Pentland Road - 2

Private DONALD MACLEAN Last address in Lewis: 7 Coll Son of Murdo and Isabella Maclean Service unit: Seaforth Highlanders Date of death: 22 May 1916 at the age of 21 Died after 1½ years suffering of phthisis Local memorial: Back His brothers Kenneth and Murdo served in the RNR, but survived the war. Please note Donald Maclean's date of death on the Back War Memorial is quoted as January 1916. However, his death certificate states that he died on 22 May 1916, aged 21, of phthisis of which he had suffered for 18 months. No reference to any military service could be found. Donald Maclean, 21 Callanish, died on 7 January 1916 in Mesopotamia. The entry on CWGC refers to Donald being the son of Finlay Maclean, which tallies with the information from the Roll of Honour, which lists an identical date of death, although it erroneously lists his location of death as La Bassee. Private DONALD MACLEAN Last address in Lewis: 21 Callanish, Son of Finlay and Annie Maclea...

Many a youngster would tell a white lie when trying to enlist in the armed forces, early in the 20th century. It is referred to as "putting your age on", in other words, saying you're older than you are. I found a good example in a Lewis soldier, James Macleod, who was born in Callanish as an illegitimate child. In February 1912, he enlisted with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, and told the recruiting officer he was 17 years and 2 months. As James was born on 24 January 1897, he was in fact not much older than 15 years and 2 weeks. His height was 5 feet 3½ inches and only weighed 120 lbs, 54 kg. Six years after joining the Argylls, James was killed in action near Ypres on 8 May 1918. His body was never recovered, but his name is inscribed on the Tyne Cot memorial at Zonnebeke, 6 miles northeast of Ypres. A few days ago, I saw aerial footage from 1919 of the battlefields around Ypres, and of the village of Passchendaele, which was all but obliterat...

The Standing Stones at Callanish. The world renowned Stone Age site, dug out of the peat at Calanais during the last century. Looking out to the Sleeping Beauty mountain (near Airidh a'Bhruaich in Lochs), and also looking out over Linsiadar, just across the water. I was already aware that there were 2 or 3 other stone circles nearby. Two along the road, just as you come into Callanish from Gearraidh na h-Aibhne / Garynahine. And another one as you go down the Uig road (B8011) from the latter village. Describe my consternation to discover that there are about 19 associated neolithic sites within about 3 miles. Have a look here .