Donald Macdonald, 20 Knock, Point

Gunner DONALD MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 20 Knock, Point
Service unit: Royal Naval Reserve, SS Glenfrain
Service number: 2264A
Date of birth: January 1880
Date of death: 30 January 1918 at the age of 30
Ship sunk by U-boat 103
Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial, panel 30
Local memorial: Point (Garrabost)

His younger brother Donald died whilst serving in the RNR on 19 May 1917; his brother Angus also served in the RNR but survived the war.

Donald joined Anson Bn (RND, C/73) between 19 September and 24 October 1914, discharged to Vivid.

Stornoway Gazette, 5 April 1918
Gnr Macdonald, RNR, 20 Knock; Gnr Norman Martin RNR, 28 Knock and Gnr Malcolm Macleod, RNR, 5 Knock have been lost. The sad news has cast quite a gloom over the whole district, and sincerest sympathy goes out to the bereaved families and friends. The loss of these three young lads within a fortnight of each other is a great blow to the district. They were kindly, manly fellows of sterling qualities , and of more than ordinary intelligence and ability, and most dutiful towards their parents and families.

Macdonald had gone to Canada prior to 1914, and being a Royal Naval Reserve man, whenever the call of duty for the defence of King and Country came, he threw up a good situation and at his own expense came across and rejoined.

We, in common with the rest of our island, are deprived of the best of our young and brave manhood, but let us contemplate what we owe to our gallant defenders, and to those who make the supreme sacrifice on our behalf [remainder of article illegible]

No comments:

Post a Comment