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.