MALCOLM MACLEOD, Canadians, late of 30B Arnol, died today in 1916 at the age of 24

Able Seaman DONALD MACRITCHIE, Merchant Navy, late of 8 Gravir Glen, died today in 1940 at the age of 43.

Fireman / Trimmer ALEXANDER MURDO MACLEOD, Merchant Navy, late of 53 Kenneth Street, Stornoway, died today in 1942 at the age of 42.

Private MALCOLM SMITH, Scots Guards, late of Moorhouse Borve, died today in 1943 at the age of 30.

Remembering today - 10 September

Private DONALD LACHLAN MACLEAN, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, late of 3 Newton Street, Stornoway, died today in 1915 at the age of 27

Sergeant GEORGE MACDONALD, Canadians, late of 18 Laxay, died today in 1918 at the age of 30

Corporal RODERICK BUCHANAN, 2nd Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment), late of 89 Newmarket, died today in 1944 at the age of 21.

Remembering today - 9 September

Private ALEX MACAULAY, Canadians, late of 10 Lower Sandwick, died today in 1916 at the age of 37
Private COLIN SMITH, Canadians, late of 43 Lower Barvas, died today in 1916 at the age of 30

Seaman DONALD GRAHAM, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 19 South Bragar, died today in 1917 at the age of 30

Remembering today - 8 September

Private MATTHEW MURRAY, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, late of 20 Church Street, Stornoway, died today in 1916 at the age of 28

Seaman FINLAY MONTGOMERY, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 1 Habost, Lochs, died today in 1917 at the age of 31

Remembering today - 7 September

Seaman JOHN MACASKILL, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 4 Flesherin, died today in 1917 at the age of 37

Aircraftsman 1st class ARCHIBALD MACRAE RODGER, Royal Air Force, late of 59 Keith Street, Stornoway, died today in 1939 at the age of 20.

Flight Sergeant DANIEL MCLEMAN, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve, late of Manor Farm, Stornoway, died today in 1945 at the age of 22.

Remembering today - 6 September

Private KENNETH MACLEAN, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 42 Kenneth Street, Stornoway, died today in 1917 at the age of 30

Gunner DONALD MURRAY, Royal Artillery, 226 Bty., 14 (M) H.A.A. 'Z' Regt., late of 44 South Bragar, died today in 1943 at the age of 42.

Private DONALD GRAHAM, 2nd Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, late of 9 Lower Shader, died today in 1944 at the age of 24.

A double blow

As I was perusing the witnesses to the Napier Commission from Benbecula and South Uist, I came across the death record of a John Mcleod from Buailedhu, one of the Iochdar villages in South Uist. Below his entry on the record, I found one for a little girl, aged 3, who had died of whooping cough on 12 May 1916. She had been suffering from the ailment for 24 days. Her name was Ann Macdonald, of Stilligarry, South Uist. Her mother was called Mary (nee Macinnes), and it was she that had to report the death. The girl's father was Sergeant Donald Macdonald of the Cameron Highlanders, at that moment fighting at the Western Front.

A quick glance at the war casualties of South Uist confirms that Mary Macdonald suffered a second blow some three months later on 23 August 1916, when her husband Donald was killed in action .

Serjeant Donald Macdonald
Son of John and Catherine MacDonald, of South Uist; husband of Mary MacDonald, of Stillgary, Lochboisdale, South Uist.
Last known address in South Uist: Stilligarry
Military unit: 6th Cameron Highlanders
Service number: 3/3546
Date of death: 23 August 1916 at the age of 26
Interred: Millencourt Communal cemetery extension, F. 13
Local memorial: South Uist

Remembering today - 5 September

Seaman JOHN CAMPBELL, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 21 Lower Bayble, died today in 1915 at the age of 34

Lance-Corporal NEIL MACLEAN, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 17, North Side Callanish, died today in 1916 at the age of 30

Private ALEX MACLEOD, Canadians, late of 3 Coulregrein, died today in 1917 at the age of 26

Chief Steward FRANK JAMES FOX, Merchant Navy, late of Hull, died today in 1940 at the age of 65.

Lance Corporal HECTOR ALLAN ALLAN MACKENZIE, 1st (The London Scottish) Gordon Highlanders, late of 56 Keith Street, Stornoway, died today in 1944 at the age of 27

Remembering today - 4 September

Seaman NEIL MACKAY, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 36B Breasclete, died today in 1917 at the age of 33

Private PETER MACINTYRE, Royal Naval Division, late of 31 Newton Street, Stornoway, died today in 1918 at the age of 23

Second Engineer Officer EDWARD JOSEPH PEARSON, Merchant Navy, late of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died today in 1940 at the age of 54.

Gunner DONALD MACDONALD, Royal Horse Artillery, 13 (Honourable Artillery Coy.) Regt, late of 14 Balallan, died today in 1944 at the age of 33.

Remembering today - 3 September

Private KENNETH MACKENZIE, Cameron Highlanders, late of 11 Arivruaich, died today in 1916 at the age of 22
Sergeant DONALD MACLEOD, Cameron Highlanders, late of 1 Upper Barvas, died today in 1916
Private JOHN MURRAY, Cameron Highlanders, late of 12 Upper Garrabost, died today in 1916 at the age of 19
Private WILLIAM NICOLSON, Canadians, late of 21 Ranish, died today in 1916 at the age of 23
Private DONALD SMITH, Cameron Highlanders, late of 16 Upper Shader, died today in 1916 at the age of 20

Seaman ALEX KENNEDY, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 4 Cromore, died today in 1917 at the age of 21

Seaman MALCOLM MURRAY, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 20 Swainbost, died today in 1940 at the age of 20

Remembering today - 2 September

Corporal JOHN MACRITCHIE, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 28 Lionel, died today in 1918 at the age of 24

Aircraftsman 1st class ANGUS FINLAY MURRAY, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late of 25 Cross Skigersta Road, died today in 1944 at the age of 26

Remembering today - 1 September

Fireman and trimmer MURDO MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 14 South Bragar, died today in 1916 at the age of 25

Private JOHN MACIVER, Seaforth Highlanders, late of 21 Kirkibost, Great Bernera, died today in 1918 at the age of 26
Private DONALD MACLEOD, Canadians, late of 41 Park Carloway, died today in 1918 at the age of 32
Private ALEX DONALD MURRAY, Australians, late of 20 Church Street, Stornoway, died today in 1918 at the age of 25

Seaman MURDO MACDONALD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 20 Newton Street, Stornoway, died today in 1940 at the age of 20.
Seaman MURDO MACLEOD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 5 Tolsta Chaolais, died today in 1940 at the age of 21.

Seaman MURDO MACDONALD, Royal Naval Reserve, late of 38 Upper Bayble, died today in 1941 at the age of 31.