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

Comments

  1. KathJune 22, 2012 at 3:27 PM

    How sad Guido,very interesting even so,You do some wonderful work.The old photo is a treasure,Have a good day.Take Care God Bless Kath xx

    ReplyDelete

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