Donald Macleod, 27 Habost, Ness

Corporal DONALD MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 27 Habost, Ness,
Son of John and Mary Macleod, of 27, Habost, Ness, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/6875
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 24 April 1916 at the age of 24
Died of wounds in Mesopotamia.
Interred: Amara War Cemetery, Iraq, grave II. A. 4.
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Decoration(s): Was awarded DCM and Russian Cross of Order of St George (4th class) for conspicuous bravery and gallantry on the 10 March 1915 at Neuve Chapelle in bombing the enemy in their trenches, and driving them out traverse after traverse. Served with Seaforths for 6 years.

Donald is shown aged 10 in the 1901 census at 38 Habost, at home with his parents John (55) and Mary (50) as well as his siblings John (17), Angus (15) and Chirsty (13).

His brother Angus served in the RNR and his brother John in the RNR. Both survived the war.


Highland News, 10th June 1916

The morning of the 22nd May brought the saddest of news - the news of the death of one of our "boys" - to the village of Habost, Ness, from whicih so many have gone out to fight the enemy of all that is just and pure ont eh plains of Flanders and the East. Of the brave ten have made the supreme sacrifice, have given their all lest the island place which gave them birth, lest those who were near and dear to them should be defiled by the Huns. The gallant whose death was announced on the above date was Sergt. D. Macleod, Seaforth Highalnders, and son of Mr John Macleod, 27 Habost, Ness, and no other announcement could have sent a more bitter pang to the inner heart of all the villagers than that same, "Domhnull Beag", as he was fondly called, was loved by all who knew him, for who could look into his eyes, overflowing with humour and always smiling - oh! those eyes! - and not be attracted? When, shortly after Neuve CHapelle, the news came that Donald had been awarded the DCM a thrill of joy seemed to travel from one end of the place to the other. When his miraculous escape after the bullets had knocked off his Glengarry and torn his kilt and coat into ribbons, was told, the Lord of Battles was thanked fervently by those who commune with Him for His safeguarding the brave, who are as a wall around us. Scatheless he came out of the fight, and was promoted Lance-Corporal, and shortly afterwards to Corporal, besides receiving the Russian Cross and the Order of St George from the Czar. Not for a single day was the gallant Corporal  off-duty, not an hour of furlought did he get, for during th eearly winter his regiment left France for another sphere of action, where our lamented companion fought, but, alas! fell after receiving a grievous wound in the stomach. During the fighting in this area, Macleod had been promoted Sergeant for meritorious service in the field, but Death, the Reaper, has deprived him of the enjoyment of these honours, and surely we at home lament the loss of a friend and companion - one of the best - but the great grief is to be found with his parents, for a more dutiful son never lived. To them, the sympathy of all the community goes out, with the sincefre hope that the other two sons - one a Canadian in hospital in England, the other on HMS Orama - may return to them in safety. Every inch a Highlander as he was a soldier. Sergt. Macleod had closed his twenty-fifth year.