Not in Roll of Honour - Balallan

Archibald Matheson Mccallum was born on 30 August 1896 to Archibald Mccallum and Elizabeth Matheson. Archibald Sr was schoolmaster at Balallan, but moved away from Lewis in 1898. Archibald Jr joined the Australian Imperial Forces in 1915, and served in France until 1917, when he was discharged due to severe thyroid problems. Archibald Jr returned to Australia, where he lived until his death in 1959 (or thereabouts).

Archibald Sr is quoted as having two children (DJ and Christina), but it would appear that Archibald Jr is in fact a third child.

Not in Roll of Honour - Stornoway (update)

William Arthur Bawden, referred to in the previous post, does not qualify for a CWGC war grave. He died on 5 September 1920 at the age of 25, having hanged himself. The magisterial inquiry showed that no indication of his state of mind was evident beforehand. We shall never know what did prompt William to take his own life.

His death was not attributable to his war service, but that does not mean we will forget his valiant contribution.

RIP.

Not in Roll of Honour - Stornoway

On 10 February 1895, William Arthur Bawden was born to Samuel and Sarah Ann of Cromwell Street, Stornoway. Samuel Bawden was a Coastguard. His son emigrated to Australia, and signed up for the AIF on 3 April 1915 at Rainbow in the state of Victoria. He was a farm labourer, later munitions worker. William saw active service, but developed pneumonia during the autumn of 1917. This left him permanently incapacitated, and he was repatriated to Australia in February 1918. In spite of his poor physical condition, William tried to sign up again in August 1918, but was turned down. He died in 1920 - presumably (but not confirmed) of his illness. If I manage to trace his death record, it will give me confirmation of the cause of death and thereby whether this was service related. If this turns out to be the case, William Bawden may be entered on the CWGC records.

For now, I remember him for his service to King and Country between 1915 and 1918. 

Iolaire orphan dies

Marion Macleod, aged 97, has passed away at the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway. Mor, born in 1914, would recall the scenes when news of her father's death reached her native village of Earshader, just south of the present-day bridge to Great Bernera. I leave it to the article in Hebrides News for a proper appreciation of her long life.

The Iolaire was the ship which foundered just outside Stornoway Harbour on 1 January 1919, carrying 300 passengers and crew. The passengers were all naval ratings from Lewis and Harris, returning home following the Armistice six weeks before. Of these, 205 drowned, in spite of being just a few dozen yards from shore. The strong swell and winds prevented many from reaching safety. Of those lost, more than 60 were never found. The Iolaire Disaster is one of the worst peace-time maritime disasters in British waters - but is very little known outside Lewis. The grief that this tragedy caused was a private grief, and not readily discussed to this day.

Not in Roll of Honour - Eoropie

A chance search turned up another serviceman from Lewis, who had seen action during the First World War. His name is not on the Roll of Honour for his village, Eoropie.

Murdoch Mackenzie, a 34-year old sailor, joined up at Claremont, Tasmania, Australia, on 15 June 1916. He was sent to Europe two months later and saw action with the 15th battalion Australian Imperial Forces. He was wounded in action on 23 August 1918. After peace was declared, he returned to Australia and was discharged, medically unfit, on 23 July 1919.

Murdoch was the brother of Donald and Dugald; the latter was killed in action in 1915. His father was John Mackenzie of 36 Eoropie.

Village memorial: Arivruaich

FIRST WORLD WAR

Private ALEX MACASKILL
Last address in Lewis: 1 Arivruaich
Son of Angus and Mary Macaskill
9th Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 24 March 1918
Age of death: 31

Piper JOHN MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 4 Arivruaich
Son of John and Sophia Morrison, of 4, Arivruaich Lochs, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
1st Highland Light Infantry
Date of death: 1917
Age of death: 31

Private JOHN MACKENZIE
Last address in Lewis: 11 Arivruaich
Son of Kenneth and Annie Mackenzie, of 11, Airidhbhruaich Lochs, Balallan, Stornoway, Lewis.
8th Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 24 March 1918

Private KENNETH MACKENZIE
Last address in Lewis: 11 Arivruaich
Son of Kenneth and Annie Mackenzie, of 11, Airidhbhruaich Lochs, Balallan, Stornoway, Lewis.
1st Cameron Highlanders
Date of death: 3 September 1916
Age of death: 22

Village memorial: Ardroil

FIRST WORLD WAR

Private DONALD MATHESON FRASER
Last address in Lewis: Uig Manse Baile na Cille
Son of Duncan Fraser, of Achnairn, Lairg, Sutherlandshire, and of the late Mary Matheson Fraser.
2nd Royal Scots
Date of death: 26 September 1917
Age of death: 25

SECOND WORLD WAR

Sergeant MALCOLM JOHN MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 4 Ardroil
Son of Peter and Christina Macritchie of 4 Ardroil
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Date of death: 23 September 1943
Age at death: 22

Corporal ERIC ANGUS BODLEY
Last address in Lewis: 10 Ardroil
Son of Fred and Christina Bodley.
2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 4 June 1943
Age at death: 24