Donald Nicolson, 1 Crowlista

Private DONALD NICOLSON
Last address in Lewis: 1 Crowlista,
Son of Donald and Catherine Nicolson, of Crowlista, Uig, Stornoway.
Service unit: 8th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/17825
Date of death: 8 August 1917 at the age of 26
Died in hospital in France
Interred: Etaples Military Cemetery, grave XXII. O. 18
Mentioned on family gravestone in Ardroil Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: Uig, Timsgarry

Donald appears in the 1901 census at 1 Crowlista, aged 9, the son of Donald (55) and Catherine (45), and brother of Catherine (22), Alexander (20), John (16), Rachel (14), Norman (12), Kenneth (7), Marion (5) and Murdo (3). The 1891 census also shows the oldest son Murdo (14).

Four of his brothers also served; the two Murdo's in the RNR, Norman in the Royal Engineers and Kenneth in the Royal Naval Division - he was interned in Holland during the war. The younger Murdo was lost in the Iolaire Disaster.

Stornoway Gazette, August 1917
On Tuesday last (14th August 1917), his mother was informed by telegram that Pte Donald Nicolson, Seaforth Highlanders, 1 Crowlista, was seriously ill with dysentery. A few hours afterwards, another wire followed informing her of his death. It was a great shock to the poor mother who had been left a widow only last spring. Donald (Domhnall Beag) was expected home just at that time and all were anxiously and interestedly awaiting his homecoming, but alas! such was not to be

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