Thursday 11 June 2020

St Valery 1940-2020

On June 12, 2020, it will be 80 years since the 51st Highland Division's last stance at St Valery en Caux, northern France. I refer to other sources for a full account of events around that time.

This page lists those from the Isle of Lewis who made the supreme sacrifice at or following that action.

Company Sergeant-Major JOHN MACLEOD
Noidh Mor

Last address in Lewis: Hill Street, North Tolsta
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth MacLeod; husband of Jessie MacLeod, of North Tolsta
Service: 4th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 2814275
Date of death: 4 June 1940 at the age of 36
Killed in action at St Valery
Memorial: Dunkirk, column 124
Mentioned on family gravestone in North Tolsta Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Tolsta
View tribute here

Private MALCOLM MACKENZIE
Last address in Lewis: 14 Aird, Point
Son of Norman and Margaret Mackenzie, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 2813466
Date of death: 11 September 1944 at the age of 39
Taken POW at St Valery. Shot by a guard at POW-camp
Interred: Malbork (Poland) Commonwealth War Cemetery, grave 9. A. 3.
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
View tribute here

Leading Bombardier JOHN HEPBURN
Last address in Lewis: 9 Holm
Service: Ross Mountain Battery, 203 Bty. 51 Anti-Tank Regt.
Service number: 820666
Date of death: 20 March 1945 at the age of 33
Died at Nuremberg on march home.
Was POW after St Valery in Stalag VIIIB
Interred: Durnbach War Cemetery, grave 5. F. 7
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial
View tribute here

Leading Bombardier NEIL DONALD MACAULAY
Last address in Lewis: 68 Nicolson Road, Stornoway
Son of Angus and Mary MacAulay, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: Ross Mountain Battery, 203 Bty. 51 Anti-Tank Regt.
Service number: 1464639
Date of death: 10 June 1940 at the age of 22
Killed in action at St Valery
Interred: Veulettes-sur-Mer churchyard, grave 16
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Gunner JOHN CAMPBELL
Kyler
Last address in Lewis: 10 Sandwick Park, Stornoway
Son of Malcolm and Marion Campbell, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: Ross Mountain Battery, 203 Bty. 51 Anti-Tank Regt.
Service number: 852171
Date of death: between 10 and 12 June 1940 at the age of 21
Killed in action at St Valery
Memorial: Dunkirk, column 11
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial