Donald Graham, Outend, Coll

Private DONALD GRAHAM

Last address in Lewis: Outend Coll,
Son of Alexander and Annie Macleod Graham, of Out End Call, Stornoway.
Service unit: 2nd Canadian Field Artillery
Service number: 41793
Date of death: 16 February 1915 at the age of 28
Accidentally killed in France
Interred: Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery, grave I. B. 17A
Local memorial: Back
Served 5 years in India.

Date of birth: 5 September 1888
Height: 5 ft 7 in
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Automobile worker
Volunteered at Quebec on 26 September 1914

Murdo Maciver, 61 Coll

Private MURDO MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 61 Coll,
Son of Kenneth Maciver
Service unit: 4th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Service number: S/22731
Enlisted at Nairn, Inverness-shire
Date of death: 2 October 1918 at the age of 19
Killed in action
Interred: Bellicourt British Cemetery, grave VI. I. 6
Local memorial: Back

Murdo appears in the 1901 census at 61 Coll aged 2, with his parents Kenneth (34) and Christina (32) as well as his siblings Mary (4) and Kenneth (9 months).

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

Murdo Macleod, 54 Coll

Private MURDO MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 54 Coll
Son of Angus and Christina McLeod, of 34, Coll Back, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/8720
Enlisted at Clydebank, Renfrewshire.
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 25
Killed in action
Memorial: Basra Memorial, Iraq, Panel 37 and 64

Murdo is shown as a 1-year old at Coll Shepherd House in the 1891 census, with his brother Angus just 2 months old. His father Angus (27) and mother Christina (24) are present as well. A decade later, three younger siblings appear, namely John (8), Isabella (4) and Margaret (1).

His brother Angus served in the Canadian Army, and his brother John was in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary service. Both survived the war.

Alexander Mackenzie, 44 Coll

Private ALEX MACKENZIE
Mac Iain Choinnich
Last address in Lewis: 44 Coll,
Son of John and Ann Mackenzie (nee Macdonald)
Service unit: Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 11 June 1915 at the age of 28
Killed in action
Local memorial: Back

Alex is shown in the 1901 census as a 14-year old scholar, the son of John (69) and Ann (54) and the brother of Ann (14) and Kenneth (11).

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

Norman Maciver, 43 Coll

Private NORMAN MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 43 Coll,
Son of John and Isabella MacIver, of 43, Coll, Back, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7178
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 7 January 1916 at the age of 20
Killed in action in Mesopotamia
Memorial: Basra Memorial, Iraq, Panel 37 and 64
Local memorial: Back

James Beaton, 40 Coll

Private JAMES BEATON
Last address in Lewis: 40 Coll,
Son of James and Isabella Beaton.
Service unit: 43rd Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Service number: 859871
Date of death: 17 April 1917 at the age of 22
Date of death in above image is incorrect
Killed in action
Barlin Communal Cemetery extension, grave I. A. 35
Local memorial: Back

His brother Alexander was lost in the Iolaire Disaster; his brother Murdo served in the RNR and survived the war.

Date of birth: 27 May 1894
Place of birth: Isle of Lewis
Height: 5 ft 6 in
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Sectionman
Current address: Gross Isle, Manitoba
Volunteered at Winnipeg on 29 March 1916
Had served in the South African war and joined the Canadians as a private

Alexander Beaton, 40 Coll

Seaman ALEX BEATON
Last address in Lewis: 40 Coll,
Son of James and Isabella Maciver Beaton, of 40, Coll, Back, Stornoway.
Service unit: Mercantile Marine Reserve, HMD Rose III
Service number: 968068
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 28
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Gress Cemetery
Local memorial: Back

His brother James was killed in action, serving with the Canadian Army in 1917. His brother Murdo, who served in the RNR, survived the war.

His next-of-kin is given as his sister Christina.

Murdo Maciver, 40 Coll

Corporal MURDO MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 40 Coll,
Son of Alex and Catherine MacIver, of 40, Coll Back, Stornoway.
Service unit: 4th Gordon Highlanders
Service number: 1328
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 10 June 1915 at the age of 25
Killed in action
Interred: Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, grave II. E. 10
Local memorial: Back; Nicolson Institute WW1, left panel

Murdo is shown in the 1901 census, aged 11, at home at 40 Coll with his parents Alex (39) and Catherine (35) as well as his sisters Christina (8) and Donaldina (4).

Alexander Maciver, 36 Coll

Private ALEX MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 36 Coll,
Son of Kenneth McIver
Service unit: 1st Scots Guards
Service number: 9177
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of death: 25 January 1915 at the age of 23
Killed in action
Memorial: Le Touret Memorial, panel 3 and 4,
Local memorial: Back

The 1901 census shows Alexander, aged 9, at 36 Coll, at home with his parents Kenneth and Isabella (both aged 50) as well as his siblings Jane (22), Neil (11) and Johanna (4).

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

Norman Maciver, 34 Coll

Seaman NORMAN MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 34 Coll,
Son of Norman Maciver
Father of Marion MacIver, of 34, Coll, Back, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Newmarket
Service number: 2898B
Date of birth: July 1874
Date of death: 16 July 1917 at the age of 43
Ship sunk by UC-38 in the Aegean Sea
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 26
Local memorial: Back

Stornoway Gazette

The whole of the district was again plunged into grief when the news arrived that [...] Norman Maciver, RNR, 34 Coll, had offered up the supreme sacrifice.

He was on board HMS Newmarket when she was torpedoed on 16 July in the Mediterranean, and all on board perished. Norman was at one time postman between Back and Tolsta, and was a great favourite with all the people he came into contact with. Notwithstanding the many sad and distressing incidents in his life, he was a man of very cheery disposition. The sad ending to a sad life has caused widespread regret in the district, and the deepest sympathy is felt for the sorrowing orphans and the other relations.

Murdo Macleod, 30 Coll

Seaman MURDO MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 30 Coll,
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Revenge
Service number: J/76479
Date of birth: 7 May 1881
Date of death: 1 January 1919
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire, was never found
Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial, panel 31
Local memorial: Back

His brother Roderick also served in the RNR, and his brother Donald was in the Canadian Army. Both survived the war.

George Macdonald, 29 Coll

Lance Corporal GEORGE MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 29 Coll,
Son of George MacDonald, of 29, Coll, Stornoway, Lewis.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7238
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 20 November 1915
Killed in action
Interred: Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, II. D. 5.
Local memorial: Back

George is seen as a 5-year old in the 1901 census at home at 29 Coll with his parents George (46) and Jessie (37) as well as his siblings John (11), Alexander (7), Katie Bell (3) and Jane (6 months).

His brother John served as a lieutenant in the Ross Mountain Battery and survived the war.

From the 2nd Seaforths War Diary
The battalion is in the trenches in northern France, midway between Arras and Amiens. The war diary for the week preceding George Macdonald's death complains of the shocking state of the trenches due to mud.

Fine, cold and clear. Artillery active on both sides all day. During the afternoon, Germans threw some 30 howitzer shells round the reserve trench and at the same time several field gun shells round front line. Our Howitzers replied with apparent effect on German 2nd line. The Battn was relieved by 7.50pm by Rifle Bde and proceded to billets in Forceville. 

John Macdonald, 27 Coll

Seaman JOHN MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 27 Coll,
Son of Donald Macdonald
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Seagull
Service number: 3042/C
Date of birth: January 1881
Date of death: 30 September 1918 at the age of 37
Lost in sinking of ship
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30,
Local memorial: Back

Stornoway Gazette, 11 October 1918
A deep shadow was cast over this district on Tuesday of last week when it became known that Mr Donald macdonald, 27 Coll, had received official intimation that his youngest son, John Macdonald, RNR, had been drowned off the southwest coast of Scotland through his ship being sunk in a collision. The deceased, who was about 36 years of age, was called up at the outbreak of war, and served for the first year on HMS Hermione. He was afterwards transferred to the Harwich patrol and latterly to the patrol based at Oban. He was a man of sterling uprightness of character, and was held in the highest esteem wherever he was known. He was married to Miss Kennethina STewart, youngest daughter of the late Mr Kenneth Stewart, Back, and sister of Councillor Norman Stewart, Stornoway, and her death, over two years ago, was a great blow to him. The deepest sympathy is felt for their only son, as well as for the deceased's parents and sisters in their irrepairable loss.

John Smith, 26 Coll

Seaman JOHN SMITH
Last address in Lewis: 26 Coll,
Son of John and Betsy McLeod Smith, of Tolsta
Husband of Mary Stewart Smith, of 26, Coll, Back, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Vivid
Service number: 3359/A
Date of death: 30 October 1918 at the age of 30
Died in hospital after being invalided home
Interred: Gress Cemetery
Local memorial: Back

John is shown in the 1891 census at 48 Tolsta with his parents John (42) and Elizabeth (36) as well as his siblings Mary (15), Angus (13), Donald (10), Christina (8) and Kenneth (4).

Alexander Macdonald, 25 Coll

Seaman ALEXANDER MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 25 Coll
Son of Malcolm and Catherina Munro, of 2, Knock Point, Stornoway
Husband of Annie Munro Macdonald, of 25, Coll Back, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, SS Couch
Service number: 4509B
Date of death: 7 December 1916 at the age of 35
Ship sunk by U-boat
Memorial: Chatham Naval, panel 18

John Neil Macrae, 25 Coll

Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Private JOHN NEIL MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 25 Coll,
Service unit: 7th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7241
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 14 July 1916
Killed in action
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15 C
Local memorial: Back

John Neil is shown in the 1901 census at 25 Coll, aged 3. Also present are his parents John and Mary (aged 41) as well as his siblings Isabella (14), Donald (11), Angus (6) and Kenneth (1).

His brother Donald was killed in action in 1918 whilst serving with the Canadian Army. His brother Angus also served with the Canadian Army, but survived the war. 

Donald Macrae, 25 Coll

 
Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Sergeant DONALD MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 25 Coll,
Son of John Macrae
Service unit: 43rd Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Service number: 199000
Date of death: 16 August 1918 at the age of 28
Killed in action
Memorial: Vimy Memorial,
Local memorial: Back

Date of birth: 25 November 1889
Height: 5 ft 11¾ in
Complexion: Ruddy
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Policeman
Current address: 221 Robertson Street, Fort William
Volunteered at Fort William, ON on 25 February 1916 

Donald is shown in the 1901 census at 25 Coll, aged 11. Also present are his parents John and Mary (aged 41) as well as his siblings Isabella (14), Angus (6), John Neil (3) and Kenneth (1).

His brother John Neil was killed in action in 1916 whilst serving with the Seaforth Highlanders. His brother Angus also served with the Canadian Army, but survived the war.

Kenneth Maciver, 23 Coll

Leading Seaman KENNETH MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 23 Coll,
Son of Malcolm and Mangull MacIver, of 23, Coll, Back, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Sagna
Service number: 5561/A
Date of birth: 15 October 1890
Date of death: 26 February 1919 at the age of 30
Accidentally killed in Liverpool on board ship
Interred: Gress Cemetery
Local memorial: Back

Kenneth is shown in the 1901 census aged 12, at home at 23 Coll with his parents Malcolm (45) and Maggie (38) as well as his siblings Isabella (9), John George (4) and Jane (4 months).

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

Angus Graham, 22 Coll

Private ANGUS GRAHAM
Last address in Lewis: 22 Coll,
Son of John and Catherine Graham, of 22, Coll, Back, Stornoway.
Service unit: B-company, 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7237
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 21 April 1917 at the age of 21
Killed in action
Memorial: Basra Memorial, Iraq, Panel 37 and 64
Local memorial: Back
Five times wounded.

Angus is shown in the 1901 census at home at 22 Coll, aged 4, with his parents John and Catherine (both aged 44) as well as his siblings Maggie (12), Murdo (10), Christina (7), John (6) and Norman (1).

His brother John served with the Canadian Army, and his brother Norman with the Seaforth Highlanders. Both survived the war.

Evander Macdonald, 15 Coll

Seaman EVANDER MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 15 Coll
Son of Angus and Catherine Ferguson McDonald, of Back,
Husband of Catherine McLennan McDonald, of 15, Coll, Back,
Service unit: Merchant Marine, SS Bulgarian
Service number: 2797/C
Date of death: 20 January 1917 at the age of 40
Ship sunk by U-84, 50 miles W of Fastnet
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 26,
Served with the Seaforths in the South African War

Evander is shown in the 1891 census, with a degree of uncertainty, as a 13-year scholar in the village of Back; Coll is contiguous with Back. He is the son of Angus (41) and Catherine (42) and brother to Catherine (8), Maggie (6) and Roderick (2)

Stornoway Gazette, 6 April 1917
Death of a veteran
Mrs Evander Macdonald, Back, has received word from the Admiralty that her husband, Evander Macdonald, RNR, a gunner on board the “Bulgaria”, lost his life, his ship having been torpedoed on 17th January [1917]. A few of the survivors are now prisoners of war in Germany, and one of them, writing home, says the last he saw of Evander was his calmly standing beside his gun: “Ivor the Duke”, as he was locally known, was a great favourite, his cheerful disposition endearing him to all. He saw a good deal of fighting and served under the late Sir Hector Macdonald in the South Afircan War. Anyone who went through that campaign, marching often 25 miles a day, and fighting with nothing to live on but biscuits and bad water, would think there would be very little to be cheery about. Not so with Evander, for he would lie down in the veldt all smiles, and say – “Cheer up, boys, we will make up for this when we get to Stornoway again”. He saw five years continuous service, and it seems a pity that such a noble soul should lose his life in such a foul manner. Macdonald was only 39 years of age, and leaves a widow and four daughters. Great sympathy is felt for them, as well as for his aged father and three sisters.