Donald Maciver, 9 Aird Uig

Seaman DONALD MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 9 Aird Uig,
Son of Norman and Annie McIver, of 9, Aird Uig, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Sarnia
Service number: 3821/A
Year of birth: 1890
Date of death: 12 September 1918 at the age of 28
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30,
Local memorial: Uig, Timsgarry

Donald was one of the children of Norman and Anne, the others being Catherine (1882), Duncan (1893), John (1887), Margaret and Mary (1886).

His brothers Duncan and John were both gassed and wounded whilst serving; Duncan was in the Seaforth Highlanders, and John in the Australian forces.

Stornoway Gazette, 11 October 1918
Mr Norman Maciver, 9 Aird Uig, received the sad news that his son Donald was lost at sea on 12 September 1918. His ship was torpedoed in the Mediterranean on that day, and 57 other lives were lost, and 150 saved. Donald was an exceptionally fine character and his death was a very severe blow to his parents, to whom and to his brothers and sisters and other relatives the heartfelt sympathy of the community is extended. It is a great comfort to them that one of his brothers, Sergt Duncan Maciver, Seaforths, is at home with them now.

Additional note by DJ Macleod
Donald's father received notification of his son's death on HMS Sarnia on 12 September 1918. Some time later his mother received a letter written by Donald and also dated 12 September 1918. This raised hopes that he had survived the sinking of the vessel, but this was not the case. The letters from the Sarnia had obviously been collected shortly before the ship sank.