Private DONALD MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 20 Cromore,
Son of John MacArthur
Service unit: 1st Scots Guards
Service number: 6191
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of birth: 1883
Date of death: 12 November 1914 at the age of 31
Killed in action
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 11
Local memorial: Park, Kershader
Donald was one of the children of John (1835) and Mary (1849), the others being Angus (1872), Catherine, Catherine (1886), Christina (1891), Margaret (1870) and Mary (1877)
Showing posts with label macarthur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label macarthur. Show all posts
John Macarthur, 8 Cromore
Seaman JOHN MACARTHUR
Iain Rae
Last address in Lewis: 8 Cromore,
Son of Annie MacArthur, of 8, Cromore, Lochs, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Invincible
Service number: 3975A
Date of birth: 17 August 1893
Date of death: 31 May 1916 at the age of 23
Lost at the Battle of Jutland.
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 18
John was one of the chidlren of Roderick (1856) and Ann (1859), the others being Chirsty Ann (1899), John (1895), Malcolm, Mary (1892) and Murdo (1898).
His brother Malcolm also served in the RNR, but survived the war.
Iain Rae
Last address in Lewis: 8 Cromore,
Son of Annie MacArthur, of 8, Cromore, Lochs, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Invincible
Service number: 3975A
Date of birth: 17 August 1893
Date of death: 31 May 1916 at the age of 23
Lost at the Battle of Jutland.
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 18
John was one of the chidlren of Roderick (1856) and Ann (1859), the others being Chirsty Ann (1899), John (1895), Malcolm, Mary (1892) and Murdo (1898).
His brother Malcolm also served in the RNR, but survived the war.
Donald Macarthur, 1 Kirkibost, Great Bernera
Sergeant DONALD MACARTHUR
Son of Donald and Catherine Macarthur
Last address in Lewis: 1 Kirkibost, Great Bernera
Service unit: 8th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/6931
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of birth: 16 April 1889
Date of death: 24 March 1918 at the age of 30
Killed in action
Interred: Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, grave VI. C. 23.
Local memorial: Great Bernera
Decoration(s): Mons Star, posthumously awarded DCM from conspicuous bravery
Wounded 4 times previously.
Donald was one of the nine children of Donald and Catherine, the others being John (1886), Zachariah (1887), Angus (1887), Neil (1891) Angus (1893), Chirsty Mary (1894), Effie (1898) and Johanna (1901).
Stornoway Gazette, 19 April 1918
It is with profound regret that we have to record the death in France of Sergt Donald Macarthur, Seaforths, only son of Mr Donald Macarthur, 1 Kirkbost, the news of which reached Bernera early last week. At the outbreak of war, Sergt Macarthur was engaged at the herring fishing in Fraserburgh, but being in the Special Reserve of the Seaforths, he had to respond to the call on mobilisation, and was early sent to the front, and has been there all the time, excepting when in hospital. His experiences there were exciting, and previous to this he had been wounded four times. On a very few occasions he had short leave at home, the last time being about the New Year. As was usual when Donald was at home, the writer of this paragraph had many talks with him and shortly before he left we remarked that a soldier who could show such an armful of wounded stripes ought to be allowed to stay on duty at home, and let someone else have a turn in the firing line. But no, Donald "Crost" as he was familiarly called, was keen on getting back to the firing line. In his letters from the front to the writer, the last of which was received only a few weeks ago, he was the spirit of cheeriness and was looking forward to the time when all this frightfulness would be at an end and he would be once more back amongst us in Bernera. However, this was not to be and poor Donald has made the supreme sacrifice and now lies buried in a military cemetery in France. Much sympathy is extneded from all to his sorrowing parents and sister in their great affliction.
Letters of sympathy
Some idea of Sergt Macarthur's popularity in hi sbattalion may be gathered from the letters received from the Chaplain and one of his officers, and although their kind expressions may be but poor comfort to his bereaved relatives, yet in after years it will always be some consolation to know that he was all that a good soldier should be.
Lieut George Stewart wrote to Mr Macarthur:
"Before this letter reaches you, you will have had intimation of the death of your son Donald, but as I have known him intimately for over seven months I trust you will accept my sincere sympathy in your loss. He was Sergeant of the platoon which I have commanded since August last, and no officer could wish for a better Sergeant or a braver man. Durin gthe time we were together we beguiled many a weary hour in the trenches talking of our native islands, Lewis and Skye, and only a week ago, one lovely afternoon in the trenches, he was giving me a vivid description of the mountains of Bernera. I was away from the battalion for a few days on duty, and on my return yesterday was deeply grieved to hear of his death. He was very popular with all the officers and men, and while we all feel that we have lost a good Sergeant, I personally know I have lost a very good friend. HHe was an old soldier in France when I joined the battalion, and I shall never forget the help he gave me in connection with my duties both in the trenches and behind the line. I have not yet had particulars about his death, but anything I may be able to gather later I will give you. Please accept my sincere sympathy."
Chaplain William Crawford wrote:
"I have sad news to break to you. Your son, Sergt. D. Macarthur, 6831, has been killed in action. On the 244th he was wounde din action. It was not of a serious character, and he was able to walk down to the advanced dressing station. After attention there he was placed in an ambulance to be taken down the line. The car had not proceeded far down the main road, when a shell landed on it, killing all its occupants save one. Your son was killed instantly. His death has occasioned much deep and general regret. Sergt. Macarthur was held in the highest respect and had a long record of splended service with the battalion. None will miss him more than the officers of his own company. His company commander says:
"He was my best Sergeant. The battalion will feel his loss, but we who knew him as a comrade, and for his constant cheeriness. We feel very sorry for you for yours is the greater loss. May God be your strength and hope in this hour. I wish also to tell you that he lies buried in the Arras Military Cemetery.
An Appreciation
A "Friend" writes: On the 3rd of April, the "Hand of the Reaper" once more cast a deep gloom upon this whole community, when intimation was received by Mr Donald Macarthur, 1 Kirkbost, Bernera, that his only surviving son, Donald, was killed in action in France on the 24th of March. He joined the colours when war broke out in 1914, and went across to France with some of the first sent there. Son afterwards, he attained the rank of Sergeant, was wounded four times, and got the final hit on the above-mentioned date, when he was wounded for the fifth time but not seirously. He walked unaided tot he dressing-station, got attention there, and was placed in an ambulance-car to be sent down the line. The car had not proceeded far downt he main road, when a shell struck it, killing all the occupants except one. Donald was killed instantly"
Donald was known to us all as Domhnull Crost and one and all of us feel deeply with his father and mother and sisters in their hour of trial. Mr Macarthur had lost four sons before now but this seems to be the deepest sorrow of all. May God be their help and strength.
Donald Macarthur, 12 Kirivick
Seaman DONALD MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 12 Kirivick,
Son of Malcolm and Isabella MacArthur;
Husband of Jane MacArthur, of 12, Kirivick, Carloway, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Implacable
Service number: 4443/SD
Date of birth: 12 November 1884
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 35
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire, was never found
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 32
Local memorial: Carloway
Donald appears in the 1901 census at 12 Kirivick, aged 17, son of Ella (58) and brother of Effie (21).
Last address in Lewis: 12 Kirivick,
Son of Malcolm and Isabella MacArthur;
Husband of Jane MacArthur, of 12, Kirivick, Carloway, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Implacable
Service number: 4443/SD
Date of birth: 12 November 1884
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 35
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire, was never found
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 32
Local memorial: Carloway
Donald appears in the 1901 census at 12 Kirivick, aged 17, son of Ella (58) and brother of Effie (21).
John Macarthur, 42 Park Carloway
Quarter-master JOHN MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 42 Park Carloway,
Service unit: South Africans
Date of death: 1 October 1918
Local memorial: Carloway
Served from 1916 till invalided in August 1917.
Last address in Lewis: 42 Park Carloway,
Service unit: South Africans
Date of death: 1 October 1918
Local memorial: Carloway
Served from 1916 till invalided in August 1917.
Kenneth Macarthur, 2 Park, Carloway
Private KENNETH MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 2 Park Carloway,
Service unit: 8th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/6906
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 12 September 1916 at the age of 24
Died of wounds
Interred: Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, grave IV. C. 12
Local memorial: Carloway
Mobilised as special reservist with Seaforths at commencement of war; was wounded at Neuve Chapelle and Festubert. Returned to France after recovering in April 1916, and died of wounds 12 September 1916.
His brother Donald also served in the Seaforth Highlanders and survived the war.
Norman Macarthur, 26 Knock, Carloway
Private NORMAN MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 26 Knock, Carloway,
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/6961
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 9 May 1915 at the age of 22
Killed in action at Neuve Chapelle
Memorial: Le Touret Memorial, Panel 38 and 39
Local memorial: Carloway
Had joined the firing line in October 1914
Norman appears in the 1901 census at 26 Knock, aged 8, the son of Angus (55) and Mary (52), brother of Maggie (25), Angus (17), Kate Ann (14) and Chirsty (11).
Archibald Macarthur, 29 Carloway
Seaman ARCHIBALD MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 29 Carloway,
Son of Donald and Annie MacArthur, of 6, Dalbeg, Carloway, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Wallington
Service number: 13257/DA
Date of birth: 22 September 1898
Date of death: 11 December 1918 at the age of 20
Died of pneumonia in RN Hospital, Hull
Interred: Dalmore Cemetery
Local memorial: Carloway
Called to Colours at start of war, but discharged as under-age.
Donald Macarthur, 29 Breasclete
Lance Corporal DONALD MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 29 Breasclete,
Son of Malcolm and Mary Macarthur
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, also listed as Labour Corps
Service number: 3/7214
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 1 July 1916 at the age of 19
Died of wounds
Interred: Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, grave I. H. 28.
Local memorial: East Loch Roag, Callanish
Battalion war diary entry for 1 July 1916
Donald appears in the 1901 census, aged 4, at 29 Breasclete. He is the son of Malcolm (51) and Mary (43), and brother of John (16), Malcolm (14), Angus (10), Catherine (8) and Maggie (6).
His brothers Angus, Neil and John served in the RNR and survived the war. Neil, for reference, appears in the 1881 census, aged 8.
Last address in Lewis: 29 Breasclete,
Son of Malcolm and Mary Macarthur
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, also listed as Labour Corps
Service number: 3/7214
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 1 July 1916 at the age of 19
Died of wounds
Interred: Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, grave I. H. 28.
Local memorial: East Loch Roag, Callanish
Battalion war diary entry for 1 July 1916
Donald appears in the 1901 census, aged 4, at 29 Breasclete. He is the son of Malcolm (51) and Mary (43), and brother of John (16), Malcolm (14), Angus (10), Catherine (8) and Maggie (6).
His brothers Angus, Neil and John served in the RNR and survived the war. Neil, for reference, appears in the 1881 census, aged 8.
Donald Macarthur, 6 Borrowston
Seaman DONALD MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 6 Borrowston,
Son of Duncan and Catherine Macarthur, of 6, Borriston, Carloway
Husband of Maggie Macarthur, of 6, Borriston, Carloway, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HM Submarine M.21
Service number: 1904/D
Date of birth: 10 November 1876
Date of death: 20 October 1918 at the age of 41
Died in mining of ship
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30
Local memorial: Carloway
Donald appears in the 1891 census at 6 Borrowston, aged 15, the son of Duncan (42) and Cathrine (38) and brother of Malcolm (13), Norman (11), John (9), Finlay (6), Roderick (3) and Margaret (1).
His brothers Kenneth and Finlay both served in the Merchant Navy and survived the war.
Stornoway Gazette, 8 November 1918
Shawbost was plunged in grief when it was known that another of our lads in blue had made the supreme sacrifice in defence of his King, home and country. He was Donald Macarthur (of Borriston) who was married and settled in New Shawbost. He was with us on three weeks' leave quite recently. It is worthy of note that when Macarthur and his chum arrived at their base off leave, a day before their time, their ship was just leaving for sea, and if they had waited the expiration of their leave, the ship would have proceeded to sea without them. But such are the ways of Providence, and Macarthur laid down his life as the result of an enemy mine by which his ship was blown up just outside Zeebrugge. His chum, John Macleod RNR, who arrived back to Shawbost on Saturday, is one of the survivors and bore with personal grief the sorrowful intelligence of Macarthur's tale. The painful feelings of the whole community go out to Mrs Macarthur and her two children in their irrepairable loss of husband and father, who died that others might live.
Last address in Lewis: 6 Borrowston,
Son of Duncan and Catherine Macarthur, of 6, Borriston, Carloway
Husband of Maggie Macarthur, of 6, Borriston, Carloway, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HM Submarine M.21
Service number: 1904/D
Date of birth: 10 November 1876
Date of death: 20 October 1918 at the age of 41
Died in mining of ship
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30
Local memorial: Carloway
Donald appears in the 1891 census at 6 Borrowston, aged 15, the son of Duncan (42) and Cathrine (38) and brother of Malcolm (13), Norman (11), John (9), Finlay (6), Roderick (3) and Margaret (1).
His brothers Kenneth and Finlay both served in the Merchant Navy and survived the war.
Stornoway Gazette, 8 November 1918
Shawbost was plunged in grief when it was known that another of our lads in blue had made the supreme sacrifice in defence of his King, home and country. He was Donald Macarthur (of Borriston) who was married and settled in New Shawbost. He was with us on three weeks' leave quite recently. It is worthy of note that when Macarthur and his chum arrived at their base off leave, a day before their time, their ship was just leaving for sea, and if they had waited the expiration of their leave, the ship would have proceeded to sea without them. But such are the ways of Providence, and Macarthur laid down his life as the result of an enemy mine by which his ship was blown up just outside Zeebrugge. His chum, John Macleod RNR, who arrived back to Shawbost on Saturday, is one of the survivors and bore with personal grief the sorrowful intelligence of Macarthur's tale. The painful feelings of the whole community go out to Mrs Macarthur and her two children in their irrepairable loss of husband and father, who died that others might live.
John Macarthur, 6 Stenish
Private JOHN MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 6 Stenish,
Son of Mrs. Anne MacArthur, of 6, Stenish, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: 7th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/10847
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 6 December 1916 at the age of 25
Killed in action in France
Interred: Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, grave II. A. 1
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial
Last address in Lewis: 6 Stenish,
Son of Mrs. Anne MacArthur, of 6, Stenish, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: 7th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/10847
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 6 December 1916 at the age of 25
Killed in action in France
Interred: Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, grave II. A. 1
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial
Donald John Macarthur, 12 Plantation Road, Stornoway
Guardsman DONALD JOHN MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 12 Plantation Road, Stornoway
Son of Norman and Mary Ann MacArthur, of Seaforth House, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service unit: 1st Scots Guards
Service number: 11832
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 27 September 1915 at the age of 26
Killed in action at Loos
Memorial: Loos Memorial, Panel 8 and 9
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson WW1 memorial, left panel
Donald John appears in the 1891 census as the 2-year old son of Norman Macarthur, tailor, aged 29, and Mary Ann Macarthur, at 18 Scotland Street, Stornoway. Other siblings include Catherine Ann (3) and Marrion (3 months). The 1901 census places the family at 40 Keith Street, and adds another three daughters: Christina (7), Mary (8) and Jessie (4).
Alex Macarthur, 48 Lewis Street, Stornoway
Seaman ALEX MACARTHUR
Last address in Lewis: 48 Lewis Street, Stornoway
Son of Isabella Macarthur, of 48, Lewis St., Stornoway, Ross-shire, and the late Alexander Macarthur.
Service unit: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Defence
Service number: Clyde Z/3622
Date of birth: 16 April 1890
Date of death: 31 May 1916 at the age of 26
Lost at the Battle of Jutland.
Memorial: Portsmouth Naval, panel 24,
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson WW1 memorial, left panel
Came from ranching in USA to do his bit. Transferred from RND to RN after 6 months' training.
Alex is shown on the censuses of 1891 and 1901. In both censuses, he is shown at 64 Lewis Street with seven siblings: Murdo (19, salesman), Isabella (17), Donald (15), Roderick (12), Alexander (10), Mary (8), Christina (6) and Margaret Isabella (4). Father Alex is a general merchant (48).
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