Norman Macphail, 32B Knock, Carloway

Seaman NORMAN MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 32B Knock, Carloway,
Also quoted at 13 Dun Carloway
Son of Norman and Ann MacLeod MacPhail, of Doune;
Husband of Maggie MacPhail, of 32, Knock, Carloway
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Venerable
Service number: 14663/DA
Date of birth: December 1886
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 37
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Dalmore Cemetery
Local memorial: Carloway

Donald Macphail, 11 Borrowston

Image (c) Mairi M Macritchie

Seaman DONALD MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 11 Borrowston,
Son of Donald Macphail;
Husband of Marion Macphail, of 11, Borriston, Carloway, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Pembroke
Service number: 2222/D
Date of death:  January 1874
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 44
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Dalmore Cemetery
Lewis Memorial: Carloway

Donald appears in the 1891 census, a 16-year old carter at 11 Borrowston, the son of Donald (43) and Marian (38) and brother of John (14), John Murdo (12), Margaret (9), Christy (3) and Malcolm (9 months).

His brother John Murdo served in the Royal Army Service Corps, and his brother John was in the Cameron Highlanders. Both these survived the war.

Roderick Macphail, 23 South Shawbost

Company Serjeant Major RODERICK MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 23 South Shawbost,
Son of Donald and Bella Murray McPhail, of Stornoway
Husband of Jane McPhail, of Ronaldshay Place, South Lumley St., Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.
Service unit: 8th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/1515
Enlisted at Falkirk
Date of death: 10 July 1916 at the age of 42
Killed in action
Interred: Vermelles British Cemetery, grave IV. F. 41
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar
Decoration(s):DCM, Croix de Guerre (France).

Roderick appears in the 1881 census, aged 6, at home with his parents Donald (40) and Bella (35), and sisters Catherine (3) and Christina (2).

John Macphail, 54 North Shawbost

Seaman JOHN MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 54 North Shawbost
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve,
Date of death: 1 January 1916 at the age of 28
Died of illness

This casualty cannot be traced in the records. John Macphail, 54 North Shawbost, is quoted as being interned in Holland. 

Murdo Macphail, 32 North Bragar

Private MURDO MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 32 North Bragar,
Son of Christy Mcphail, 32 Bragar
Service unit: 29th Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Service number: 76179
Date of death: 19 April 1916 at the age of 24
Killed in France
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, panel 18 - 28 - 30
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar

His brothers John and Donald served in the RNR and survived the war.

Donald Macphail, 24 North Bragar

Leading Seaman DONALD MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 24 North Bragar,
Son of John and Bella Campbell MacPhail, of North Bragar
Husband of E. MacPhail, of 24, North Bragar, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Otway
Service number: 1623C
Date of birth: 20 April 1876
Date of death: 23 July 1917 at the age of 42
Ship sunk by U-boat
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 26
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar
Decoration(s):1915 Star
Left a widow and six children.

Donald appears in the 1881 census, aged 6, the son of John (47) and Isabella (40), and brother of John (and Murdo (9).

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

Stornoway Gazette
The village of Bragar has had to pay its toll for the loss of the Otway. We very much regret to announce that Donald Macphail, 24 North Bragar, was one of the ten killed by the explosion. Macphail was one of the most powerful men in Lewis, standing over six feet in height and built in proportion. He was a very intelligent man, and of a quiet and peaceable nature. He had been gone only a few weeks from home, having had a short leave to attend his mother's funeral. Much sympathy is felt for his widow and family of young children, and also for his sister. 

John Macphail, 11 North Bragar

Private JOHN MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 11 North Bragar,
Son of Annie McPhail, of 11, North Bragar, Stornoway, Scotland, and the late Angus McPhail.
Service unit: 72nd Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Service number: 2021278
Date of death: 10 August 1918 at the age of 30
Was killed in France
Interred: Rosieres Communal Cemetery extension, grave III. A. 26
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar

His brother Malcolm also served in the Canadians, but survived the war.

Date of birth: 6 July 1888
Complexion: Medium
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Smelterman
Current address: Trail, BC
Was drafted in at Trail, BC on 24 January 1918

John appears in the 1901 census at 11 North Bragar, aged 12, the son of Angus and Annie (45), and brother of Malcolm (16), Annie (14), Kenneth (10) and Chirsty (7).

Malcolm Macphail, 25 Arnol

Shown in the right of this image
Seaman MALCOLM MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 25 Arnol,
Son of Donald and Christina McPhail, of 25, Arnol, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Prince George
Service number: 2022/C
Date of birth: January 1881
Date of death: 25 April 1915 at the age of 36
Killed in action on board his ship
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 14,
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar

His brother Donald, who served with the Seaforth Highlanders, was wounded twice and was awarded the Military Medal for distinguished conduct.

Kenneth Macphail, 24 Arnol

Seaman KENNETH MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 24 Arnol,
Son of Malcolm and Catherine MacPhail.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Pembroke
Service number: 3320/A
Date of birth: 26 February 1891
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 27
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Bragar Old Church Yard and extension
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar

Was the only survivor from a merchant ship which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean. He was in the sea for 36 hours before being found. 

Kenneth appears in the 1901 census as the 10-year old son of Malcolm and Kate (both aged 52) at 24 Arnol. His siblings Angus (23), Kate (19) and Mary (13) are also present.

Kenneth Macphail, 4 Arnol

Private KENNETH MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 4 Arnol,
Son of Angus Macphail
Service unit: 9th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 13012
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of death: 13 October 1916 at the age of 19
Killed in action at the Somme
Interred: Warlencourt British Cemetery, grave VIII H 20
Local memorial: West Side, Bragar

Kenneth appears in the 1901 census, aged 5, living at 4A Arnol with his parents Angus (50) and Annie (40), as well as his siblings Roderick (22), Janet (18), Joan (8) and Donald (1). 

His brother Donald served in the Trawler section of the RNR and survived the war.

Murdo Macphail, 6 Mackenzie Street, Stornoway

Private MURDO MACPHAIL
Last address in Lewis: 6 Mackenzie Street, Stornoway
Son of Neil and Annie Carmichael MacPhail, of 6, MacKenzie St., Stornoway.
Service unit: 10th/11th Highland Light Infantry, 7th (Blythswood) Battalion (Territorial).
Service number: 45467, formerly 38419 Scottish Rifles
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of death: 9 April 1918 at the age of 19
Killed in action
Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 9
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial