Tributes for the War Memorial

This site contains transcripts of tributes to men from Lewis and Harris who lost their life in the First World War, first published by the Stornoway Gazette in 1917 and 1918. The Gazette's first issue came out on 5 January 1917. Further personal and military details for each casualty can be found on the Faces from the Lewis War Memorial website and Harris War Memorial.

The Lewis tributes are arranged by island district. The six Harris tributes are grouped on this page.

Point Aignish Aird Bayble Flesherin Garrabost Knock (Point) Portnaguran Portvoller Shader (Point) Sheshader Swordale	Stornoway & area Stornoway Town Benside Coulregrein Guershader Holm Melbost Newvalley Sandwick Stenish
Back & Tolsta Aird Tong &Tong Back Coll North Tolsta Vatisker	Ness & West Side Arnol Ballantrushal Barvas Borve Bragar Brue Eorodale Eoropie Habost Knockaird Lionel North & South Dell Port of Ness Shader Shawbost Skigersta Swainbost
Uig Aird Uig Great Bernera Borrowston Breasclete Brenish Callanish Carishader Carloway Crowlista Crulivig Dun Carloway Garenin Geshader Islivig Kinlochroag Kirivick Kneep Mangersta Park Carloway Scaliscro Tolsta Chaolais Valtos	Lochs Achmore Balallan Calbost Gravir Habost Keose Kershader Laxay Leurbost Ranish

Benjamin Greenfield, Francis Street, Stornoway

Lewismen throughout the world will regret the death of Lieut. Benjamin Greenfield, son of the late Rev James Greenfield, Stornoway. The sad event took place in the house of his brother-in-law, Mr J. W. Galloway, Thurso, on the evening of 28 November 1918. On the previous Thursday, he arrive on short leave from France. The cause of death was pneumonia following influenza and this Monday he was buried with military honours at Thurso. There have been countless tragic instances in this war and that of young Greenfield, who went through the battlefields of Africa and France, that he should after all cross the bourne when on a flying visit to his sister in the Far North, after the conflict on the battlefield ceased, would almost occur as striking a form of tragedy too fell to be recorded.

6 December 1918

Donald Macdonald, 10 Holm

The following is a copy of a telegram received by Mrs Macdonald, 10 Holm, from the Keeper of the Privy Purse, relative to the death of her son, Lieut. Donald Macdonald.
"The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Navy have sustained in the death of your son in the service of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow".
Lieut Arthur W. Taylor, senior officer of the 9th Fleet Sweeping Flotilla writes:
"The Commanding Officer, officers and men of the 9th Sweeping Flotilla, wish to express their sincere and heartfelt sympathy  on the loss of your boy. Lieut. Macdonald was held in the highest esteem by everybody and we felt his loss very deeply. Now that this terrible war has come to an end and your boy has made the supreme sacrifice, we sincerely hope that comfort will come to you to your declining years, and that you will have some comfort in knowing that your boy took a prominent part in it. We honour the mother of a hero and a lost shipmate".

Malcolm Macleod, Stornoway

Went overseas with the 2nd Contingent as a member of the Railway Supply Details and subsequently served in France with the 3rd Divisional Train. Later, he transferred to the 42nd Battalion and took a voluntary reduction in rank to Pte.

Norman George Morrison Macleod, Scotland Street, Stornoway

Was promoted captain for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the heavy fighting of 24 April 1915, and was awarded the Military Cross for carrying important messages out of the trenches in daylight.

Alex Macdonald, 7 Newvalley

Joined the Australian Navy at the outbreak of war. Served as a signaller at the Dardanelles. Afterwards was sweeping mines on the coast of Nova Scotia. Was at Halifax at the time of the great explosion

Frederick Cyril Crocker, 18 Newton Street, Stornoway

He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers at the beginning of 1914. volunteered for Imperial service when war began, was severely wounded in action at St. Julien, 26 April, 1915, while leading the platoon in a bayonet charge after his platoon officer, Lieut. Garton, had fallen, and died in the East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich 1 June, following.

Kenneth Mackenzie, 6 Lower Sandwick

Had been in the regular army, was in merchant service on outbreak of war. On mobilisation joined his old battallion, 1st Seaforths, and was wounded once.

John A Macrae, 26 Lewis Street, Stornoway

Came from Chili to enlist. Went to Gallipoli. Struck down with dysentery and invalided home. On being passed again for service went to France with Yorkshires.

Hector Macleod, 84 Keith Street, Stornoway

Enlisted in the 1st Camerons at age 18. Saw service in China in connection with the Boxer uprising. Was a reservist and in Canada when called up in August 1914.

Malcolm Murray, 18 Keith Street, Stornoway

Had been in the Navy for 14 years before going to Canada, where he joined up on the outbreak of war. Went into firing line in January 1915.

John Macdonald Smith, 3 Keith Street, Stornoway

Graduated MA at Glasgow in April 1914. Was in 2nd year of Theological Course when war broke out. Joined Officers' Training Corps in October 1914 and was one of the first to offer himself for military service when an invitation was extended to members to submit their names for commissions. In the spring of 1915 received a commission in the Special Reserve of Officers, shortly afterwards drafted to the 12th SR.

John Macrae Mackenzie, 26 James Street, Stornoway

Joined up shortly after the outbreak of war. Served his apprenticeship in the local branch of the Bank of Scotland, qualified as a member of the Bankers' Institute, taking second place for Scotland. Met a soldier's death while gallantly rushing the enemy's third line of trenches.

George Macfarquhar Macleod, 63 Cromwell Street, Stornoway

Went to France with 4th (T) Battallion Cameron Highlanders and was severely wounded at Festurbert. Received commission in Gordon Highlanders

Kenneth J Maclean, 33 Church Street, Stornoway

Mobilised with Gordons in 1914. Taken prisoner after the retreat from Mons, and was 4 years and 3 months as a prisoner in Germany. Died at home.

Matthew Murray, 20 Church Street, Stornoway

Was connected to the army from boyhood. When barely 14 he enlisted in the Seaforth Militia as a bugler, and served 6 years in that capacity. Was 4 years in the Gordons (TF) joined voluntarily the A&SH when war was declared in 1914. While undergoing training he contracted rheumatic fever, was discharged on medical grounds, 25 July 1916.

Archibald Craig, 61 Bayhead Street, Stornoway

Was a trumpeter in the Stornoway Section RMB and mobilised in August 1914 when only 16 years of age. Discharged on medical grounds, he was still determined to serve and after several unsuccessful attempts to pass the medical test, he was accepted for the West Yorks in August 1916. On the way to Egypt he had to go into hospital at Cyprus, but afterwards rejoined his regiment in France, where he was killed.

Angus Macneill, 3 Keith Street, Stornoway

We deeply regret to learn that Mr Malcolm Macneill, 3 Keith Street, has been officially notified that his eldest son, Pte Angus Macneill, Seaforths, was killed in action in France on 25 October 1918. Pte Macneill, who was 25 years of age, was employed by a carpenter at Greenock when war broke out. He at once enlisted and had been in France for over 3½ years. He came through many strenuous engagements with the Seaforths, and had been once previously wounded. Mr Macneill has two other sons in service, namely Leading Seaman John Macneill, who was with the Naval Brigade at the Dardanelles, and afterwards in France, where he was gassed; and Donald, RNR, who is attached to the Dover Patrol. So keen was Donald to join that he enlisted at 16, giving his age as 18 years. The sympathy of the whole community goes out to the bereaved family in their sore bereavements, rendered sorer, if possible, by reason of the fact that it has come so near the end of hositilities.

November 1918

Alex John Thomson, 20 Battery Park, Stornoway

Mr and Mrs Thomson, 20 Battery Park, have received official intimation that their son, Colour Sergeant Alex John Thomson, DCM, Gordon Highlanders, died of pneumonia at Coomassi on 9 October 1918. Colour Sergt Thomson, who in civil life was an engineer with Mr Gordon, Elgin. He left Buckie with the Territorials as a Pte and was wounded at Neuve Chapelle, after which he returned to France. After promotion to Colour Sergt he was sent to Africa as drill instructor to native troops, attached to the Gold Coast Regiment. He was awarded the DCM for gallantry, and was aged 23.

8 November 1918

Peter Macintyre, 31 Newton Street, Stornoway

Official intimation has been received of the death of Pte Peter Macintyre, 31 Newton, aged 20. He fought with the RND at Gallipoli and was in the firing line in France for over 2 years. He was twice wounded and once gassed and was home on convalescent leave last June. Before enlisting, he was in the kippering department with Mr Duncan Maciver, fishcurer. Much sympathy is extended to Mrs Macintyre on in her sore bereavement.

11 October 1918