Remembering the Fallen of the Second World War - 1939

I have completed the transcription of tributes to the Fallen from Lewis for the year 1939, which comprises the first 4 months of the Second World War. The Stornoway Gazette records 19 losses until the last week of that year, and I am highlighting the following tributes:



The sinking of the trawler James Ludford

The heroes of the Rawalpindi

Donald Macarthur, 10 Cromore

Angus John Paterson, 3 Brue

Murdo Mackenzie, 21 Swordale

Alex Finlayson, 10 Calbost

John Montgomery, 16 Ranish



The full list of names of Lewis casualties for 1939 is:



  1. Murdo Mackenzie, 21 Swordale

  2. John Mackenzie, 21 Swordale [Rawalpindi]

  3. Norman Macleod, 25 Swordale [Rawalpindi]

  4. Angus John Paterson, 3 Brue [Northern Rover]

  5. Alexander Matheson, 26 Brue [James Ludford]

  6. Archibald Macrae Rodger, 59 Keith Street, Stornoway [RAF]

  7. John Murdo Nicolson, 3 Marybank / 39 Lower Bayble [Rawalpindi]

  8. William Macleod, Marybank [Rawalpindi]

  9. Donald Macarthur, 10 Cromore [Rawalpindi]

  10. Alexander Finlayson, 10 Calbost [Courageous]

  11. Alexander Crichton, 15 Eagleton [James Ludford]

  12. John Montgomery, 16 Ranish

  13. Allan Morrison, 31 North Street, Sandwick

  14. William Macleod, 14 Sheshader [Rawalpindi]

  15. Colin Mackay, 31 South Bragar [Rawalpindi]

  16. Donald Smith jnr, 52 North Tolsta [Rawalpindi]

  17. Samuel Graham, Vatisker [Royal Oak]

  18. Donald Mackenzie, 22 Tolstachaolais

  19. Malcolm Graham, Church Street, Borve [James Ludford]

  20. Murdo Mackay, 53 Back [Rawalpindi]

  21. William Maciver, 36 Coll

Archibald Macrae Rodger was the first Lewis casualty of the war, when he was killed during a leaflet drop over Germany on 7 September 1939. He was the only RAF casualty in 1939; the other twenty men were all serving with the Royal Naval Reserve. The name in square brackets is the name of the ship that a man was serving in when it was sunk.

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