Angus Macdonald, Islivig

Rifleman ANGUS MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: Islivig,
Youngest son of Donald and Annie MacDonald.
Service unit: 1st Bn 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Service number: 53380
Date of birth: 22 May 1889
Date of death: 4 December 1917 at the age of 30
Died of wounds
Interred: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, grave XXIV. B. 20

Enlisted at Napier, New Zealand, on 31 January 1917, aged 28.
Height: 5 ft 8 ½"
Complexion: Ruddy
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Light brown
Religion: Presbyterian

Stornoway Gazette
Mrs Macdonald, UF Mission House, Gravir, received the sad intelligence on Thursday, 21st February 1918, that her brother Angus died of wounds in France on 4 December 1917. Angus left home in Islivig, Uig, at the age of 18½ years and went to the United States, where he served his apprentice-ship to the granite monumental trade in Montpiller, Vermont. Shortly afterwards het set up business for himself in South Dakota with good success. However, through a desire to join his senior brother who was in New Zealand, he sold out and went there in 1915. He came under the Ballot there in 1917 and landed in France about the middle of October; was wounded on 1st December, and after undergoing an operation died on the 4th. He was a cheerful and sincere Christian young man, ever  since his conversion, which happened after going to the United States, until he ended his short span of 28 years.

Malcolm Macneill, 1 Carishader

Lance Corporal MALCOLM MACNEILL
Last address in Lewis: 1 Carishader,
Son of William and Isabella MacNeill, of Carishader
Service unit: 2nd Field Company New Zealand Engineers
Service number: 12061
Date of birth: 26 April 1882
Date of death: 29 August 1918 at the age of 34
Killed in action in France
Interred: Grevillers British Cemetery, grave XI. D. 15.
Mentioned on family gravestone in Ardroil Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: Uig, Timsgarry

Height: 5 ft 9½ in
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark
Religion: Presbyterian

Malcolm appears in the 1901 census, aged 18, the son of William (56) and Isabella (50), and brother of Catherine A (23), John (17), William (13) and Mary (8).

His brother William was killed in action in 1915, serving with the Seaforth Highlanders.

Kenneth Maclean, 1 Brenish

Private KENNETH MACLEAN
Last address in Lewis: 1 Brenish,
Brother of Mrs D. Bethune, 18 Balfour Street, Leith, Scotland.
Son of Murdo and Margaret Maclean.
Service unit: 2nd Battallion Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Service number: 12/3714
Date of death: 3 October 1916 at the age of 33
Killed in action
Interred: Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial
Local memorial: Uig, Timsgarry

Stornoway Gazette, January 1917
The family of the late Mr Murdo Maclean, Breanish, Uig, has been officially informed that their brother, Pte Kenneth Maclean, Auckland Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, was killed at the front on 3rd October [1916]. Pte Maclean left home some ten years ago. After serving four years in the drapery business at Cardiff, he emigrated to New Zealand where he prospered well. Being most anxious to do his bit for the upkeep of the Empire, he threw up his position and enlisted in October 1915. He went into the firing line in April 1916, and served faithfully until his death on 3 October 1916. Pte Maclean was an exceptionally nice going man, always having a kind word for everyone. His obliging disposition early won him the esteem ofo all whom he came into contact with. His death is deplored not alone by his near and dear relatives, but also by a wide circle of friends who now extend their heartfelt sympathy to the late soldier's relatives in their own bereavement. Pte Maclean was 33 years of age and unmarried.

John Macgregor, 12A Tolsta Chaolais

Image (c) Mairi M Macritchie

Private JOHN MACGREGOR
Last address in Lewis: 12A Tolsta Chaolais
Son of Malcolm and Chirsty (Christina) Macgregor.
Service unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion (N.Z.E.F)
Service number: 6/92
Date of death: 11 July 1920 at the age of 40
Died of war wounds at the Metropolitan Private Hotel
Interred: Christchurch (Sydenham) Cemetery, New Zealand. Grave: Block J2. Lot 53.

His brother Neil served with the Canadians and was killed at Vimy in 1917.

Stornoway Gazette
John joined the Royal Navy as a boy & was on the China Station at the time of the Boxer Rising early 1900’s. After serving in the navy for 12 years he settled in New Zealand working as a motor driver before the war. Served in Egypt, 1914-15, at Gallipoli, and on the Western Front.

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. 

Angus Maciver, 25 North Tolsta

Lance Corporal ANGUS MACIVER
Aonghas, Mac Aoinghais Mhic Ruairidh Mhic Mhurchaidh Oig
Last address in Lewis: 25 North Tolsta,
Son of Angus and Isabella Maciver
Service unit: New Zealanders
Service number: 8/2077
Date of death: 12 August 1916 at the age of 36
Interred: Anderson's Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, block 30, plot 100
Local memorial: North Tolsta
Served in Gallipoli. Invalided to New Zealand and died there.

Murdo Maciver, 8 Portnaguran

Private MURDO MACIVER
Last address in Lewis: 8 Portnaguran,
Son of John and Chirsty Maciver of 8 Portnaguran
Service unit: New Zealand Training Unit
Service number: 28285
Date of death: 15 November 1916 at the age of 30
Died of asphyxiation
Interred: Wellington (Karori) Cemetery, grave I. 24. (S).
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

Murdo is found in the 1901 census as the 14-year old son of John and Chirsty (both aged 47) with his siblings Angus (19), John (16), John (9), Kate (7) and Norman (2).

His brothers Angus, John and Norman all served in the RNR and survived the war.

Stornoway Gazette, 1917

Soldier's tragic death
Mr John Maciver, 8 Portnaguran, has been informed by the Director of Base Records, New Zealand, that his son, Pte Murdo Maciver, died from asphyxiation at Thorndon Quay, Wellington NZ, on 15th Nov. 1916. The circumstances surrounding his death are as follows.

Pte Maciver had been stopping at a house in Thorndon Quay. On the day of his death, the house was fumigated and closed up for some hours, everyone being out of the house. Your son, evidently not knowing that the process of fumigation was going on, entered the house and became asphyxiated. He was buried in the Karori Cemetery, Wellington, with military honours. The Presbyterian Chaplain from camp officiated at the graveside. I desire to express my sincere sympathy with you in the loss of your son under such tragic circumstances

The deceased, who was over 30 years of age, left home over nine years ago and served in the Glasgow Police Force for one year. Leaving the force, he joined the mercantile marine and for three years traded between Britain and New Zealand. Thereafter he served as engine-driver in the Fire Brigade at Auckland. His next venture was to acquire several motorcars, doing business in touring the country with visitors. He continued in this business until June last year, when he enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Three of his brothers are in the Navy.