The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Mcewan boy · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 1

Angus was the brother of my grandfather and died in 25/06/1919. He was from barra, but did not appear in the war memorial. Is this because the great war was already over. Any info on the ship he died on would be appreciated.

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Mcewan boy,

There is an Angus McLean on the WWI part of the Barra & Vatersay memorial:

Garrygall
Angus MacLean, Pte Camerons, Aonghas Mhicheil Bhig

Is he the right man?

See http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=3348

later edit:
Looks like I have the wrong Angus McLean. You are asking about Angus MacLean, a sailor, not a soldier. And he was from the opposite side of the island - I see Garrygall is in the SE of the island, close to Castlebay and on looking at his death certificate, your Angus Maclean died in Grean in the NW of the island, 11 miles apart by road.

On that basis, I agree, it looks like your Angus McLean has been missed out on the (modern) memorial.

From the CWGC website:

MACLEAN, A
Rank: Deck Hand
Service No:18234/DA
Date of Death: 25/06/1919
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Reserve H.M.S. "Vivid."
Grave Reference: On East side of main path.
Cemetery: BORVE (ST. BRENDAN'S) ROMAN CATHOLIC BURIAL GROUND, ISLE OF BARRA
Additional Information: Son of Elan and Anne Maclean, of 5, Grean, Barra.

His death certificate describes him as "Former Seaman (Merchant Service), Naval Pensioner", died at Grean, 25/06/1919, age 24, son of Allan and Annie Maclean, died of "Tuberculosis of Lungs".

In the 1911 census, he is living in his parents household in Grean, and is described as a crofter's son, working on a croft.

ADP