Malcolm Macaskill, 16 Aignish

Leading Seaman MALCOLM MACASKILL
Last address in Lewis: 16 Aignish
Son of William and Mary McAskill of 16, Aignish, Stornoway.
Service unit: HMT Vesta, Royal Naval Reserve
Service number: 2338/A
Date of birth: 20 October 1887
Date of death: 12 November 1918 at the age of 31
Died of illness in Kirkwall Hospital
Interred: Aignish / Eye Cemetery, F. 1. 44
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

The 1891 census shows Malcolm, aged 3, visiting his grandmother Christina Macrae (66), with his parents William (35, fisherman) and Mary (32). Malcolm's siblings are named as Angus (7), Catherine (5), Alexander (10 months). Alexander served in the Gordon Highlanders during the Great War.

Stornoway Gazette, 13 December 1918
Mr William Macaskill, 16 Aignish, received intimation from the Admiralty that his son, Leading Seaman Malcolm Macaskill, died in Balfour Cottage Hospital, Kirkwall, on 12 November 1918 from pneumonia. Malcolm, who was an RNR, joined up at the beginning of the war and served in the North Sea and elsewhere during the past four years. At the time of his death, he was a member of the crew of HMT Vesta, operating from the Kirkwall Naval Base. He was at home on 14 days' leave at the beginning of October, and looked exceedingly well and as cheerful and optimistic as usual. He was the mainstay of his father's family, always dutiful and devoted to his parents. His amiable disposition and upright character made him a special favourite with all in the district, and the sincerest sympathy goes out to the bereaved parents and family in their great sorrow. Mr Macaskill's younger son, Alexander, is also on active service since the beginning of the war. Being an old Territorial, he was among the first detachment of the Gordons sent to Belgium at the end of 1914. Transferred to the Royal Scots, he served in Egypt and Palestine and is now in France. He and his brother Malcolm did not meet since the beginning of the war and we sympathise with him in the loss of his only brother. The remains were sent by special patrol boat from Kirkwall to Stornoway and the parents and family are exceedingly grateful to the authorities for the promptitude with which they granted their request.