Iain Dhomhnaill an Saighdear
Lance Corporal JOHN BUCHANAN
Last address in Lewis: 6 Kneep,
Son of Donald and Isabella nee Buchanan
Service unit: 1st Cameron Highlanders
Service number: 3/5300
Enlisted at Inverness
Date of birth: 26 July 1894
Date of death: 22 July 1916 at the age of 28
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15B
Local memorial: Uig, Timsgarry
John was one of the children of Donald (1859) and Isabella (1860), the others being Ann (1893), Betsy (1895), Katie Ann (1900), Norman (1903) and Peggy (1897).
Stornoway Gazette, 1917
UIG SOLDIER KILLED. It is with deep regret that we announced the death of Pte John Buchanan, 5300 1st Cameron Highlanders, son of Mr and Mrs Donald Buchanan, 6 Kneep, Uig. He was killed in action in France on the 23rd day of July last, when he was within two days of being 22 years old. He went over to France in October 1914, and was there continuously, either in the trenches or at the Base, except one furlough of ten days, during which he was able to visit is uncle, the late Norman Buchanan Esq, of Yeovil, but he was not able to come North to see his parents. Along with his brave regiment he saw much fighting and passed under very heavy fire, and he was on som occasions wonderfully preserved when many of his comrades fell; but the fatal blow came at last to him also. He was a most excellent and promising young man, always serious and thoughtful, and made more serious and thoughtful by the solemn circumstances in which he spent the last portion of his life; kind-hearted and amiable to a degree, and upright and stainless in life. He was a brave and loyal soldier of his earthly King, who faced danger and endured hardship boldly and cheerfully, and he gave every promised that, if he had been spared, he would prove an equally true and faithful soldier and follower of the Prince of Peace. But He whose love and wisdom infinitely exceeds ours saw fit to remove him, along with hundreds more of our best and noblest young men, and all who knew him, sincerely mourn his loss and extend their deepest sympathy to the bereaved parents and all the members of the family in their great sorrow.
