John Macsween, 3 Tolsta Chaolais

Private JOHN MACSWEEN
Last address in Lewis: 3 Tolsta Chaolais
Son of Catherine; father from Leurbost, lived in Glasgow
Service unit: 9th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Service number: 11765
Enlisted at Whiteinch, Glasgow
Date of death: 25 September 1915
Killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos
Memorial: Loos Memorial, Panel 57 to 59
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

Murdo Macdonald, 29 Tolsta Chaolais

Seaman MURDO MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 29 Tolsta Chaolais
Son of James and Ann Macdonald, 29 Tolsta Chaolais.
Service unit: Merchant Navy
Date of death: 17 June 1918 at the age of 22
Interred: Tolsta Chaolais cemetery

Murdo appears in the 1901 census, aged 5, the son of James (39) and Annie (34) and brother of Maggie (10), Donald J (9), Mary A (7) and Agnes (1). 

Alexander Angus Macleod, 28 Tolsta Chaolais

Seaman ALEXANDER ANGUS MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 28 Tolsta Chaolais,
Son of Alexander and Annie Macleod, of 28, Tolsta Chaolais, Stornoway, Ross-shire.
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Idaho
Service number: 3455SD
Date of birth: 4 June 1896
Date of death: 1 January 1919
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire, was never found
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 32
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

John Macleod, 24 Tolsta Chaolais

Sergeant JOHN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 24 Tolsta Chaolais,
Brother of K. Macleod, Esq., M.A., Rector, of Fortrose Academy, H. G. P. School, Fortrose, Ross-shire.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/8341
Formerly S/6217, Gordon Highlanders
Enlisted at Greenock
Date of death: 1 July 1916 at the age of 24
Killed in action in France
Interred: Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, grave I. H. 30
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

His brother Kenneth was a captain  in the Seaforths and Norman was in the RNR; they both survived the war.

Donald Macgregor, 12B Tolsta Chaolais

Private DONALD MACGREGOR
Last address in Lewis: 12B Tolsta Chaolais
Son of Murdo and Annie MacGregor, of 12, Tolsta Chaolais, Stornoway.
Service unit: C Coy. 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/6411
Enlisted at Fort George
Date of death: 25 April 1915 at the age of 37
Killed in action at St Julien
Interred: Seaforth Cemetery, Cheddar Villa, grave B. 1. (Headstone "A" 39)
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais


Picture courtesy Peter Macgregor

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.

Neil Macgregor, 12A Tolsta Chaolais

Image (c) Mairi M Macritchie

Private NEIL MACGREGOR
Last address in Lewis: 12A Tolsta Chaolais,
Son of Malcolm & Chirsty (Christina) Macgregor, 12A Tolsta Chaolais
Service unit: 29th Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
Service number: 645059
Date of death: 21 August 1917 at the age of 35
Killed in action in Vimy Ridge
Memorial: Vimy
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais
Was a fisherman before emigrating to Canada 1910.

Date of birth: 20 April 1883
Place of birth: Isle of Lewis
Height: 5 ft 7½ in
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown
Religion: Presbyterian
Trade / occupation: Labourer
Current address: 512 21st Ave N Vancouver
Volunteered at Vancouver on 24 November 1915
 
Neil appears in the 1901 census aged 18 at home with his parents Malcolm (61) and Chirsty (52) and brother Malcolm (24) and sister Chirsty (3).

His brother John died in 1920 as a result of war wounds, having served with New Zealand forces.


Inscription for Neil at Vimy Memorial, image courtesy Peter Macgregor

Murdo Macgregor, 12C Tolsta Chaolais

Company Sergeant-Major MURDO MACGREGOR
Last address in Lewis: 12C Tolsta Chaolais,
Son of Duncan Macgregor, of 12c, Tolsta Choalais, Stornoway;
Husband of Marion Macgregor, of 255, Cumberland St., South Side, Glasgow.
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 9314
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of death: 1 July 1916 at the age of 30
Killed in action in Beaumont Hamel
Went to France in August 1914, wounded in 1915
Recommended for distinguished conduct in the Field, Oct., 1915
Memorial: Thiepval, Pier and Face 15C
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

Murdo appears in the 1901 census, aged 14, the son of Duncan (55) and Katie (50) and brother to Neil (18), John (16), John M L (10) and Donald M M (7).

His brother Donald also served in the 2nd Seaforths and was wounded on the same day that Murdo was killed; Donald was finally discharged in 1918. His brother John was in the Ross Mountain Battery, Neil in the RNR and Norman in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

Battalion war diary for 1 July 1916


Picture of the inscription for Murdo at Thiepval Memorial, image courtesy Peter Macgregor

Donald Macaulay, 7A Tolsta Chaolais

Seaman DONALD MACAULAY
Last address in Lewis: 7A Tolsta Chaolais
Son of John & Ann Macaulay, 7A Tolsta Chaolais
Service unit: Merchant Marine, SS Induna
Date of death: 1 March 1915 at the age of 30
Drowned after falling overboard from SS Induna on a voyage from Sydney to Norfolk Island
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais Memorial

Donald appears in the 1901 census at the home of his parents John (46) and Annie (45) with siblings Kenneth (21), Duncan (12), Maggie M (9), Marion (7), John (5) and Mary B. (3). 

Norman Macleod, 6 Tolsta Chaolais

Private NORMAN MACLEOD
Served as WILLIAM DICK.
Last address in Lewis: 6 Tolsta Chaolais,
Son of John and Catherine McLeod, of 806, Garscube Rd., Glasgow.
Service unit: B Coy. 2nd Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Service number: S/6866
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of death: 21 April 1916 at the age of 21
Interred: Cambrin Churchyard extension, grave L2. 12.
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

Norman appears in the 1901 census at the home of his parents John (33) and Kate (38) with siblings John (4) and Murdo (9 months). 

Norman M Macleod, 4 Tolsta Chaolais

Private NORMAN M MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 4 Tolsta Chaolais
Son of John & Ann Macleod
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Date of death: 23 August 1917 at the age of 31
Killed in action at Passchendaele
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais
Wounded at Givenchy in 1915, awarded DCM and MM

Norman appears in the 1901 census, aged 14, the son of John (66) and Annie (56) and brother of Mary (31), Dollina (16) and uncle to George (5).

Malcolm Macleod, 4 Tolsta Chaolais

Sergeant MALCOLM MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 4 Tolsta Chaolais,
Son of Donald and Catherine MacLeod, of 4, Tolsta-Chaolais, Uig, Stornoway.
Service unit: 1st Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 6141
Enlisted at Fort George
Date of death: 9 May 1915 at the age of 38
Killed in action in Festubert
Interred: Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy, grave III. B. 14
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais
Decoration(s):Mentioned in despatches
Served in the South African Campaign, and on the North-West Frontier of India (1908).

Malcolm Macleod, 3 Tolsta Chaolais

Deckhand MALCOLM MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 3 Tolsta Chaolais
Son of Malcolm and Mary Macleod, 3 Tolsta Chaolais
Service unit: Royal Navy, HMS Eaglet
Service number: 14469/DA
Date of death: 31 December 1919 at the age of 20
Died of illness
Interred: Dalmore Cemetery
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

Malcolm appears in the 1901 census aged 2, the son of Malcolm (48) and Mary (41) and brother of Norman (13), John (9), Roderick (7) and Annie (5).

His brother Norman was killed in 1915 serving with the Seaforth Highlanders. His brother John also served in the 2nd Seaforths, but survived the war; his brother Roderick was in the  Cameron Highlanders.

Norman Macleod, 3 Tolsta Chaolais

Private NORMAN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 3 Tolsta Chaolais,
Son of Malcolm and Mary Macleod
Service unit: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 3/7862
Enlisted at Glasgow
Date of death: 2 May 1915 at the age of 27
Died of gas poisoning at St Julien
Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 38
Local memorial: Tolsta Chaolais

Norman appears in the 1901 census aged 13, the son of Malcolm (48) and Mary (41) and brother of John (9), Roderick (7), Annie (5) and Malcolm (2).

His brother John also served in the 2nd Seaforths, but survived the war; his brother Roderick was in the   Cameron Highlanders and Malcolm in the Trawler section of the RNR.

Battalion war diary, 2 May 1915
The battalion is engaged in the 2nd battle of Ypres, entrenched in positions to the northeast of the town. The diary entry is difficult to read.

Enemy sent over clouds of asphyxiating gas. They used this to attack, but were repulsed.

Killed: 1

Further account of Gas attack on 2nd May 1915
Our respirators were found to be no good being made out of nothing but woolen waist belts. We had several men killed from gas.

Battn had only very inefficient respirators. From 5.30pm, gas sent over. The Battn stood firm and held their trenches though nearly every man was badly affected. The Basttn on our left had to leave their trenches, which was reoccupied by the Argylls, who had to charge through the gas.
The Germans formed up ready for an attack, but we inflicted losses on them and it came to nothing.