Four out of five

This gravestone, dedicated to the memory of a family of Macleods of Portnaguran, Point, stands in the Eye Cemetery. Although poorly legible nowadays, it relates the losses of four of the sons of Donald and Chirsty Macleod of 10 Portnaguran. Only one of their five sons, Donald, survived the First World War.

Alex was the only soldier; the other four served in the RNR. Alex was killed in action in France or Flanders, after joining up at home in Stornoway.

Although Norman survived the hostilities, he was lost in the Iolaire Disaster, when the ship that took him home sank within sight of Stornoway Harbour on New Year's morning 1919. He might well have seen the Tiumpan Head lighthouse, which stands not far from his home, just before the Iolaire sank.

William too was lost close to shore, but this time off the sandy shores of Belgium, when his requisitioned trawler was sank by fire from a shore battery at Blankenberge, near Zeebrugge.

Angus died at home, after being released from internment at Groningen, Netherlands, for medical reasons. He had been captured by the Dutch in October 1914 when the Royal Naval Division was beaten back from Antwerp. Several battalions crossed into neutral Holland, and into internment for the duration of the war.

Private ALEX MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Portnaguran,
Service unit: 1st Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 3/5655
Date of death: 14 December 1914 at the age of 20
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) panel 38
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Seaman NORMAN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Portnaguran,
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Macleod, of 10, Portnaguran, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Venerable
Service number: 1186TC
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 20
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 32
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Seaman WILLIAM MACLEOD

Last address in Lewis: 10 Portnaguran,
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Macleod, of 10, Portnaguran, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMY Sanda
Service number: 3398A
Date of death: 25 September 1915 at the age of 28
Ship sunk by shore battery at Blankenberge, Belgium
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 14
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Seaman ANGUS MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Portnaguran,
Son of Donald and Christina Maclean Macleod, of 10, Portnaguran, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Victory
Service number: 3303/A
Date of death: 24 June 1916 at the age of 27
Died at home.
Interred: Eye / Aignish Cemetery, grave D. 1. 53.
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)
Was released from internment in Holland for medical reasons