Donald Smith, 23 South Bragar

Private DONALD SMITH
Last address in Lewis: 23 South Bragar,
Son of Angus and Catherine Smith, of 23, South Bragar, Stornoway.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7248
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 3 May 1917 at the age of 21
Killed in action in France
Interred: Roeux British Cemetery, grave C. 21
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar
Decoration(s):1914 Star

Donald appears in the 1901 census, aged 4, at 23 South Bragar, with his parents Angus (43) and Catherine (44) as well as siblings Murdo (13), Alexander (12), Eric (10), Roderick (6), Catherine (2½) and Angus (16 months). 

His brothers Alexander also served in the Seaforths and survived the war; his brothers Roderick, Norman and Angus were in the RNR. Roderick was lost in 1915. The others survived the war.

Battalion war diary
he battalion becomes engaged in a heavy battle at Roeux

Zero hour 345 am when a heavy bombardment of enemy's position started, lasting for an hour. Barrage then crept forward very slowly. Bn left their trenches at 430 am being in support to the Household Battalion who were to capture the cemetery north of ROEUX. The R. Warwickshire Regt were on the left of HB and R Irish Fusiliers on left of Seaforths support to R. War Regt. 1st Somerset Light Infantry were on the right and were to capture village of ROEUX. On reaching BLUE line which was just west of DELBAR WOOD the Battalion moved to their right until left of each wave was opposite NW corner of DELBAR WOOD where a halt was made until ZERO+85 = 5.10 am, when they advanced to capture the RED line, east of DELBAR and HAUSA WOOD, immediately west of PLOUVAIN. This attack unfortunately failed owing to both flanks being held up with severe losses and later on the whole brigade line was forced to withdraw to original frontline. The Bn came back to CRETE trench. This was the position until dusk when the Battalion was sent to relieve the Household Battalion in CEYLON trench from its junction with CORONA trench, to its junction with COX trench. Coy S Major Fraser was in charge of the line as all officers taking part in these operations had become casualties. The Commanding Officers, Adjutant, Medical Officer and 3 other officers becoming casualties by the same shell. The Commanding Officer remained with the Batt until theh arrival of Major N. B. Orr from 1st line transport about 630 pm who then took command, being joined later on by 2 other officers from the divisional reinforcement ramp at SAVY.
During the night 3rd/4th May, the Bn held and improved the line while a working party of Irish Fusiliers endeavoured to estalibhs a line of posts from west edge of cemetery to a point in CORONA trench. The HB continued this line of posts southwards and also held the front line from munction of CORONA and CEYLON to junction of COX and front line. The Irish Fusiliers held the front line to the left of the HB.

Stornoway Gazette
Private Donald Smith, Seaforth Highlanders, previously notified as missing on 3 May 1917 is now notified by his chaplain as believed to have been killed on that date. In a very sympathetic letter, the chaplain informed his father that the suspense was caused by Donald's comrades being seriously engaged for 10 days. On their return to rest, they had with them among other identifications of fallen comrades, Donald's paybook. This, the chaplain explains, may be taken as conclusive proof that Donald has fallen in action. He had seen much action, have been in France almost continuously since November 1914, and up to 3 May (1917) had come through it all without a scratch. He was a pleasant a companion as one would meet, in fact, his friends called him Smiles on account of his ever-present smile. We deeply sympathise with his father and mother, who have 3 other sons in services on land and sea.