Saturday 8 February 2014

Additions to listings

As I was checking the CWGC website for casualty listings which included to word "stornoway", I came across at least three names of men who had connections to the town, or to the island. The search also yielded results that had no connections to the Isle of Lewis; four lived on Stornoway Road in Southend-on-Sea in Essex; one came from Stornoway in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Captain REGINALD FOWLER GREENHILL
Only son of Mrs. and the late Dr. S. F. Greenhill, of 9, Bank St., Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Last address in Lewis: 9 Bank Street, Stornoway
Service unit: 15th Lancashire Fusiliers
Date of death: 1 January 1918 at the age of 22
Interred: Wimereux Communal Cemetery, grave IV. I. 3

Private JOHN FORREST
Last address in Lewis: Stornoway
Son of Mr. A. M. Forrest, of Beach House, South Beach St., Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Scots Guards
Service number: 9892
Born at Montrose
Enlisted at Paisley
Date of death: 28 September 1915
Died of wounds
Interred: Noeux-les-Mines Communal cemetery, grave I. D. 28.

Private DONALD DRUMMOND
Last address in Lewis: Garrabost
Son of the late Alexander and Jemima Drummond, of Garrabost, Stornoway.
Service unit: 7th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/12696
Date of death: 10 November 1916 at the age of 23
Died of wounds
Interred: Warrington Cemetery, grave C. NC. 717

Archibald Macphee - to be brought in from the cold

A couple of years ago, I managed to have private Norman Morrison, late of South Dell, and private Finlay Maclean, late of Sandwick, "in from the cold". That means that they were awarded Commonwealth War Dead status.

In recent months, I have focused on compiling a listing of Great War casualties from the Southern Isles. This comprises the islands of Harris, Berneray, North Uist, Grimsay, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay. One of the casualties, Archibald Macphee, was found to be a potential candidate for Commonwealth War Dead status as well. The proces is lengthy, and I'll update as developments occur.

Private ARCHIBALD MACPHEE
Last known address in South Uist: Garryhillie
Son of John and Mary Macphee
Service unit: 3rd Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Service number: 3/5553
Date of death: 10 February 1917 at the age of 23
Died at home of illness
Local memorial: South Uist

Pte Macphee died of TB, which he contracted whilst on service. He was repatriated in order to be treated for trench foot. I am indebted to a relative for highlighting this man.

The Great War in Lewis - some figures

Late last year, I completed the bulk of the work on Lewismen lost in the Great War. Using the tag-function of the Blogger platform, I was able to gather the following statistics.

NAMES
Most common first names:
Donald: 242
John: 262
Murdo: 125
Angus: 100
Malcolm: 94

Most common second names:
Macleod: 265
Macdonald: 157
Mackenzie: 87
Morrison: 71
Maciver: 66

VILLAGES
(number of casualties per village)
Point
Aignish: 16
Aird: Point(13
Bayble: 56
Broker: 4
Flesherin: 7
Garrabost: 28
Knock: Point: 18
Portnaguran: 13
Portvoller: 11
Sheshader: 19
Shulishader: 9
Swordale: 12

Stornoway
Benside: 14
Branahuie: 3
Coulregrein: 6
Guershader: 2
Holm: 5
Laxdale: 3
Melbost: 4
Newvalley: 8
Sandwick: 15
Stenish: 7
Stornoway: 145

Back & Tolsta
Aird Tong: 14
Back: 30
Coll: 26
Gress: 1
North Tolsta: 52
Tong: 9
Vatisker: 13

Ness
Adabrock: 7
Aird Dell: 3
Cross: 8
Eorodale: 9
Eoropie: 9
Fivepenny: 13
Habost: 22
Knockaird: 7
Lionel: 17
North Dell: 6
Port of Ness(4
Skigersta: 6
South Dell: 23
Swainbost: 16

West Side
Arnol: 20
Ballantrushal: 15
Barvas: 20
Borve: 19
Bragar: 32
Brue: 12
Shader: 31
Shawbost: 39

Uig
Aird Uig: 3
Borrowston: 3
Breasclete: 21
Brenish: 7
Callanish: 19
Carishader: 2
Carloway: 38
Crowlista: 9
Enaclete: 1
Garenin: 11
Geshader: 2
Islivig: 2
Kinlochroag: 1
Kirivick: 9
Kneep: 4
Mangersta: 2
Tolsta Chaolais: 14
Uigen: 2
Valtos: 10

Great Bernera
Breaclet: 4
Croir: 2
Crulivig: 3
Earshader: 1
Kirkibost: 6
Lundale: 5
Hacklet: 3

Lochs
Achmore: 7
Arivruaich: 4
Balallan: 19
Calbost: 7
Caversta: 2
Cromore: 4
Crossbost: 13
Garyvard: 2
Gravir: 11
Grimshader: 3
Habost: 6
Keose: 2
Kershader: 5
Laxay: 8
Lemreway: 6
Leurbost: 30
Marvig: 4
Orinsay: 1
Ranish: 29

YEARS
1914: 77
1915: 227
1916: 230
1917: 251
1918: 215
1919: 217
1920: 11
1921: 2

Iolaire, 1 January 1919: 178 (Lewismen only)
Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916: 21
Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916: 33

Military units
Royal Naval Reserve: 435
Seaforth Highlanders: 309
Canadians: 139
Cameron Highlanders: 88
Gordon Highlanders: 78
Merchant Navy: 46