Associated with 5 Aird
Seaman ALEXANDER MACKENZIE
Son of Donald and Chirstina MacKenzie, of Portnalong, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Service: Royal Naval Patrol Service, H.M.B.Y. Minesweeper 2035.
Service number: LT/JX 242888
Date of death: 31 August 1944 at the age of 25
Interred: St John's (Mount Pleasant) Cemetery, Sec. A. Plot 3. Grave A.
Local memorial: Minginish, Isle of Skye
Parents originate from Aird, Point in Lewis.
Stornoway Gazette, 9 February 1945
Alexander Mackenzie, of Fernlea, Skye, who died in a naval hospital in
St John's, Newfoundland, while serving with the Navy, belonged
originally to Lewis. He is a son of Mr and Mrs Donald Macleod, formerly
of 5 Aird.
Showing posts with label aird. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aird. Show all posts
Malcolm Mackenzie, 14 Aird
Private MALCOLM MACKENZIE
Last address in Lewis: 14 Aird
Son of Norman and Margaret Mackenzie, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 2813466
Date of death: 11 September 1944 at the age of 39
Taken POW at St Valery. Shot by a guard at POW-camp
Interred: Malbork (Poland) Commonwealth War Cemetery, grave 9. A. 3.
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
Stornoway Gazette
3 November 1944
This week we have the tragic news from Germany that one of our men will not return. Malcolm Mackenzie, 14 Aird (Calum a Ghoisdy) is reported to have died in a German camp on 11 September. Malcolm was taken prisoner at St Valery and now, when it looks as if the day is not far distant when the clouds of war will give way to the sunlight of victory and peace, it is sad to think that his hopes of freedom are not realised. We hope to give further details in a later issue.
9 March 1945
Some weeks ago we reported the death in a German prisoner camp of Pte Malcolm Mackenzie, 14 Aird.
Official information has now been received to the effect that he died a result of a gunshot wound. According to statements by fellow prisoners of war, who were eye-witnesses of the occurrence on 11th September 1944, an argument started between a group of prisoners engaged in sawing trees and a German guard. Private Mackenzie intervened in the argument and was shot by the guard after he had been accused of using his axe in a threatening manner. It is understood he died instantaneously.
Just the day before his death, Pte Mackenzie wrote a cheery letter home in which he said; "We are longing for the day to come when we are free to go home, if God spares us."
Rev Norman Maclean, British Chaplain in the camp, writes: "I buried Malcolm on Thursday last. His own comrades were bearers. One of our men blew the Last Post and Reveille. His own flag covered the casket and flowers were laid on the grave, which is in the town cemetery where his working party was. His comrades collected over £68, which has been sent to his mother, with expression of deep sympathy.
Malcolm was 41 years, and had 23 years' service with the Seaforth Highlanders. He was captured at St Valery.
The circumstances which led to his death were characteristic of his love of fair play. He always championed the weak. A prisoner who was repatriated said of him that he was the life and soul of the prison camp and popular with all the prisoners, always ready to help them, and especially the young boys, of whom there was a crowd in the camp. His love of justice cost him his life, and he died as he lived - a hero. In the early days in France, when they first found themselves under fire, regardless of personal danger, he advised and helped the younger boys, and his courage and cool head in face of danger were the means of helping them out of many a tight corner.
The heartfelt sympathy of the community is extended to his bereaved widow and invalid mother and to his sisters, brothers and all his other relatives.
Last address in Lewis: 14 Aird
Son of Norman and Margaret Mackenzie, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
Service number: 2813466
Date of death: 11 September 1944 at the age of 39
Taken POW at St Valery. Shot by a guard at POW-camp
Interred: Malbork (Poland) Commonwealth War Cemetery, grave 9. A. 3.
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
Stornoway Gazette
3 November 1944
This week we have the tragic news from Germany that one of our men will not return. Malcolm Mackenzie, 14 Aird (Calum a Ghoisdy) is reported to have died in a German camp on 11 September. Malcolm was taken prisoner at St Valery and now, when it looks as if the day is not far distant when the clouds of war will give way to the sunlight of victory and peace, it is sad to think that his hopes of freedom are not realised. We hope to give further details in a later issue.
9 March 1945
Some weeks ago we reported the death in a German prisoner camp of Pte Malcolm Mackenzie, 14 Aird.
Official information has now been received to the effect that he died a result of a gunshot wound. According to statements by fellow prisoners of war, who were eye-witnesses of the occurrence on 11th September 1944, an argument started between a group of prisoners engaged in sawing trees and a German guard. Private Mackenzie intervened in the argument and was shot by the guard after he had been accused of using his axe in a threatening manner. It is understood he died instantaneously.
Just the day before his death, Pte Mackenzie wrote a cheery letter home in which he said; "We are longing for the day to come when we are free to go home, if God spares us."
Rev Norman Maclean, British Chaplain in the camp, writes: "I buried Malcolm on Thursday last. His own comrades were bearers. One of our men blew the Last Post and Reveille. His own flag covered the casket and flowers were laid on the grave, which is in the town cemetery where his working party was. His comrades collected over £68, which has been sent to his mother, with expression of deep sympathy.
Malcolm was 41 years, and had 23 years' service with the Seaforth Highlanders. He was captured at St Valery.
The circumstances which led to his death were characteristic of his love of fair play. He always championed the weak. A prisoner who was repatriated said of him that he was the life and soul of the prison camp and popular with all the prisoners, always ready to help them, and especially the young boys, of whom there was a crowd in the camp. His love of justice cost him his life, and he died as he lived - a hero. In the early days in France, when they first found themselves under fire, regardless of personal danger, he advised and helped the younger boys, and his courage and cool head in face of danger were the means of helping them out of many a tight corner.
The heartfelt sympathy of the community is extended to his bereaved widow and invalid mother and to his sisters, brothers and all his other relatives.
Alexander Campbell, 12 Aird, Point
Seaman ALEXANDER CAMPBELL
Last address in Lewis: 12 Aird
Son of Donald and Janet Campbell, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: Royal Naval Reserve
Service number: C/5944D
Date of death: 28 August 1940
Lost on AMC Dunvegan Castle torpedoed by U-46 W of Ireland
Memorial: Chatham Naval, panel 40, column 1
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
Stornoway Gazette, 6 September 1940
There were quite a number of Lewis seamen serving on HMS auxiliary cruiser "Dunvegan Castle", reported torpedoed at the weekend, as far as is known at the time of writing, all but one of the Lewis members of the crew are safe. Angus Campbell, son of Donald Campbell, 12 Aird, is reported missing. He is first cousin of Norman Smith, 7 Aird, who was killed serving with the Navy just a fortnight ago. Angus, who was in his early thirties and unmarried was one of four brothers all serving with the Navy. The other three are Malcolm, Norman and John.
Transcriber's note: It would appear from the casualty lists that the name of the missing man, whose death was later confirmed, was in fact Alexander Campbell.
Last address in Lewis: 12 Aird
Son of Donald and Janet Campbell, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: Royal Naval Reserve
Service number: C/5944D
Date of death: 28 August 1940
Lost on AMC Dunvegan Castle torpedoed by U-46 W of Ireland
Memorial: Chatham Naval, panel 40, column 1
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
Stornoway Gazette, 6 September 1940
There were quite a number of Lewis seamen serving on HMS auxiliary cruiser "Dunvegan Castle", reported torpedoed at the weekend, as far as is known at the time of writing, all but one of the Lewis members of the crew are safe. Angus Campbell, son of Donald Campbell, 12 Aird, is reported missing. He is first cousin of Norman Smith, 7 Aird, who was killed serving with the Navy just a fortnight ago. Angus, who was in his early thirties and unmarried was one of four brothers all serving with the Navy. The other three are Malcolm, Norman and John.
Transcriber's note: It would appear from the casualty lists that the name of the missing man, whose death was later confirmed, was in fact Alexander Campbell.
Murdo Smith, 7 Aird, Point
Lieutenant MURDO SMITH
Last address in Lewis: 7 Aird
Son of Donald and Bella Smith; husband of Mary Smith, of Fort William, Ontario, Canada.
Service: Royal Canadian Navy Reserve, HMCS West York
Service number: 0-68310
Date of death: 23 December 1944 at the age of 45
Interred: Bermuda Royal Naval Cemetery, grave 435
Stornoway Gazette, 3 August 1945
The untimely death of Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith, while on his way to Bermuda with a corvette flotilla from Halifax, has cast a deep pall of gloom and sorrow across this Dominion of ours [Canada] and particularly in Toronto, where Lieut-Commander Smith had made his home for some years, and where he was a well-known and highly-respected member of the community.
Lieut-Commander Smith was born at 7 Aird, Point, Lewis, 45 years ago. The son of the late Mr Donald Smith and Mrs Smith, his father was a one-time well known skipper of the famous "Herring Fisher", and his brother Alex is skipper of the "Lews". In common with many Lewis lads, Murdo Smith had the salt sea in his blood. He served in the British Navy in the last war at the early age of 16 years. He spent some years as a fisherman after the war. In 1924, he sailed to Canada on the SS Marloch, along with many other Lewis boys. He sailed on the Great Lakes on this side of the Atlantic for many years.
At the outbreak of hostilities, Capt Smith was the master of SS Northton, sailing out of the West Indies. He immediately joined the Canadian Navy as a navigating officer. His superiors were quick to recognise his qualities of leadership and ability, and his promotion came rapidly. He soon found himself in charge of one of those trusty Canadian corvettes on Atlantic patrol. He remained on this Atlantic patrol through those terrible first four years of war, and continued as a Lieut-Commander on this patrol until his death. Altogether Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith has spent 30 consecutive years at sea. This is a splendid record for a man who was still in his 45th year.
He became master of the SS Lockwell 8 years ago, and at 37 years of age was one of the youngest if not the youngest masters on the Great Lakes. In 1932, as first mate of the SS Boland, he and another Lewisman, Roddie Macleod from Ranish, Lochs, were instrumental in saving many lives when the SS Boland foundered in Lake Erie during a terrific storm. By that high grade of seamanship, for which Lewismen are famous, Murdo and Roddie manoeuvred the ship's lifeboat in the storm they kept baling with their shoes to the men struggling in the water and pulled many into the boat, and then, by dint of superb seamanship, took the boat safely to land.
If Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith had lived, there is no doubt he would have gone very far in his chosen vocation. As it is, no one will deny but that he had an outstanding career. Murdo Smith was a very unselfish man who was admired by all who knew him. He was also a deeply religious man who held very closely to the tenets of Christianity. Yet he was a very cheery companion to have, and we feel sure that many a Canadian sailor was glad to have such a man as Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith on board during those long, cold nights on Atlantic patrol.
A young man who always looked on the grander and finer things of life, his memory will long be cherished by those who were privileged to know him. The Island that gave him birth will miss him, his early demise is a loss to us all.
Besides his widow, formerly Mary Mackay from Garrabost, and his two children, Catherine Isabel, 6 years, and Alastair Duncan, 7 months old, he is survived by three brothers. Alex, skipper of the "Lews", Malcolm, married in Stornoway, Donald recently married at home. There is also a married sister, Mrs Donald Graham, at home. We send our heartfelt sympathy to them all.
Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith was buried with full naval honours in the British Naval Cemetery at Hamilton, Bermuda, in a grave carved from the coral reef close by blue waters of the Atlantic he knew so well.
Image courtesy Travelthruhistory.com, Bev Lundahl.
Last address in Lewis: 7 Aird
Son of Donald and Bella Smith; husband of Mary Smith, of Fort William, Ontario, Canada.
Service: Royal Canadian Navy Reserve, HMCS West York
Service number: 0-68310
Date of death: 23 December 1944 at the age of 45
Interred: Bermuda Royal Naval Cemetery, grave 435
Stornoway Gazette, 3 August 1945
The untimely death of Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith, while on his way to Bermuda with a corvette flotilla from Halifax, has cast a deep pall of gloom and sorrow across this Dominion of ours [Canada] and particularly in Toronto, where Lieut-Commander Smith had made his home for some years, and where he was a well-known and highly-respected member of the community.
Lieut-Commander Smith was born at 7 Aird, Point, Lewis, 45 years ago. The son of the late Mr Donald Smith and Mrs Smith, his father was a one-time well known skipper of the famous "Herring Fisher", and his brother Alex is skipper of the "Lews". In common with many Lewis lads, Murdo Smith had the salt sea in his blood. He served in the British Navy in the last war at the early age of 16 years. He spent some years as a fisherman after the war. In 1924, he sailed to Canada on the SS Marloch, along with many other Lewis boys. He sailed on the Great Lakes on this side of the Atlantic for many years.
At the outbreak of hostilities, Capt Smith was the master of SS Northton, sailing out of the West Indies. He immediately joined the Canadian Navy as a navigating officer. His superiors were quick to recognise his qualities of leadership and ability, and his promotion came rapidly. He soon found himself in charge of one of those trusty Canadian corvettes on Atlantic patrol. He remained on this Atlantic patrol through those terrible first four years of war, and continued as a Lieut-Commander on this patrol until his death. Altogether Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith has spent 30 consecutive years at sea. This is a splendid record for a man who was still in his 45th year.
He became master of the SS Lockwell 8 years ago, and at 37 years of age was one of the youngest if not the youngest masters on the Great Lakes. In 1932, as first mate of the SS Boland, he and another Lewisman, Roddie Macleod from Ranish, Lochs, were instrumental in saving many lives when the SS Boland foundered in Lake Erie during a terrific storm. By that high grade of seamanship, for which Lewismen are famous, Murdo and Roddie manoeuvred the ship's lifeboat in the storm they kept baling with their shoes to the men struggling in the water and pulled many into the boat, and then, by dint of superb seamanship, took the boat safely to land.
If Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith had lived, there is no doubt he would have gone very far in his chosen vocation. As it is, no one will deny but that he had an outstanding career. Murdo Smith was a very unselfish man who was admired by all who knew him. He was also a deeply religious man who held very closely to the tenets of Christianity. Yet he was a very cheery companion to have, and we feel sure that many a Canadian sailor was glad to have such a man as Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith on board during those long, cold nights on Atlantic patrol.
A young man who always looked on the grander and finer things of life, his memory will long be cherished by those who were privileged to know him. The Island that gave him birth will miss him, his early demise is a loss to us all.
Besides his widow, formerly Mary Mackay from Garrabost, and his two children, Catherine Isabel, 6 years, and Alastair Duncan, 7 months old, he is survived by three brothers. Alex, skipper of the "Lews", Malcolm, married in Stornoway, Donald recently married at home. There is also a married sister, Mrs Donald Graham, at home. We send our heartfelt sympathy to them all.
Lieut-Commander Murdo Smith was buried with full naval honours in the British Naval Cemetery at Hamilton, Bermuda, in a grave carved from the coral reef close by blue waters of the Atlantic he knew so well.
Image courtesy Travelthruhistory.com, Bev Lundahl.
Norman Smith, 7 Aird
Seaman NORMAN SMITH
Last address in Lewis: 7 Aird
Son of Norman and Mary Smith, of Stornoway
Service: Royal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service), HMT Brock
Service number: LT/X.7713C
Date of death: 19 August 1940 at the age of 33
Interred: Eye / Aignish Cemetery, J. 49
Alexander Macdonald, 7 Aird, Point
Able Seaman ALEXANDER MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 7 Aird
Son of Malcolm and Annie Macdonald.
Service: Merchant Navy, SS Stockport
Ship torpedoed by U-604 in mid-Atlantic, with the loss of all hands
Date of death: 23 February 1943 at the age of 31
Memorial: Tower Hill, panel 101
Last address in Lewis: 7 Aird
Son of Malcolm and Annie Macdonald.
Service: Merchant Navy, SS Stockport
Ship torpedoed by U-604 in mid-Atlantic, with the loss of all hands
Date of death: 23 February 1943 at the age of 31
Memorial: Tower Hill, panel 101
Norman Murray Macdonald, 7 Aird, Point
Second Officer NORMAN MURRAY MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 7 Aird
Service: Merchant Navy
Date of death: 11 March 1943 at the age of 21
Lost on SS Baron Kinnaird sunk by U-621 NE of Newfoundland.
Was youngest 2nd mate at age 19
Memorial: Tower Hill, panel 14
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
Last address in Lewis: 7 Aird
Service: Merchant Navy
Date of death: 11 March 1943 at the age of 21
Lost on SS Baron Kinnaird sunk by U-621 NE of Newfoundland.
Was youngest 2nd mate at age 19
Memorial: Tower Hill, panel 14
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
John Malcolm Mackenzie, 5 Aird, Point
Able Seaman JOHN MALCOLM MACKENZIE
Last address in Lewis: 5 Aird
Son of Norman and Catherine Mackenzie.
Service: Merchant Navy
Date of death: 30 October 1940 at the age of 32
Lost on SS Rutland south of Rockall
Memorial: Tower Hill, panel 89
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
Last address in Lewis: 5 Aird
Son of Norman and Catherine Mackenzie.
Service: Merchant Navy
Date of death: 30 October 1940 at the age of 32
Lost on SS Rutland south of Rockall
Memorial: Tower Hill, panel 89
Local memorial: Point, Garrabost
Murdo Mackenzie, Aird Point
Seaman MURDO MACKENZIE
Last address in Lewis: Aird, Point
Son of Donald and Catherine Mackenzie, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: Royal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service), HMS Greenfly
Service number: LT/X8100C
Date of death: 2 November 1939 at the age of 28
Lost through drowning after a fall
Interred: Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery, Sec. F. Uncons. Grave 11835.
Last address in Lewis: Aird, Point
Son of Donald and Catherine Mackenzie, of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Service: Royal Naval Reserve (Patrol Service), HMS Greenfly
Service number: LT/X8100C
Date of death: 2 November 1939 at the age of 28
Lost through drowning after a fall
Interred: Tynemouth (Preston) Cemetery, Sec. F. Uncons. Grave 11835.
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