The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

alexmaclennan

The villages of Melbost and Branahuie are close to the Stornoway airport just to the east of Stornoway, before you come to Point. The two memorials below are just in front of the main entrance to the airport.

There is a low circular memorial to the RAF stationed here during WW2. The details of that memorial are found in the 'Western Isles - Regiment & Unit' section.

Behind the RAF memorial is a 1 1/2m high drystane cairn containing a granite plaque commemorating those who died from the villages. Again, I think these memorials are recent.

alex
_________________
alex maclennan

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

These memorials have really caught my imagination....one day perhaps!

I HAD to look up one of the names;

Name: MacLEOD
Initials: H
Nationality: South African
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: South African Infantry
Unit Text: 8th Regt.
Age: 38
Date of Death: 23/03/1917
Service No: 3745
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Angus MacLeod. of 11, Branahuie, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 575.
Cemetery: BOKSBURG CEMETERY

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:49 pm Post subject:

And another;

Name: MacKINNON
Initials: A
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)
Unit Text: 28th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 06/06/1916
Service No: 74345
Additional information: Son of Mrs Catherine MacKinnon, of 19, Melbost, Stornoway, Scotland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 18 - 26 - 28.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

adb41 · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 178 Location: Stornoway

Transcription

IN MEMORY OF ALL THOSE FROM
BRANAHUIE AND MELBOST
WHO FOUGHT AND DIED
FOR FREEDOM
IN THE TWO WORLD WARS

1914-1918
BRANAHUIE

3 John Macrae, Seaforths, died 1918
11 Hector Macleod, Transvaal Scot, died 1917
12 Malcolm Maciver, RNR, died 1916
13 Evander Mackenzie, Seaforths, died 1917

MELBOST

14 Alexander Graham, Canadians, died 1915
19 Angus Mackinnon, Canadians, died 1916
22 Kenneth Macleod, RNR, died 1918
27 John Macfarlane, Canadians, died 1918

1939-1945

BRANAHUIE

22 Donald Macdonald, RASC, died 1947

MELBOST

6 Alexander Macleod, Seaforths, died 1942
7 Ian M Macleod, MN, died 1944
18 Donald M Macfarlane, RAFVR, died 1942

AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN
AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

"Bha iad nam balla dhuinn araon, a dh'oidhche anns a la"
[They were a wall to us both by night and by day]

1 Samuel 25:16

adb41 · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 178 Location: Stornoway

It is worth bearing in mind that Branahuie is marked on some signposts as Braighe na h-Aoidhe.

adb41 · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 178 Location: Stornoway

This small memorial stands in front of the main Melbost / Branahuie memorial.