Murdo Macritchie, 25 Garenin

Image (c) Mairi M Macritchie

Seaman MURDO MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 25 Garenin
Also quoted at 48 Keith Street, Stornoway
Son of Alexander and Christina MacRitchie, of Garenin, Stornoway;
Husband of Mary MacRitchie, of 5 Upper Carloway
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Defence
Service number: 2645B
Year of birth: 1880
Date of death: 31 May 1916 at the age of 36
Lost in the Battle of Jutland
Memorial: Chatham Naval panel 18

Finlay Macritchie, 46 Lower Barvas

Seaman FINLAY MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 46 Lower Barvas,
Son of John and Annie McRitchie, of 46, Lower Barvas, Stornoway, Ross-shire; husband of Catherine McRitchie, of 80, Greenfield St., Govan, Glasgow.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Invincible
Service number: 2512/B
Date of birth: 20 November 1884
Date of death: 31 May 1916
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 18,
Lost in Battle of Jutland

Finlay appears in the 1901 census at 46 Lower Barvas, aged 17, with his parents John and Ann (both aged 40) and his younger siblings William (14), Angus (11), Barbara (9), John (5) and Kenneth (2).

His brothers John and Kenneth also served in the RNR but survived the war.

John Macritchie, 42 Swainbost

Seaman JOHN MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 42 Swainbost,
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Fisguard II
Service number: 5303/A
Date of death: 19 September 1914 at the age of 22
Ship sunk in gale
Interred: Portland Royal Naval Cemetery, grave 534
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross



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

Angus Macritchie, 38 Swainbost

Seaman ANGUS MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 38 Swainbost
Son of Donald and Henrietta McKenzie McRitchie, of 38, Swainbost, Ness, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT Hero
Service number: 16522/DA
Date of birth: 21 February 1899
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 20
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Ness (St Peter) Old Churchyard,
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross


 

Murdo Macritchie, 37 Swainbost

Seaman MURDO MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 37 Swainbost,
Son of Murdo and Annie MacKenzie MacRitchie, of 37, Swainbost, Ness, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Bulwark
Service number: 2164/A
Date of birth: 22 December 1885
Date of death: 26 November 1914 at the age of 37
Ship sunk by internal explosion at Sheerness
Interred: Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, grave Naval 18. 924
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Murdo is shown in the 1901 census, aged 16, at home in Swainbost with his parents Murdo (50) and Annie (46) as well as his siblings Angus (19), Donald (14), Peggy (12), John (9) and Annie (7).

His borthers Angus and John also served in the RNR;  John was interned in Holland during the war. Both these brothers survived the war.

James Macritchie, 5 Swainbost

Private JAMES MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 5 Swainbost,
Son of Murdo Macritchie, of 49, Swainbost, Ness, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7288
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 31 May 1915 at the age of 18
Killed in action at La Bassee
Interred: St Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, I. D. 9
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

James is shown in the 1901 census, aged 4, at the house of his grandparents Kenneth (61) and Mary (64) Maclean. Also present are his parents Murdo (35, fisherman) and Cathrine (34) as well as his sister Annie (2) and cousin Annie (7). 

John Macritchie, 28 Lionel

Corporal JOHN MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 28 Lionel,
Son of James and Catherine McRitchie, of 28, Lionel Ness, Stornoway.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/8462
Date of death: 2 September 1918 at the age of 24
Killed in action in France
Interred: Dury Crucifix Cemetery, grave II. K. 43
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

John appears in the 1901 census, aged 6, at 28 New Street, Lionel, at the home of his parents James (40) and Catherine (34) as well as his siblings Isabella (7), Angus (2) and Norman (2 months). 

Stornoway Gazette
Information has been received that Pte John Macritchie, Seaforth Highlanders, son ofo widow James Macritchie, New Street, Lionel, has been killed in action. John crossed to France in 1914 and served in his battalion with much distinction. He was wounded five times prior to receiving the wounds that caused his death. He was a fine lad with a cheery disposition and his early death has caused widespread regret. Very much sympathy is expressed to his widowed mother, sister and brothers.

John Macritchie, 16 Lionel

Lance Corporal JOHN MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 16 Lionel,
Son of Angus and Annie McLean McRitchie, of 16, Lionel, Ness, Stornoway.
Service unit: 3rd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 317161
Enlisted at Kirkwall
Date of death: 5 June 1915 at the age of 19
Died in hospital at Cromarty
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Donald Macritchie, 34 Habost, Ness

Deckhand DONALD MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 34 Habost, Ness,
Son of Finlay and Catherine Macritchie
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT Scarboro
Service number: 13258
Date of birth: 1 July 1898
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 21
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 32
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Roderick Macritchie, Upper Adabrock

Leading Seaman RODERICK MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: Upper Adabrock
Son of Angus MacRitchie, of 28, Eoropie, Ness, Stornoway;
Husband of Catherine MacRitchie, of Upper Adabrock, Ness, Stornoway.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS India
Service number: 3398B
Date of death: 8 August 1915 at the age of 38
Ship sunk by U-22 near Bodo, Norway
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 14,
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross (quoted under 28 Eoropie)

The 1881 census shows Roderick at home at 15 Eoropie, the son of Angus (33) and Mary (32), with his brothers John (9) and Donald (1). 

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

Donald Macritchie, 1 Adabrock

Private DONALD MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 1 Adabrock,
Service unit: 18th Highland Light Infantry
Service number: 28259
Enlisted at Dingwall, Orkney (??)
Date of death: 19 August 1917
Died in France
Interred: Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery, grave II. H. 20
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross


His brother Angus was killed in action four months previous, whilst serving with the Seaforth Highlanders. 

Angus Macritchie, 1 Adabrock

Private ANGUS MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 1 Adabrock,
Son of Donald MacRitchie, of Adabrock, Port-of-Ness, Stornoway;
Husband of Annie MacRitchie.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: S/6862
Enlisted at Nairn
Date of death: 11 April 1917 at the age of 37
Died in France
Interred: Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux, grave III. D. 35.
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Angus is shown as the 1-year old son of Donald (46) and Anne (40) Mcritchie in the 1881 census, living at 47 Lionel. Also present are Angus's older siblings Margaret (16), Henrietta (11), Annie (10), Gormelia (8) and John (4). 

His brother Donald was killed in action four months later, whilst serving with the Highland Light Infantry. 

John Macritchie, 40 North Tolsta

Private JOHN MACRITCHIE
"Iain Ghunais" - Iain, Mac Choinnich Nis
Last address in Lewis: 40 North Tolsta,
Son of Kenneth MacRitchie, of 40, North Tolsta, Stornoway, Lewis.
Service unit: A Coy, 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7089
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 5 October 1915 at the age of 21
Killed in action in France
Interred: Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, grave II. B. 10.
Local memorial: North Tolsta

His brother John was interned in Holland whilst serving with the RNR. 

Malcolm Macritchie, 3 Benside

Private MALCOLM MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 3 Benside,
Son of John and Alexina McRitchie, of 3, Benside, Laxdale, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 317335
Enlisted at Stornoway
Date of death: 8 November 1917 at the age of 27
Killed in action
Interred: Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, grave X. C. 10
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

The 1901 census shows Malcolm, aged 12, at home at 3 Newmarket Road, Stornoway, with his parents John (44, crofter & mason) and Alexandrina [Alexina] (53) as well as his siblings Matilda (16), Alex (14), Christina A (9).

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

John Macritchie, 67 Kipper Road, Stornoway

Private JOHN MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 67 Kipper Road
Next of kin: Donald Mcritchie, of 171 Semington Ave, Toronto
Military unit: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
Service number: 51312
Date of death: 8 May 1915 at the age of 40
Killed in action.
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 10
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial

Date of birth: 9 October 1879
Height: 5 ft 7 in Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Mouse
Religion: Church of England
Trade / occupation: Labourer
Volunteered at Winnipeg on 24 December 1914
Had gone to Canada in 1912. Saw active service in India in the Sudan and in South Africa, for which he held 3 medals with 9 bars.

Donald Macritchie, 46 Keith Street, Stornoway

Cooper 4th class DONALD MACRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 46 Keith Street, Stornoway
Son of Murdo and Christina Macritchie;
Husband of the late Jane Maciver Macritchie of 57 Coll
Native of Leurbost
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Pembroke
Service number: M/23885(CH)
Date of birth: 20 April 1889
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 29
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Sandwick Cemetery, grave K. 1910. 479
Local memorial: Lewis War Memorial