A tale of two Donalds

On 9 June 1888, Annie Macleod, living in the village of Knock, Point (in Lewis), gave birth to another child, Donald. He was the sixth, and not the last child. Two more followed, and by the start of 1894, eight children, varying in ages from 1 to 15 years, crowded into the dwelling. It drove the father, Hector, to distraction, to such an extent that he ended his life in September that year. Three months later, Annie also passed away.

The eight youngsters were taken into the care of the Quarrier Homes in Glasgow, and emigrated to Canada two years later.

Donald signed up for the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Calgary in October 1914, and was injured during the Battle of the Somme. He was transferred to War Hospital at Napsbury, where he passed away on 4 August 1916, at 9.45pm.

Due to an error in the paperwork, his remains were transferred to Benbecula, rather than Lewis, and the next-of-kin notified. The next of kin was thought to be Alex Macleod of Gramsdale, but when Alex came to the quayside at Peter Port in Benbecula, he did not recognise the dead man as his son. Nobody came to claim the soldier's remains, so the authorities interred it at Nunton, Benbecula, after a week. Donald Macleod, son of Alex, was alive, also serving with the Canadian Forces, and under a service number that only differed from the Lewis man by one digit. The Benbecula Donald Macleod was 79119, the Lewis man was 79110. Donald Macleod, Gramsdale, lived until 1952.

It has taken a century for this mystery to be cleared up. This morning, three islanders stood by Donald's grave in Nunton Cemetery, and remembered his sacrifice. I did so from 64 miles away in Stornoway.

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

50 Lower Garrabost, 31 March 1901

What went on at 50 Lower Garrabost on the night of 31st March 1901? The night of the 1901 census sees a number of visitors was present in the house of Murdo and Mary Mackay, a couple in their early fifties. Apart from their children John (12), Malcolm (10), Murdo (8), Mary (27) and Annie (6), we also find these visitors, most from the village of Aird Tong, about 10 miles away on the other side of Stornoway.

Annie Macleod (40) - crofter's wife, Aird Tong
Isabella Ross (68) - crofter's wife, Aird Tong
Mary Macdonald (43) - crofter's wife, Aird Tong
Paggie Graham (68) - crofter's wife, Shader (Barvas)
Cate Macritchie (68) - crofter's wife, Benside
Paggie Dods (51) - watchmaker's wife, Aird Tong

Census returns offer us a narrow glimpse into the past, and what happened at this abode to prompt this influx of female visitors will probably remain hidden in the past. If anyone does have information, please leave a note.