Village memorial: Cross Skigersta Road

FIRST WORLD WAR

Seaman JOHN MURRAY
Last address in Lewis: 4 Cross Skigersta Road
Royal Navy
Date of death: 12 January 1946
Age at death: 22

Seaman KENNETH MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 25 Cross Skigersta Road
Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 31 December 1942
Age at death: 31

Aircraftsman 1st class ANGUS FINLAY MURRAY
Last address in Lewis: 25 Cross Skigersta Road
Son of John and Annie Murray, of Ness, Isle of Lewis.
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 9 February 1944
Age at death: 26

Seaman ALLAN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 26 Cross Skigersta Road
Son of Donald and Annie MacLeod; husband of Annie MacLeod, of Swainbost, Ness, Isle of Lewis.
Merchant Navy
Date of death: 13 August 1942
Age at death: 52

Private NORMAN MACKENZIE
Last address in Lewis: 51 Cross Skigersta Road
Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 8 August 1944
Age at death: 20

Seaman NORMAN MACKAY
Last address in Lewis: 72 Cross Skigersta Road
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 24 February 1941
Age at death: 19

Seaman MURDO MURRAY JNR
Last address in Lewis: 79 Cross Skigersta Road
Son of Mrs. C. Murray, of Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis.
Merchant Navy
Date of death: 2 July 1943
Age at death: 28

Seaman JOHN MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 83 Cross Skigersta Road
Merchant Navy
Date of death: 11 February 1940
Age at death: 25

Guardsman DONALD JOHN CAMPBELL
Last address in Lewis: 113 Cross Skigersta Road
Son of Angus and Margaret Campbell, of Dumbarton
Scots Guards, B Coy, 1st Battallion
Date of death: 30 January 1944
Age at death: 20

Seaman JOHN MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 123 Cross Skigersta Road
Son of Donald and Annie Macdonald, of Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis.
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 6 December 1942
Age at death: 27

Greaser DONALD MACBRIDE
Last address in Lewis: 129 Cross Skigersta Road
Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy)
Date of death: 31 January 1947

Heisker

Tasglann nan Eilean contacted me earlier this week regarding a wargrave of a German U-boat engineer on the Monach Isles. This appears to be a recurring query with them. The bronze plaque commemorates Otto W Schatt, who was 31 when his U-boat 110 was sunk by Royal Navy vessels off Malin Head in 1918. Three crewmen drifted north on the currents of the North Atlantic and washed up on Heisker. Only Otto Schatt still had his ID badge on his person; the others could no longer be identified.

In 1901, the census shows enumeration district 8 as being Heisker (sic), with a population of 106. Eight of these were lighthouse keepers and their families and attendants. Nearly a hundred others, spread over 14 households, were the resident population. These are the population numbers in the second half of the 19th century.

1861: 127
1871: 125
1881: 100
1891: 140
1901: 106

The islands were abandoned in 1942.

I copy the census breakdown of enumeration district 8, registration district 113 (North Uist) for the 1901 census. In the list below, the abbreviation "b." means "born in". The designation "daur" means daughter.

Household 1
Margaret Macdonald, 75, sewing mistress, b. North Uist
Marion Macdonald, 36, daughter of Margaret, Housekeeper, b. North Uist
Mary F Mackay, 19, boarder, teacher, b. North Uist

Household 2
Alexander Macdonald, 51, crofter, b. North Uist
Mary Macdonald, 42, wife, b. North Uist
Archie Macdonald, 20, son, fisherman, b. North Uist
Alick Macdonald, 18, son, b. North Uist
Ronald Alick Macdonald, 12, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Angus Macdonald, 4, son, b. North Uist
Alexander Macdonald, 2, son, b. North Uist
Maggie Macdonald, 16, daur, b. North Uist
Christy Macdonald, 14, daur, b. North Uist
Mary Macdonald, 10, daur, scholar, b. North Uist

Household 3
William Macdonald, 72, husband of Ann, crofter, b. North Uist
Ann Macdonald, 70, wife of William, b. North Uist
James Macdonald, 47, son, pauper, b. North Uist
Margaret Macdonald, 44, daughter-in-law, general serv (domestic), b. North Uist
William Macdonald, 11, grandson, son of James and Margaret, scholar, b. North Uist
Donald Macdonald, 10, grandson, son of James and Margaret, scholar, b. North Uist
John Alick Macdonald, 8, grandson, son of James and Margaret, scholar, b. North Uist
Alexander Macdonald, 6, grandson, son of James and Margaret, scholar, b. North Uist
Ann Macdonald, 12, granddaughter, daughter of James and Margaret, scholar, b. North Uist
Catherine Laing, 42, daughter of William and Ann, crofter's wife, b. North Uist
Andrew Laing, 1, grandson, son of Catherine, b. North Uist

Household 4
Murdoch Macdonald, 40, crofter, b. North Uist
Ann Macdonald, 38, wife of Murdoch, b. North Uist
John Macdonald, 14, son of Murdoch and Ann, scholar, b. North Uist
Donald A Macdonald, 12, son of Murdoch and Ann, scholar, b. North Uist
Alick Macdonald, 10, son of Murdoch and Ann, scholar, b. North Uist
Donald John Macdonald, 6, son of Murdoch and Ann, scholar, b. North Uist
Catherine Macdonald, 4, daughter of Murdoch and Ann, b. North Uist
Alexander Macdonald, 2, daughter of Murdoch and Ann, b. North Uist
Ann Macdonald, 4 months, daughter of Murdoch and Ann, b. North Uist
Maggie Macdonald, 25, dairymaid, b. North Uist

Household 5
Roderick Macdonald, 78, husband of Flora, crofter, b. North Uist
Flora Macdonald, 90, wife of Roderick, b. North Uist
Margaret Macdonald, 44, daur of Flora and Roderick, b. North Uist
Marion Macaulay, 49, daur of Flora and Roderick, wife of Allan, b. North Uist
Allan Macaulay, 48, son-in-law, husband of Marion, b. North Uist
Margaret Maclellan, 65, visitor, pauper, b. North Uist

Household 6
John Macdonald, 60, husband of Catherine, crofter, b. North Uist
Catherine Macdonald, 58, wife of John, b. North Uist
Donald John Macdonald, 28, son, b. North Uist
Lizzie Macdonald, 20, daur, b. North Uist
Lexy Macdonald, 8, granddaughter, scholar, b. North Uist
Anna Dingwall, 14, visitor, scholar, b. North Uist
Roderick Mackay, 28, visitor, seaman, b. North Uist

Household 7
Donald Alick Macdonald, 23, husband of Christina, fisherman, b. North Uist
Christina Macdonald, 25, wife of Donald Alick

Household 8
Archibald Macaulay, 49, husband of Mary, son of Effie, crofter, b. North Uist
Mary Macaulay, 42, wife of Archibald,
Roderick Macaulay, 14, son, b. North Uist
Archie Macaulay, 12, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Alick Macaulay, 10, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Angus J Macaulay, 9, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Ronald Macaulay, 8, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Malcolm Macaulay, 5, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Christy Macaulay, 19, daur, b. North Uist
Mary Macaulay, 2, daur, b. North Uist
Annie Macaulay, 5 months, daur, b. North Uist

Household 9
Archibald Macaulay, 76, husband of Marion, crofter, b. North Uist
Marion Macaulay, 70, wife of Archibald, b. North Uist
John Macaulay, 6, grandson, scholar, b. North Uist
Marion Macaulay, 11, granddaughter, scholar, b. North Uist
Mary Ann Macaulay, 8 granddaughter, scholar, b. North Uist
Roderick Matheson, 18, servant, b. North Uist
Ranald Macdonald, 19, visitor, crofter's son, b. North Uist

Household 10
Norman Murray, 62, husband of Effie, boat builder, b. Lewis
Effie Murray, 60, wife of Norman, b. North Uist
Norman Macdonald, 6, grandson, b. Glasgow

Household 11
Donald Macintosh, 43, husband of Ann, fisherman, b. North Uist
Ann Macintosh, 31, wife of Donald, b. North Uist
Angus Macintosh, 11, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Ann Macintosh, 7, daur, scholar, b. North Uist
Flora Macintosh, 5, daur, b. North Uist
John Alick Macintosh, 2, son, b. North Uist

Household 12
Janet Mackay, 75, housekeeper, b. North Uist
Archibald Mackay, 28, son, fisherman, b. North Uist
Reachel Mackay, 39, daur, weaveress, b. North Uist
Mary Maclean, 12, granddaughter, scholar, b. North Uist
Reachel Ferguson, 31, visitor, dairymaid, b. North Uist
Neil Maclean, 21, visitor, fisherman, b. North Uist

Household 13
Alexander Maccuish, 65, crofter, b. North Uist
Alick Maccuish, 32, son, b. North Uist
Alexander Maccuish, 26, son, fisherman, b. North Uist
Jessie Maccuish, 24, daur, b. North Uist
Ann Maccuish, 18, daur, tailoress, b. North Uist
Marion Maccuish, 16, daur, general serv (domestic), b. North Uist
James Matheson, 28, boarder, fisherman, b. North Uist

Household 14
Norman Macdonald, 66, husband of Jessie, boatman, b. North Uist
Jessie Macdonald, 49, wife of Norman, b. North Uist
Donald Alan Macdonald, 20, son, fisherman, b. North Uist
Malcolm Macdonald, 18, son, b. North Uist
Norman Macdonald, 12, son, scholar, b. North Uist
Maggie Macdonald, 10, daur, scholar, b. North Uist
Christy Macdonald, 8, daur, scholar, b. North Uist

Household 15
James S Budge, 24, husband of Mary C, born Bay, South Bonalds, lightkeeper
Mary C Budge, 20, wife of James S, born Tyree,
Thomas S Budge, 6 mo, son of James S and Mary C, born Greenock,
Jessie F Crow, 35, visitor, b. Shetland, housekeeper

Household 16
James Black, 57, husband of Helen principal lighthouse keeper, b. Aberdeen
Helen Ross Black, 52, wife of James, b. Helmsdale
Maggie Ross Black, 22, daur, b. Arbroath
John A Roberts, grandson, son of Maggie, 5, b. Port St Mary, Isle of Man

Village memorial: Cross

FIRST WORLD WAR

Private ALEX MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 3 Cross
Son of John Morrison, of Ness, Stornoway, Scotland.
43rd Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Date of death: 15 October 1916
Age of death: 31

Seaman DONALD MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 3 Cross
Son of John and Rachel Morrison, of Cross, Ness, Stornoway; husband of Annie Morrison, of 3, Cross, Ness, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Mercantile Marine, SS Buffalo
Date of death: 13 September 1918
Age of death: 45

Seaman DONALD SMITH
Last address in Lewis: 11 Cross
Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Invincible
Date of death: 31 May 1916

Private ANGUS MACKAY
Last address in Lewis: 20 Cross
Son of Donald and Rachel MacKay, of 20, Cross, Ness, Stornoway.
1st Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 7 January 1916
Age of death: 19

Private WILLIAM MACKAY
Last address in Lewis: 20 Cross
Son of Donald and Rachel Mackay, of 20, Cross, Ness, Stornoway.
1st Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 12 April 1916
Age of death: 21

Private MALCOLM CAMPBELL
Last address in Lewis: 26 Cross
Son of Donald and Catherine Campbell, of Cross Ness, Stornoway.
2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 1 July 1916
Age of death: 22

Seaman DONALD MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 30 Cross
Son of Angus and Annie McLeod, of Ness, Stornoway; husband of Mary McLeod, of 30, Cross, Ness, Stornoway.
Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Hermes
Date of death: 31 October 1914
Age of death: 39

Private MURDO MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 31 Cross
Son of John Morrison, of 31, Cross, Ness, Stornoway.
2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 25 April 1915
Age of death: 19

SECOND WORLD WAR

Seaman JOHN MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 4 Cross
Son of John and Christina Morrison, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 21 June 1940
Age at death: 29

Seaman DONALD MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 12 Cross
Son of Angus and Christina Macleod, of Ness, Isle of Lewis.
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 15 March 1942
Age at death: 24

Seaman JOHN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 16 Cross
Son of Alexander and Dolina MacLeod, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 12 February 1940
Age at death: 20

Able Seaman FINLAY MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 19 Cross
Son of Murdo and Mary Macdonald, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis; husband of Margaret Ann Macdonald, of Stornoway.
Merchant Navy
Date of death: 2 July 1943
Age at death: 39

JOHN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 28 Cross
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 31 December 1944
Age at death: 36

The Greenfield connection

One of the Stornoway casualties of the First World War was Lieutenant Benjamin Greenfield, who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force until the end of hostilities. The Stornoway Gazette of Friday 6 December 1918 takes up the story.

Lewismen throughout the world will regret the death of Lieut. Benjamin Greenfield, son of the late Rev James Greenfield, Stornoway. The sad event took place in the house of his brother-in-law, Mr J. W. Galloway, Thurso, on the evening of 28 November 1918. On the previous Thursday, he arrive on short leave from France. The cause of death was pneumonia following influenza and this Monday he was buried with military honours at Thurso. There have been countless tragic instances in this war and that of young Greenfield, who went through the battlefields of Africa and France, that he should after all cross the bourne when on a flying visit to his sister in the Far North, after the conflict on the battlefield ceased, would almost occur as striking a form of tragedy too fell to be recorded.

Benjamin was the son of Free Church minister James Greenfield, who gave evidence to the Napier Commission at Stornoway in June 1883. Benjamin appears in the 1891 census, aged 6, as the youngest of five children, these being Maggy J (19), Ellen M (12), John K (11) and Michael Willis (10).

For the record I summarise his military and personal details below.

Lieutenant BENJAMIN GREENFIELD
Date of birth: 6 June 1885
Place of birth: Isle of Lewis
Height: 5 ft 8 in
Complexion: Medium
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Civil engineer
Last address in Lewis: Free Church Manse Francis Street

Not married
Next of kin: Mrs Jas Galloway, of Thurso

Military unit: Canadians, also Royal Field Artillery
Service number: 5567
Volunteered at Shorncliffe on 27 August 1916

Date of death: 28 November 1918  at the age of 33
Cause of death: Died of pneumonia at Thurso
Interred: Thurso (Mount Vernon) Cemetery, grave K. 292
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Village memorial: Cromore

FIRST WORLD WAR

Seaman ALEX KENNEDY
Last address in Lewis: 4 Cromore
Son of John Kennedy of 4, Cromore, Lochs, Stornoway, and the late Isobel Kennedy.
Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Pembroke
Date of death: 3 September 1917
Age of death: 21

Seaman JOHN MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 8 Cromore
Son of Annie MacArthur, of 8, Cromore, Lochs, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Invincible
Date of death: 31 May 1916
Age of death: 23

Private DONALD MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 20 Cromore
Son of Mr. and Mrs. John MacArthur, of 20, Cromore Lochs, Stornoway, Lewis.
1st Scots Guards
Date of death: 12 November 1914
Age of death: 31

Lieutenant WILLIAM BRUCE
Last address in Lewis: 28 Cromore
Son of Mr and Mrs Hector Bruce, of 31 Bridge Street, Inverness
104 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Date of death: 25 May 1918
Age of death: 28

SECOND WORLD WAR

Leading Seaman DONALD MACKINNON
Last address in Lewis: 7 Cromore
Son of Duncan and Mary MacKinnon, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Royal Navy
Date of death: 27 July 1940

Seaman DONALD MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 10 Cromore
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: 23 November 1939
Age at death: 20

Village memorial: Croir, Great Bernera

FIRST WORLD WAR

Corporal JAMES REID WILSON MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: Croir, Great Bernera
Son of Neil Mackenzie MacLeod and Annie Davidson Brown MacLeod, of 24, Barrington Drive, Glasgow. Born at Montreal, Canada.
Cameron Highlanders / 9th Scottish Rifles
Date of death: 23 March 1918
Age of death: 24

HECTOR MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: Croir, Great Bernera
Date of death: not listed

SECOND WORLD WAR

Sapper NEIL MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 4 Croir, Great Bernera
Son of Norman and Marion Macdonald, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
260 Field Company Royal Engineers
Date of death: 8 June 1944
Age at death: 24

59 years ago, 31 January 1953

Yesterday, it was 59 years ago since the Clan Macquarrie ran aground at Borve. All its crew were saved from the vessel thanks to the breeches buoy.

The hurricane force winds that drove the Clan Macquarrie on the rocks at Borve also blew out the window and frame of a house in Barvas, and is rumoured to have demolished the water tank for that village.

The storm brought catastrophic flooding to southern parts of England and southwestern Holland, claiming 300 lives in England and 2000 in Holland. A further 133 lives were lost in the North Channel, when the MV Princess Victoria was sunk, en route from Stranraer to Larne. The total death toll stands at 2554.