Norman Macleod, 3 Tolsta Chaolais

Private NORMAN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 3 Tolsta Chaolais,
Son of Malcolm and Mary Macleod
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7862
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of death: 2 May 1915 at the age of 27
Died of gas poisoning at St Julien
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 38
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

Norman appears in the 1901 census aged 13, the son of Malcolm (48) and Mary (41) and brother of John (9), Roderick (7), Annie (5) and Malcolm (2).

His brother John also served in the 2nd Seaforths, but survived the war; his brother Roderick was in the   Cameron Highlanders and Malcolm in the Trawler section of the RNR.

Battalion war diary, 2 May 1915
The battalion is engaged in the 2nd battle of Ypres, entrenched in positions to the northeast of the town. The diary entry is difficult to read.

Enemy sent over clouds of asphyxiating gas. They used this to attack, but were repulsed.

Killed: 1

Further account of Gas attack on 2nd May 1915
Our respirators were found to be no good being made out of nothing but woolen waist belts. We had several men killed from gas.

Battn had only very inefficient respirators. From 5.30pm, gas sent over. The Battn stood firm and held their trenches though nearly every man was badly affected. The Basttn on our left had to leave their trenches, which was reoccupied by the Argylls, who had to charge through the gas.
The Germans formed up ready for an attack, but we inflicted losses on them and it came to nothing.