Murdo Montgomery, 50 Benside

Private MURDO MONTGOMERY
Last address in Lewis: 50 Benside,
Son of Allan Montgomery, of 50, New Market, Laxdale, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 3/5989
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 14 December 1914 at the age of 21
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 38
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Murdo is shown in the 1901 census as the son of Allan (46, mason) and Margaret (42) at 48 Barvas Road. Also present are his siblings Katie A (20), Annabella (18), William (16), Maggie (11), Mary (9), and Katie B (3).

His brother William also served in the Gordons, but survived the war.

James Macrae, 49 Benside

Private JAMES MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 49 Benside,
Son of Colin Macrae
Service unit: 7th Seaforth Highlanders 
Service number: S/13263
Enlisted at Fort George, Inverness
Date of death: 12 October 1916 at the age of 42
Killed in action
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15. C
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

James appears in the 1901 census at 48 Barvas Road, born at Shawbost, the son of Coline (sic), aged 53; and his siblings Roderick (25), Joseph (23), Colin (16), William (14) and Annie M (21).

His brothers Joseph and Roderick also served in the Army (in the Camerons and Seaforths respectively) but survived the war.

John Stewart, 46 Benside

Private JOHN STEWART
Last address in Lewis: 46 Benside,
Son of John and Barbara Stewart, of 46, New Market, Laxdale, Stornoway, Lewis.
Service unit: 1st Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 3/5990
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 27 December 1915 at the age of 19
Killed in action in France
Interred: La Clytte Military Cemetery, grave I. C. 20
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

John shows on the 1901 census as the 5-year old son of John (50) and Barbara (38), with his siblings Alex D (8) and Katie (4). He stays at 46 Long Road, with his grandfather Alexander (80). 

His brother Alex Don, who also served in the Gordons, was a prisoner-of-war in Germany for more than four years.

Alexander Donald Graham, 33 Benside

Private ALEX DONALD GRAHAM
Last address in Lewis: 34 Benside,
Son of Donald Graham
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7329
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 25 April 1915 at the age of 19
Killed in action in France at Neuve Chapelle
Interred: Seaforth Cemetery, Cheddar Villa, grave B. 1. (Headstone "A" 21).
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

From the War Diary of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
The battalion has moved from Bailleul in France to a position near Wieltje, northeast of Ypres in Belgium. Their involvement with the battle starts today.

Very wet indeed.
Moved into position for attack at 4 am.
Attack commences at 5.30 am. Brigades from left to right. R Warwickshire Reg - Seaforth Highlanders - R Dublin Fusiliers - R Irish Fusiliers.
Came under heavy fire when getting into position before attack commenced. Finally took up a position and dug in as well.
6.30 am Absolutely great except for a great deal of shelling on eastern flank. Line readjusted and altered after dark. Trenches improved.From right to left companies B C D
Very wet day till 8 am - fine afternoon. Weather was very hot and sunny. There was a great deal of shelling all the time.

Officers killed: 20
Killed: 61
Wounded: 239
Died of wounds: 12
Missing: 16

John Campbell, 28 Benside

Gunner JOHN CAMPBELL
Last address in Lewis: 28 Benside,
Son of Donald and Mary Campbell, of 28, Benside, Laxdale, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Pembroke
Service number: 3020/A
Date of birth: 28 June 1889
Date of death: 19 August 1917 at the age of 25
Died in hospital
Interred: Aignish / Eye Cemetery, grave D. 3. 69
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Put in the winter at Scapa Flow after a severe voyage to the White Sea. He endured hardships which undermined his health, resulting ultimately in his death.

His brother Duncan served in the RNR as well, but survived the war.


Stornoway GazetteGunner John Campbell, son of Mr Donald Campbell, 28 Benside, Stornoway, has died in hospital in Greenock on 19 August 1917. Gunner Campbell had been serving on board one of HM Tugs, and after a very severe voyage to the White Sea, put in the winter at Scapa Flow where he endured hardships which undermined his health, resulting ultimately in his death. He was 27 years old.

Mr Campbell has another son serving in the Navy, Duncan, who after nearly three years in foreign waters with HMS Orama is now in the Gunnery School at Chatham.

Another son, Murdo, gave his service in the equally dangerous calling of a seaman on a transport. He had his arm broken and is now at home.

Murdo Montgomery, 24 Benside

Private MURDO MONTGOMERY
Last address in Lewis: 24 Benside,
Son of Mrs. Christina Montgomery, of 24, Benside, Stornoway, Scotland.
Service unit: 43rd Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Service number: 153625
Date of death: 15 May 1916 at the age of 26
Killed in action in France
Interred: Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, grave VI. G. 16.
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Date of birth: 14 February 1890
Place of birth: Isle of Lewis
Height: 5 ft 10 in
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Foreman

Volunteered at Winnipeg on 11 August 1915 

The 1891 census shows Murdo, aged 1, at croft 24 with his mother Christina (34) and older sisters Catherine (14), Mary Ann (9), Catherine Mary (7) and Alexina (3).

John Murray, 23 Benside

Seaman JOHN MURRAY
Last address in Lewis: 23 Benside,
Son of Donald and Christina Murray
Service unit: Merchant Marine
Date of death: 26 September 1916 at the age of 25
Drowned in an accident at Port Arthur, Texas
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

John is shown in the 1901 census at 23 Newmarket Road, the 8-year old son of Donald (44) and Christina  (38), with his brother Kenneth (6). Kenneth later served in the RNR but survived the war.

John Maciver, 15 Benside

Leading Seaman JOHN MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 15 Benside
Husband to Cornelia of Borve, Barvas
Service unit: Merchant Marine, SS Main
Service number: 3767/A
Date of birth: 11 July 1889
Date of death: 9 October 1917 at the age of 32
Ship sunk by UC-75 near Luce Bay.
Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial, panel 27
Also quoted under 2 Borve

Norman Macleod, 13 Benside

Private NORMAN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 13 Benside,
Son of Norman and Mary McLeod, of 13, Benside, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7127
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 20 December 1914 at the age of 19
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Le Touret, panel 38 and 39
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Norman is shown in the 1901 census at 13½ Newmarket Road with his parents Norman (54, mason & crofter) and Mary (47) as well as his siblings Mary (19), Murdo (17), Katy (14), Angus (11) and Christina (8).

His brother Murdo served in the RNR; his brother William was in the Canadian Army - these two survived the war. His brother Angus was killed in Mesopotamia in 1916.

Angus Macleod, 13 Benside

Corporal ANGUS MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 13 Benside,
Son of Norman and Mary McLeod, of 13, Benside, Stornoway.
Service unit: A Coy. 1st Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 10402
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 22 April 1916 at the age of 27
Killed in action in Mesopotamia
Memorial: Basra Memorial, Iraq, Panel 37 and 64
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

We find Angus in the 1891 census at croft 13 with his parents Norman (46) and Mary (38) as well as his siblings Murdina (17), Jean (15), William (12), Mary (10), Murdo (7) and Catherine (5).

His brother Murdo served in the RNR; his brother William was in the Canadian Army - these two survived the war. His brother Norman was killed in France in 1914.

Angus Macleod, 12 Benside

Deckhand ANGUS MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 12 Benside
Service unit: Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
Service number: 19984/DA
Date of death: 27 March 1920
Died of illness
Interred: Sandwick Cemetery, Northwest, Old ground, 357
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

John Macdonald, 10 Benside

Seaman JOHN MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Benside,
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve
Date of death: not known
Died in hospital in Glasgow
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

The Roll of Honour quotes him as the (grand)son of Donald Macdonald.
No further information.

Angus Macdonald, 10 Benside

Chief Petty Officer ANGUS MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Benside,
Son of Angus Macdonald
Service unit: Royal Navy
Date of death: 25 January 1917
Drowned
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial
Also listed as Died in hospital

His brother John served in the Seaforth Highlanders; his brother Donald was a piper in the Ross Mountain Battery.

Malcolm Macritchie, 3 Benside

Private MALCOLM MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 3 Benside,
Son of John and Alexina McRitchie, of 3, Benside, Laxdale, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 317335
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 8 November 1917 at the age of 27
Killed in action
Interred: Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, grave X. C. 10
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

The 1901 census shows Malcolm, aged 12, at home at 3 Newmarket Road, Stornoway, with his parents John (44, crofter & mason) and Alexandrina [Alexina] (53) as well as his siblings Matilda (16), Alex (14), Christina A (9).

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