Donald Macrae, 6 Habost, Lochs

Lance Corporal DONALD MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 6 Habost, Lochs,
Son of Roderick and Mary Macrae
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/5509
Enlisted at Inverness
Date of birth: 1893
Date of death: 12 December 1914 at the age of 21
Killed in action at Poperinghe
Interred: Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery, grave I. M. 33
Local memorial: Park, Kershader
First casualty from Kershader district to fall

Donald was one of the children of Roderick (1857) and Mary (1862), the others being  Isabella (1896), John (1908), Malcolm (1891), Margaret (1900), Mary Ann (1902), Murdo (1886), Roderick (1889) and Roderick (1908).

His brothers Murdo and Roderick senior also served in the Seaforth Highlanders; Malcolm John was in the King's Own Scottish Borderers. These three all survived the war. 

Donald Alexander Macrae, Post Office, Callanish

Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Private DONALD ALEX MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: Post Office Callanish,
Son of Duncan and Mary Macrae
Service unit: 7th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/13018
Enlisted at Fort George
Date of death: 12 October 1916
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15C,
Local memorial: East Loch Roag, Callanish

Donald Alex appears in the 1901 census, aged 6, at Callanish Farm House. He is the son of Duncan (50) and Mary (45) and brother of Maggie Mary (4), Johanna (3), Flora (1) and William (2 months).   Also present is Dr Victor Alexander Ross (boarder, aged 30), from Lairg, who is a GP; Catherine Mackenzie (16), a general servant and 81-year old Annie Macleod, who is of no occupation and is visiting.

Alexander Macrae, 7 Point Street, Stornoway

Rifleman ALEXANDER MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 7 Point Street, Stornoway
Husband of Violet Angelina Macrae of Wellington
Service unit: 2nd Bn 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Service number: 24/2246
Date of death: 15 September 1916 at the age of 29
Memorial: Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial

Alexander was a cook and married to Violet Angelina before he joined the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He lived at 7 Alfred Street, Wellington, c/o Mrs Simmons. He embarked at Wellington on 1 April 1916 on the Maunganui or the Tahiti bound for Suez, Egypt.

The 1891 census shows Alexander (3) at 7 Point Street, with his parents Murdo (40, cooper) and Christina (38) and siblings Jessie (9), John Murdo (6) and William (1) being his siblings. 

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.

John Macrae, 3 Branahuie

Sergeant JOHN MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 3 Branahuie,
Son of Major J. N. Macrae, D.S.O. (Seaforth Highlanders), of Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, Perthshire.
Service unit: 8th Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 1070
Born at St Mary's.
Enlisted at Shorncliffe, Folkestone, Kent.
Date of death: 28 July 1918 at the age of 20
Killed in action in France
Interred: Buzancy Military Cemetery, grave I. D. 3
Local memorial: Branahuie / Melbost

John was one of three sons of Lt Col John N Macrae DSO who served during the war, and the only one to lose his life. The colonel's brother David served in the Canadians; the colonel himself served in the Seaforths, as did his sons Hector and Donald; his son Malcolm was in the Royal Engineers.

James Macrae, 49 Benside

Private JAMES MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 49 Benside,
Son of Colin Macrae
Service unit: 7th Seaforth Highlanders 
Service number: S/13263
Enlisted at Fort George, Inverness
Date of death: 12 October 1916 at the age of 42
Killed in action
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15. C
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

James appears in the 1901 census at 48 Barvas Road, born at Shawbost, the son of Coline (sic), aged 53; and his siblings Roderick (25), Joseph (23), Colin (16), William (14) and Annie M (21).

His brothers Joseph and Roderick also served in the Army (in the Camerons and Seaforths respectively) but survived the war.

John Macrae, 21 Sheshader

Seaman JOHN MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 21 Sheshader,
Son of John and Bella Macrae, of 21, Sheshader Point, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMML 403
Service number: 4811SD
Date of birth: 3 November 1888
Date of death: 22 August 1918 at the age of 28

Ship sunk by U-boat
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

His brother Donald died in January 1919, having served in the RNR during the war.

Stornoway Gazette, September 1918
His relatives have been informed that John Macrae, RNR, son of the late John Macrae, 21 Sheshader, was killed about a fortnight ago. John, who was 31 years of age, was as a young lad deprived of both mother and father, and being the eldest, bravely undertook the care of his younger siblings, who now mourn the early death of their loving and devoted brother.

Donald Macrae sen, 21 Sheshader

Seaman DONALD MACRAE senior
Last address in Lewis: 21 Sheshader,
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Victory
Service number: 2559A
Date of death: 3 January 1919 at the age of 26
Died of illness
Interred: Aignish / Eye Cemetery, grave C. 8
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

His older brother Donald was killed when his ship was torpedoed in August 1918.

Norman Macrae, 23 Upper Bayble

Private NORMAN MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 23 Upper Bayble
Son of Donald MacRae, of 23, Upper Bayble, Stornoway, Scotland.
Service unit: 8th Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Service number: 1528
Date of death: 2 July 1915 at the age of 27
Killed in action in France
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30.

Date of birth: 1 January 1888
Height: 5 ft 6 in
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Carpenter
Volunteered at Valcartier on 21 September 1914 

Norman is shown in the 1901 census at 23 Upper Bayble with his father Donald (40) and mother Annie (32) as well as his siblings Roderick (12), Isabella (9), Alexander (3) and Neil (1).

His brother Alexander was lost in the torpedoing of SS Buffalo in 1918.

Alexander Macrae, 23 Upper Bayble

Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Seaman ALEX MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 23 Upper Bayble,
Son of Donald and Annie MacLeod MacRae, of 23, Upper Bayble, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, SS Buffalo
Service number: 6914A
Date of birth: 15 May 1896
Date of death: 13 September 1918 at the age of 20
Ship sunk by UB-64 off Corsewall Point
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Alex is shown in the 1901 census at 23 Upper Bayble with his father Donald (40) and mother Annie (32) as well as his siblings Norman (14), Roderick (12), Isabella (9) and Neil (1).

His elder brother Norman was killed in action in France in 1915 while serving with the Canadians. 

Malcolm Macrae, 42 Lower Bayble

Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Leading Deckhand MALCOLM MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 42 Lower Bayble, Park
Son of Farquhar and Marion Macrae
Service unit: Royal Navy, HMS Wallington
Service number: 1600/SD
Date of birth: 16 August 1886
Date of death: 4 November 1916 at the age of 30
Died of illness at Grimsby
Interred: Grimsby, Scartho Road Cemetery, grave 42 B. 17
Mentioned on family gravestone in Eye Cemetery, Lewis

Malcolm is shown in the 1891 census as a 5-year old, living with his parents Farquhar (27) and Marion (26) and siblings Angus (5) and Catherine (1). A decade later, quite a large section of Malcolm's extended family are at 42 Park, Bayble. His brothers Alexander and John are present, as well as some of his mother's relatives.

His brother John also served in the RNR. Another brother, named John in the Roll of Honour, served there as well. 

Norman Macrae, 42 Lower Bayble, Park

 
Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Private NORMAN MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 42 Lower Bayble, Park
Son of Mary Maciver
Service unit: 9th Company Canadian Machine Gun Corps
Service number: 438214
Date of death: 12 July 1915 at the age of 27
Killed in action in France
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Date of birth: 26 April 1888
Place of birth: Bayble
Height: 5 ft 5 in
Complexion: Ruddy
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Marine fireman
Volunteered at Fort William, ON on 21 March 1915

Alex Macrae, 10 Aignish

Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Seaman ALEX MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 10 Aignish
Son of Evander and Christina MacRae, of 10, Aignish, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: HMT Calliope II, Royal Naval Reserve
Service number: 7255DA
Year of birth: 1891
Date of death: 3 March 1916 at the age of 25
Drowned at sea in collision with SS Dane off Butt of Lewis
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 19,
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Alexander appears in the 1891 census as the 5-month old son of Evander (fisherman, 38) and Christina (40), with his sisters Catherine (5) and Mary (3) and older brother Murdo (8).
The latter served in the Manchester Regiment.

Peter Mackay Macrae, 13 South Beach Street, Stornoway

 
Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Second Lieutenant PETER MACKAY MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 13 South Beach Street, Stornoway
Also quoted at Seaforth Head, Balallan.
Son of Farquhar and Annabel MacRae, of 13, South Beach, Stornoway.
Service unit: 7th Northampton Regiment, attached 129th Field Coy, Royal Engineers
Date of death: 24 December 1917 at the age of 30
Killed in action in France
Interred: Roisel Communal Cemetery extension, grave III. C. 2
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson WW1 memorial, right panel
Was wounded in 1915 while a Sergeant in the Borders Regiment

Peter is shown in the 1891 census at an undisclosed address in the parish of Lochs. He is aged 4, the son of Farquhar (43, gamekeeper) and Annabella (29). His siblings include Mary (7), Margaret J (6), Williamina (2) and Jessie (3 months). In the decade that followed, Alexander, Duncan and Donald J were added to the family.

Apart John (not featured in the 1901 census) and Alexander, Duncan also served, as a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade.

Stornoway Gazette
We regret to have to announce the death of Lieut. Peter Mackay Macrae, Northampton Regiment, eldest son of the late Mr Farquhar Macrae and Mrs Macpherson, Lewis Coffee House, Stornoway. Lieut. Macrae, with his brother, Lieut. Duncan Donald Macrae, joined the Border Regiment together immediately war broke out. They both rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Borderers, both were badly wounded in France, both were recommended otgether for commissions for services in the field and both were gazetted about a month ago. In a recent letter, Lieut. Peter says:
"I am quite in my element once more, as fighting agrees with me down to the ground".

Writing on 22nd December 1917 (two days before he was killed in action), he says:
"I am well; in the middle of a battle it's great sport."

Mrs Macpherson's second son, Alick, is a Sergeant in the Canadians, and was wounded, but is again in the firing line. A younger brother, John, came from London to join the Seaforths rather than go into an English regiment. A few weeks ago, he was awarded the Military Medal. Three of the Macrae sisters are at a munitions work in Woolwich Arsenal.

John Macrae, 22 Point Street, Stornoway

Private JOHN MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 22 Point Street, Stornoway
Brother of Robert MacRae, of 79, Ladywell St., Dennistoun, Glasgow.
Service unit: 2nd Cameron Highlanders
Service number: 315587
Enlisted at Inverness
Date of death: 23 April 1915 at the age of 19
Killed in action at Hill 60
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 38 and 40
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson WW1 memorial, right panel

John Murdo Macrae, 7 Point Street, Stornoway

Private JOHN MURDO MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 7 Point Street
Next of kin: Jessie Mcleod, Mother, of 91 Manor St, Toronto
Military unit: 87th Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
Service number: 138642
Date of death: 10 June 1917 at the age of 32
Cause of death: Killed in action
Interred: Nouex-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, grave II. A. 22
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson Institute WW1, right panel

Date of birth: 7 February 1885
Height: 5 ft 4½ in
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Sailor
Volunteered at Toronto on 12 July 1915
The 1891 census shows John Murdo at 7 Point Street, with his parents Murdo (40, cooper) and Christina (38). The attestation form for the CEF (summarised above) shows Jessie as his mother, but is in fact his older sibling, as borne out by the 1891 census retrun: Jessie (9), Alexander (3) and William (1) being his siblings.

Donald Macrae, 12 New Street, Stornoway

 
Image courtesy Clan Macrae Roll of Honour
Private DONALD MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 12 New Street
Next of kin: Mrs R Macrae, Mother, of 12 New Street
Military unit: 43rd Canadian Infantry
Service number: 153067
Date of death: 2 July 1916 at the age of 33
Cause of death: Died of wounds in Boulogne
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson Institute WW1, middle panel

Date of birth: 16 February 1883
Height: 5 ft 5 in
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Clerk
Last address in Lewis: 12 New Street

Not married
Volunteered at Winnipeg on 15 June 1915
Walked 1,000 miles to Winnipeg to join up, 250 miles of which through swamps

John A Macrae, 26 Lewis Street, Stornoway

Trooper JOHN A MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 26 Lewis Street, Stornoway
Son of James and Catherine MacRae, of Viewfield, Lewis St., Stornoway. Born at Stornoway.
Service unit: 13th Yorkshire Regiment
Service number: 235609, formerly 4351 Scottish Horse
Date of death: 23 November 1917 at the age of 39
Died of wounds in Field Hospital
Interred: Hermies British Cemetery, grave G. 9
Mentioned on family gravestone in Sandwick Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson WW1 memorial, right panel

Went to Gallipoli with Scottish Horse, was invalided home due to dysentery. Upon being passed for service, he went to France attached to Yorkshire Regt

John appears as a 3-year old with his parents at 14½ Scotland Street, Stornoway in the 1881 census. A decade later, the family resides at 36 Lewis Street. The children are named as Jeanie (17), Annie (15), Janet H (11) and Willie E (9) in 1891. Father James is a builder. Willie E. served as an air mechanic with the Royal Air Force in the First World War.

The Glasgow Herald, Friday, 14th December, 1917.
"Deaths on Service.
MACRAE.- Killed in action, Trooper John A. Macrae, Yeomanry (attached the Yorkshire Regiment), late of Anglo-South American Bank, Antofagasta, Chili (sic), elder and dearly beloved son of James Macrae, builder and contractor, Stornoway."

The Berwickshire News, Tuesday, 18th December, 1917.
"FALL OF A WELL KNOWN DUNS SOLDIER
We regret to intimate that Trooper John A Macrae, Yeomanry (attached to Yorkshire Regiment), elder son of Mr Jas. Macrae, builder and contractor, Stornoway, has been killed in action. This gallant soldier, who held an appointment in the Anglo-South American Bank, Antofagasta, Chili (sic), and who came over to serve his country in the early stages of the war, was a brother-in-law of Mr Robert Cameron, formerly accountant, in (the) British Linen Bank, Duns, and presently agent of their branch in Stornoway." 

James Macdonald Macrae, 78 Keith Street, Stornoway

Private JAMES DONALD MACRAE
Last address in Lewis: 78 Keith Street, Stornoway
Next of kin: Roderick Macrae, of 78 Keith Street
Military unit: 52nd Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
Service number: 439719
Date of death: 23 November 1917 at the age of 28
Died of wounds in Etaples, France
Interred: Etaples Military Cemetery, grave XXX. M. 19
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial; Nicolson Institute WW1, right panel

Date of birth: 23 March 1889
Height: 5 ft 7½ in
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Blacksmith
Volunteered at Port Arthur on 8 September 1915
James Donald Macrae appears on the 1891 census as James S Macrae at Keith Street, living with his parents Roderick and Barbara. In 1901, the address is given as 80 Keith Street, and the 15-year old is a telegraph messenger. He was one of a large family. They are listed as John (34), Johanna (30), Colin (28), Annie Jane (26), Roderick (24), Peter (22), Charles (19), William (17), and Alexander (15).