Lieutenant Commander DONALD MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Holm,
Son of Margaret Macdonald, of 10, Holm, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Navy Voluntary Reserve, HMS Ascot
Date of death: 10 November 1918 at the age of 25
Ship sunk by mine
Memorial: Portsmouth Naval, panel 30
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson Institute WW1, left panel
Six members of this family served during the war, namely: father Alexander (RNR), and his five sons Kenneth (Captain, Merchant Navy); Malcolm; Alexander and John (RNR-T), who was lost in the Iolaire Disaster; as well as Donald.
Stornoway Gazette
The following is a copy of a telegram received by Mrs Macdonald, 10 Holm, from the Keeper of the Privy Purse, relative to the death of her son, Lieut. Donald Macdonald.
"The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Navy have sustained in the death of your son in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow".
Lieut Arthur W. Taylor, senior officer of the 9th Fleet Sweeping Flotilla writes:
"The Commanding Officer, officers and men of the 9th Sweeping Flotilla, wish to express their sincere and heartfelt sympathy on the loss of your boy. Lieut. Macdonald was held in the highest esteem by everybody and we felt his loss very deeply. Now that this terrible war has come to an end and your boy has made the supreme sacrifice, we sincerely hope that comfort will come to you to your declining years, and that you will have some comfort in knowing that your boy took a prominent part in it. We honour the mother of a hero and a lost shipmate".
