Kenneth Maclean, 42 Kenneth Street, Stornoway

Private KENNETH MACLEAN
Last address in Lewis: 42 Kenneth Street, Stornoway
Son of Donald and Annie MacLean, of 42, Kenneth St., Stornoway, Lewis.
Service unit: 5th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 203861
Enlisted at Fort George
Date of death: 6 September 1917 at the age of 30
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Tyne Cot Memorial, Panel 132 to 135 and 162A
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson WW1 memorial, middle panel

We find Kenneth in the censuses of 1891 and 1901 at 7 Church Street, Stornoway, with his parents Donald (an annuitant) and Annie as well as siblings Malcolm (15), Murdo (11), Donald (9), Catherine Mary (6), Margt Ann (3) and Mary (10 months). Murdo later served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, for which he volunteered at Toronto in 1915. He was severely wounded.

Stornoway Gazette, 26 September 1917
Mrs Donald Maclean, 42 Kenneth Street, this week [ended 26th September 1917] received information that her son, Pte Kenneth Maclean, Seaforth Highlanders, was killed in action in France on 6th September. Pte Maclean, who was 30 years of age, served his apprenticeship in the office of the late Mr John F. Macfarlane, inspector of poor etc , and afterwards accepted an appointment in Fort William. Some two years thereafter, he came back to Stornoway to assist Mr George Macleod during the illness of their chief. When on Mr Macfarlane's death, Mr Macleod was appointed to succeed him, Mr Maclean, whose outstanding capabilities commended themselves to his employers, was made Assistant Inspector of Poor and Assistant Registrar. He enlisted under the Derby Scheme and was called up in February last. He was sent to France about three months ago. "Kenny" as he was familiarly designated, was a lad of uprightness and honour, a prime favourite with his companions, well liked by all and held in the highest esteem by his employers and the pulic, with all sections of which he was brougth into touch in connection with his pulibc duties. The sad inelligence of his death was conveyed to his widowed mother in a letter from his Commanding Officer, who says: "He died a gallant death, fighting the enemy, and you will, I know, feel proud of having had such a son." Mrs Macleod has had sorrow heaped upon sorrow having lost her husband and a daughter last year, and the deepest sympathy of the community goes out to her in her present very grievous loss.