Pentland Road - 2

Private ERNEST LEWIS GILLANDERS Last address in Lewis: 34 Francis Street, Stornoway Service unit: 1st Scots Guards Service number: 14042 Enlisted at Dundee Date of death: 11 October 1918 Interred: Delsaux Farm Cemetery, Beugny, grave I. F. 23 Ernest is shown in the 1891 census at 34 Francis Street, Stornoway, aged 1, the son of William  and Jemima Gillanders, and brother of Wm Mackay (9), Rose (6), MacKenzie (3) and Everard Francis (1). His father William (41) was born at Nigg, and was an Acct & District Comlter Clerk [Accountant]. His mother Jemima (34, nee Mackenzie) was born at Stornoway. The couple are shown, without children, in the 1881 census at 18 Francis Street. They were married at Helensburgh on 24 March 1881, just ten days before the 1881 census. Ernest Lewis was one of twins, the other being Everard Francis. They were born at 10.20 am at 18 Francis Street on 4 November 1889.  Their father reported the birth on 26 November.

Private FREDERICK CHARLES Last address in Lewis: 32 Keith Street, Stornoway Service unit: 4th Royal Irish Fusiliers Service number: 18635 Date of death: 9 September 1915 at the age of 45 Died of drowning in the River Clyde Interred: Glasgow Eastern Necropolis, grave 12. 2057. Frederick Charles was born at 32 Keith Street on 28 August 1869 at 5 am. He was the son of Frederick Charles, seaman, and Margaret nee Macleod; they were married on 11 March 1864 at Stornoway.   Margaret's mother Margaret Macleod reported the birth at the Stornoway registry office on 10 September 1869. She affirmed the registration with a cross in the register. Frederick is shown in the 1881 census of Stornoway, aged 11, living at 32 Keith Street, Back Court. He is a scholar, the son of Margaret (32) and  Frederick (a seaman, not present at census time) and brother of Johanna (13). In 1891, Frederick appears in the census at 6 Blackburn Street, Govan, Glasgow, aged 21. He is a baker, ...

Searching for the keyword Stornoway on the military databases on Ancestry has yielded 445 names, and checking name #2 immediately presented a puzzle. Robert Bruce, 9th Highland Light Infantry 330122, was killed in action on 20 May 1917 at the age of 22. His place of birth is quoted as Stornoway, Caithness. That is already an oddity, as Stornoway used to be in Ross-shire. Looking at the census returns from 1901, I find a Robert Simon Bruce, aged 6, who lives at 34 Bayhead Street, Stornoway, living with his parents John and Jessie (aged 60 and 50 respectively) and several siblings. However, the military records do not show any confirmed connection with Stornoway. The service returns, showing warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men, only say that this man came from Scotland. So, although the evidence is strong, it is not strong enough for Robert Bruce, 330122 HLI, to be included in the listings for the Isle of Lewis.

Further research has unearthed about a dozen names of men lost in WW1 who had connections to Lewis, but not listed as such. The determining factor is whether they were born there, or their parents came from the island, or mentioned on a local memorial. Serjeant WALTER ARMSTRONG BRUCE Last address in Lewis: Knockiandue Schoolhouse, Keose Son of William and Agnes E (nee Armstrong) Born at Langwell, Caithness Service unit: 5th Black Watch Service number: 2063 Enlisted at Montrose Date of birth: 11 March 1889 Date of death: 19 June 1915 Killed in action Interred: Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, grave D. 40. Local memorial: Kinloch, Laxay Lance Corporal HECTOR MACKENZIE Last address in Lewis: 34 Point Street, Stornoway Son of Simon and Wilhelmina Mckenzie of "Glentin", Derby St, Kogarah, NSW, Australia. Born in Stornoway Service unit: 1st Australian Infantry Service number: 341 Date of death: 10 May 1915 at the age of 30 Killed in action at Gallipoli ...