Malcolm Matheson, 13 Gravir

Seaman MALCOLM MATHESON
Calum an Murdach
Last address in Lewis: 13 Gravir,
Son of John and Barbara Matheson.
Husband of Kate Matheson, of 94, Alderman Rd., Knightswood, Glasgow.
Had 8 children.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Actaeon
Service number: 3336/SD (CH)
Date of birth: 1 July 1869
Date of death: 7 October 1918 at the age of 48
Died of pneumonia in hospital at Gillingham
Interred: Gravir Cemetery Old Ground, Northwest corner
Local memorial: Pairc, Kershader

Malcolm was one of the children of John (1831) and Barbara (1833), the others being Alexander (1873), Ann (1865), Christina (1863), Christina (1869), John (1861), Mary (1874) and Murdo (1859).

Father of Barbara Ann (1904), Catherine, Christina (1898), Hector (1902), John (1908), John Murdo (1900), Mary (1906) and Roderick (1905).

Stornoway Gazette, 18 October 1918
The sad news of the death of her husband was received by mrs Matheson, 13 Gravir, on Tuesday last. He died of pneumonia at RNR hospital in Gillingham, Kent. Malcolm was one of the best known fishermen in Lewis and an elder of the United Free Church at Gravir. He was a cheerful and kindhearted Christian and much respected throughout the district. He was home on harvest leave and had only been gone a week when he died. He joined the RNR in 1915.

Hector Matheson, 22 Valtos

Sergeant HECTOR MATHESON
Eachain Dhomhnaill Mhadson
Last address in Lewis: 22 Valtos
Also quoted at 10 Reef
Son of Donald and Annie Matheson, of 22, Valtos, Miavaig, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 238040
Date of birth: 10 August 1894
Date of death: 16 June 1917 at the age of 23
Killed in action
Interred: Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, grave I. E. 27
Local memorial: Uig, Timsgarry

Hector was one of the children of Donald (1860) and Ann (1862), the others being John (1900), Malcolm (1898), Mary Ann (1902), Mary (1896) and Peggy (1905).

His brother Malcolm served in the RNR but survived the war.

Stornoway Gazette, 24 August 1917
FINE CAREER CUT SHORT - For some time past grave anxiety was felt for the safety of Sergt.-Instructor Hector Matheson, Cameron Highlanders, Valtos, and now information has been received that on 18th June last, whilst leading his men into action, a shell burst near him, mortally wounding him. He was being carried off the field to a dressing station, but died on the way. Hector would have been a success at any work he undertook to do, as he always brought diligence and common sense to bear upon all his actions. We all feel so sorry that his parents have lost so fine a son and that the Army have lost so line and brave an officer.

Hebridean newspaper

Hector Matheson was one of several young men from the village of Valtos, Uig, Isle of Lewis who went to serve in the First World War. Hector reached the rank of sergeant in the 1st Gordon Highlanders and at twenty-three years of age, died in action in France on 16th June 1917.
At least sixty-two men from the village of Valtos served in the war and ten of those made the ultimate sacrifice. The devastating news of Hector's death was relayed to his parents Donald and Annie Matheson and his brothers and sisters at 23 Valtos.
In later years the family were allocated a croft at 10 Reef. To Joan Maclennan (daughter of Calum Matheson) Hector was her father's elder brother lost in action, the "forever young" face in faded family pictures.
Almost ninety years after his death, in September 2005 a package arrived from Edinburgh, which told Joan more about his life. The collection of pictures showed Sergeant Hector Matheson in uniform and included the letter from the War Office, which states that 'Sergeant H. Matheson is reported as buried at Monchy le Preux, East-South-East of Arras'. Also included was a memorial card and picture issued by the military.
The army pictures had been sent by Hector Matheson in 1916-17 to his fiancée Jane Hannan in Dumfermline. The mementoes of the soldier who never retuned from the war were treasured by Jane and on her death in 1963. Her sister stored them away. In 2005 Jane's niece Marguerite Reid from Edinburgh felt the pictures should be returned to Hector's relatives so, with the help of the War Graves Commission Website, Marguerite traced the Matheson's Valtos address and she says 'I feel that I am now sending Hector home'.
In an accompanying letter Marguerite Reid was puzzled as to how Hector and Jane had met and enquired as to whether he had a trade that may have taken him to Dumfermline.
Joan Maclennan has drawn a blank but has discovered Hector was a monitor in Valtos School and was one of the few pupils who gained the high marks that were necessary to enter the Nicolson Institute School in Stornoway. It is also said that Hector worked in the post office owned by John Macdonald (An Downie) in Miavaig, Uig. Marguerite and Joan have been unable to find out whether Hector served in the army before the war.
In a group picture on a French postcard, six sergeants in C Company 1st Gordons are listed. On the reverse side Hector has pencilled-in names and refers to his own picture in the line up as 'your humble servant ' Marguerite reflects on how very rarely that phrase is used today.
During the years of the First World war, Jane Hannan lost not only the man who had asked for her hand in marriage, she also grieved for two brothers lost in action. Will aged twenty-three and a younger brother Hugh aged just nineteen. Jane never married and she emigrated to New Zealand shortly after the war, returning to this country in 1946.
The black edged memorial card for the soldier from Valtos reads:

For His Country's Sake:
No loved ones stood around him
To bid a last farewell
No word of comfort could he leave
To those he loved so well. Had we but seen his last fond lookOr watched his dying bed
Our hearts would not have felt so sore
The bitter tears we've shedSleep on, dear son, in a far off graveIn a grave we shall never see,
But as long as life and memory last
We will remember thee

Angus Matheson, 18 Uigen

Deckhand ANGUS MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: 18 Uigen,
Son of Malcolm Matheson, of 18, Uigen Miavaig, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMD Winner
Service number: 18694/DA
Date of birth: 11 September 1899
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 19
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Valtos Burial Ground, near northwest corner
Local memorial: Uig, Timsgarry

Angus was one of the children of Malcolm (1858) and Catherine (1866), the others being Annie (1904), Donald (1908), Margaret (1897), Murdo (1911), Norman (1906) and Peggy.

Malcolm Matheson, 10 Upper Shader

Seaman MALCOLM MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: 10 Upper Shader,
Son of Malcolm Matheson
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT Iceland
Service number: 11907/DA
Date of birth: 10 February 1890
Date of death: 1 January 1919
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Barvas Cemetery
Local memorial: North Lewis, Borve

Had destroyed two Zeppelins in the North Sea while Gunner on HMT Iceland. Had gone to France with Seaforths in 1914, where he was mentioned in despatches, and subsequently served in Mesopotamia where he was so severely wounded that he was discharged.

His brother Alexander also served in the RNR, but survived the war.

Murdo Matheson, 3 Upper Shader

Sergeant MURDO MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: 3 Upper Shader,
Son of John and Mary Matheson, of 3, Upper Shader, Barvas, Stornoway, Lewis, Scotland.
Service unit: 12th Australian Infantry
Service number: 465
Date of death: 6 April 1917 at the age of 26
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial,
Local memorial: North Lewis, Borve
Had previously been seriously wounded at Gallipoli

Height: 5 ft 3½ in
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Religious denomination: Presbyterian
Occupation / trade: Miner

Joined up in Pontville, Tasmania
Date of attestation: 20 August 1914
Age at attestation: 28 years 3 months 

Murdo appears in the 1901 census at 3B Upper Shader, aged 10, the son of John (44) and Mary (36) and brother of Ann (14), Bella (12), John (8), Peggy (6), Mary (4) and Malm [Malcolm] (2).

His brother Malcolm served in the Trawler section of the RNR and survived the war.

Donald Matheson, 26 Brue

Private DONALD MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: 26 Brue,
Son of Kenneth and Ann Matheson
Service unit: 1st Cameron Highlanders
Service number: 3/5250
Enlisted at Inverness
Date of death: 25 September 1915 at the age of 20
Killed in action in France
Interred: Ninth Avenue Cemetery, Haisnes Sp. Mem. 24

Donald appears in the 1901 census at 26 Brue, aged 6, son of Kenneth (44) and Ann (42), brother of Kenneth (3) and Peter (1½).


His brother Kenneth served with the Seaforth Highlanders and his brother Peter was with the RNR. These two survived the war.

Kenneth Matheson, 1 Brue

Private KENNETH MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: 1 Brue
Son of Murdo and Annie Matheson, 1 Brue
Service unit: 6th Cameron Highlanders
Service number: 5362
Enlisted at Inverness on 22 September 1911, mobilised on 10 August 1914
Date of death: 2 February 1919 at the age of 23
Died at home of illness; 
Was wounded 4 times and discharged as physically unfit for service on 21 June 1918
Was posthumously awarded the British Victory Medal in 1921
Interred: Barvas (St Mary) Old Cemetery

Description at enlistment
Height 5 ft 4½ in
Weight: 107 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Occupation: Seaman with White Star Line for 2 years

Kenneth appears in the 1901 census, aged 5 at 1 Brue, the son of Murdo (38) and Ann (27), brother of Malcolm (5), Mary (4) and Norman (1).

His brother Malcolm served in the Seaforth Highlanders, and his brother Norman was in the RNR. These two survived the war.  

Norman Matheson, 36 Lower Barvas

Private NORMAN MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: 36 Lower Barvas,
Son of Donald and Christina Matheson, of 36, Lower Barvas, Stornoway, Lewis.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/6708
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 19 December 1914 at the age of 32
Killed in action
Interred: Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Guinchy, grave V. A. 4.


His brother Donald served in the RNR and survived the war.

From the battalion war diary
Attack on "Bulge" in Ploegsteert wood by 11th Brigade. Demonstration all along line by artillery, rifle, Machine Gun fire all day, culminating with attack at 2.30pm. No reply at all by Germans to our Demonstration, except  by artillery. Tremendous bombardment of the enemy's trenches after 2pm. Attack not altogether successful on account of the waterlogged state of the ground, but some ground was made. Relieved in the trenches about 10pm by R Irish Fusiliers. Very heavy downpour from dark till after midgnith. Billetted at ROMARTIN. [No arrangements made before and very dirty billets, got settled in about 2pm. One company (A) went on to billets in LA CRECHE].

Killed: 1
Wounded: 4

William Matheson Maciver, Upper Bayble

Sergeant WILLIAM MATHESON MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: Green Park Upper Bayble,
Service unit: 2nd Rhodesian Infantry
Service number: RR/1153
Date of death: 22 March 1918 at the age of 36
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Pozieres Memorial, Panel 95 - 98
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

The 1891 census records William Matheson as a 9-year old, living  living at Upper Bayble with his parents Malcolm (61) and Rose (46) as well as his siblings Murdo Nicolson (12), Kenneth (10), George (3), William (5 months), Rose Augusta (20), Jessie Gilmour (17), Mary Jane (13), Margaret (7) and Eliza (5). In total, William is known to have had at least 13 siblings.

His brother Kenneth Mackenzie Maciver was killed in 1918 in an accident in Nyassaland.
His brother James Matheson served as a major in East Africa;
His brother John Thomson was a sergeant during the war.

John Matheson, 7 Upper Bayble

Lance Corporal JOHN MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: 7 Upper Bayble,
Son of Norman Matheson
Service unit: 10th Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
Service number: 20344
Date of death: 22 April 1915 at the age of 33
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 24 - 28 - 30.
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)
Fell shortly after getting across to France.

Date of birth: 7 July 1881
Place of birth: Isle of Lewis
Height: 5 ft 6 in
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Labourer

Marital status: Married
Next of kin: Nellie Matheson, Wife, of PO 1982 Calgary
Volunteered at Valcartier on 22 September 1914 

We find John in the 1891 census as a 9-year old scholar, living with his parents Norman (40) and Chirsty (36), as well as siblings Alexander (12), Norman (11), Jessie (7), Cate (5), Chirsty (2) and Jessie (9 months).

His brothers Alexander, Malcolm and John all served in the RNR and survived the war.

William Hector Matheson, 23 Scotland Street, Stornoway

Sergeant WILLIAM HECTOR MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: Seaforth House Scotland Street
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Murdo Matheson, of 72, Church St., Ayr, Scotland.
Military unit: 20th Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)
Service number: 57775
Date of death: 17 January 1917 at the age of 36
Killed in action
Interred: Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, grave I. M. 17
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson Institute WW1, right panel

Date of birth: 19 November 1880
Height: 5 ft 8½ in Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Light brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Carpenter
Native of Stornaway, Isle of Lewis.
Volunteered at Toronto on 12 November 1914

William Hector is shown in the 1881 census with his parents Murdo (32, master carpenter) and Catherine (22, born at Skrellig, Inverness-shire) at Cromwell Street, Stornoway. A decade later, the family have moved to 21 Newton Street, Stornoway and five more children have been born: Mary (7), Roderick M (5), Malcolm (3), John D (1), Catherine (3 days). In 1901, the family remain at 21 Newton (in the back house), and William Hector is an apprentice joiner.

John Matheson, Stornoway

Seaman JOHN MATHESON
Last address in Lewis: Stornoway
Service unit: Merchant Marine
Date of death: 1 October 1916 at the age of 42
Died in an accident