Alexander John Macleod, 5 Knock, Point

Sergeant ALEX JOHN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 5 Knock, Point,
Son of Alexander and Henrietta MacLeod, of 5, Knock, Lewis, Stornaway.
Service unit: 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (British Columbia Regiment)
Service number: 464260
Date of death: 5 November 1918 at the age of 25
Killed in action in France
Interred: Quievrain Communal Cemetery, grave A. 17.
Mentioned on family gravestone in Eye Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)
Mentioned in despatches

Date of birth: 21 June 1892
Place of birth: Isle of Lewis
Height: 5 ft 9½ in
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Warehouseman
Volunteered at Vernon Camp on 1 September 1915
Alexander John is found in the 1901 census as an 8-year old, living at 5 Knock with his parents Alexander (34, fisherman) and Henrietta (33). He has four siblings; Donald (10), Malcolm (6), Alexander (4) and Mary (2). During the Great War, Donald was a skipper in the RNR; Malcolm was lost with his ship in January 1918 and the younger Alexander served in the Gordon Highlanders.

Stornoway Gazette, 13 December 1918
We deeply regret to have to record that Mr Alexander Macleod, 5 Knock, has officially been notified by the Canadian Record Office, London, that his son, Sergt Alexander John Macleod, was killed in action in France on the 6th November. He, after successfully completing the Intermediate Course in the Nicolson Institute H. G. School, went to Canada two or three years previous to the war. When the war started, he gave up a splendid appointment and voluntarily enlisted and went to France in 1915. He came through many a hot engagement during the past three years, and his death at this moment is doubly trying to his poor parents when, with the return of peace, they expected to welcome their son home. He was a young lad of great promise, and more than ordinary ability and most devoted to his parents. He was a great favourite with both young and old in the district, and the sincerest sympathy of all goes out to the bereaved parents and family.

Mr Macleod lost another son, Malcolm, who was a gunner on board the SS Mereddio, an amiable and gallant lad who, previous to the loss of the Mereddio, gave a good account of himself by sinking an enemy submarine in the Mediterranean, for which he received the £50 bonus. His third son, Alexander, was discharged from the Army last May on accounts of wounds. He went through the hardships of fighting at the beginning of the war and was several times wounded.