Malcolm Macneill, 1 Carishader

The town of Carishader, and the whole of the Bays district of Uig was cast into deep mourning the other day, when it became known that Mr Donald Macneill, 1 Carishader, was notified of the death of his brother, Lance-Corpl. Malcolm Macneill, 2nd Field Co., New Zealander Engineers in France on 19 August 1918. Malcolm was the second son of the late Lance-Sergeant Wm. Macneill, 1 Carishader, and his younger brother, Sgt William Macneill DCM, was killed in action in France on the 9th May 1915. His Lt writes that Malcolm was killed while engaged in transport and reconnaisance work by the bursting of a shell on the road near him, a fragment of which struck him on the head, death being instantaneous. In civil life, Malcolm was a mason to trade. Shortly after serving his apprenticeship in Aberdeen, he emigrated to New Zealand where he did well in his trade and mining. On the outbreak of war, he at once offered himself for the defence of his King and Country, but was thrice rejected on account of a little dullness of hearing. On the fourth time, he was accepted and crossed to Egypt with his contingent in June 1916. In the following August, his Company went to France and he has been there since except for a few days' leave home. Malcolm visited (alas for the last time) all the old friends he could possibly could in the short time at his disposal. He was a great favourite with young and old, and the deepest sympatny of the whole community goes out to his brothers and sisters in their irrepairable loss.

18 October 1918

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