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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: scottish lassy on Thursday 13 August 09 14:53 BST (UK)

Title: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Thursday 13 August 09 14:53 BST (UK)
I just found a gravestone yesterday which said that my gr uncle died in France aged 21 on 19 July 1917.  I am therefore assuming this was probably at Passendaele.  His name was Donald Macleod and I would like to know where I can find any further information

Thanks
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 13 August 09 14:58 BST (UK)
You can search Commonwealth War Graves Commission website (free) and find place of burial or remembrance, etc.
www.cwgc.org
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: ainslie on Thursday 13 August 09 16:08 BST (UK)
There are 19 "D. Macleod"s on the CWGC register who died in 1917, none on 19 July and none shown as aged 21.  Do you have any other names or initials for him, or know what regiment he served in?  Where was his home?  All this would help to sort out the right one.
Another search, on the National Archives documents online index of medal cards shows 86 returns under "Donald Macleod", without other details...Difficult!
A
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 13 August 09 16:22 BST (UK)
There are 19 "D. Macleod"s on the CWGC register...
When I searched 28 D. MacLeods came up ??? also tried McLeod without any match to date.
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: Buzancy18 on Thursday 13 August 09 16:48 BST (UK)
Do you know where he was born?
Try http://www.snwm.org/cgi-bin/db_w1.pl
33 Donald MacLeods listed,
43 D MacLeods
72 D McLeods
44 Donald McLeods
There was a Murdo MacLeod died 19/7/1916.

Buzancy18

Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Thursday 13 August 09 16:58 BST (UK)
Donald was born in Back on the Isle of Lewis to Murdo Macleod and Anne Ferguson.  Do you think the date might be the date of informing or some other date if the actual date of death was not known?  Spelling of the name may also have been different
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: briant on Thursday 13 August 09 17:39 BST (UK)
Where  did you find the grave stone & what exactly did it say on it?
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Thursday 13 August 09 23:03 BST (UK)
sorry, had to disappear for a bit.  Gravestone  had parents name followed by 'son Donald aged 21 who died in France 19/7/1917'

I seem to remember seeing a family photo when I was a child of the whole family with a man in some sort of uniform superimposed on it as he had already left home.  Old fashioned photoshop!!!!
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: mmm45 on Thursday 13 August 09 23:06 BST (UK)
Strange one...just checked the database Soldiers died in Great War...theres a number of Lewis Donald Macleods on there but not on that date...may have to cross reference with CWGC to find right next of kin.

Ady
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: aghadowey on Thursday 13 August 09 23:08 BST (UK)
Would having his birthplace help find him in SDGW?
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Thursday 13 August 09 23:12 BST (UK)
He was born in Back on the isle of Lewis, (may be down as Stornoway), Ross and Cromarty.  Maybe I'll go searching for the family photo tomorrow and see what the uniform looks like.
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: mmm45 on Thursday 13 August 09 23:25 BST (UK)
Yes theres a few on SDGW and some on CWGC that have no next of kin listed   :(

Hes not listed as Back.Hopefully we will be able to recognise the regiment from the pic.

Ady
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: Buzancy18 on Friday 14 August 09 14:31 BST (UK)
There is a Donald MacLeod listed on the Back Memorial under July 1917 but he was with the Canadians.
See
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=2695&mforum=warmemscot

Buzancy18
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Friday 14 August 09 14:40 BST (UK)
That's amazing.  I shall certainly follow that up.  I also see my gr grandfather (from the other side) is also on it.  There will be a Back historical society I can contact to verify the information.  Thank you very much!
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: Buzancy18 on Friday 14 August 09 17:25 BST (UK)
It is him.


Private DONALD MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: Catherine Hill, Back,
Regiment or division: Canadians
Date of death: 19 July 1917
Lewis Memorial: Back

see
http://facesmemorial.blogspot.com/2007/06/back.html

Buzancy18
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: Buzancy18 on Friday 14 August 09 17:31 BST (UK)
I think this may be him with a date error. He is the oly one who fits.
Casualty Details
Name:    MACLEOD
Initials:    D
Nationality:    Canadian
Rank:    Sapper
Regiment/Service:    Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Corps
Date of Death:    29/07/1917
Service No:    564
Casualty Type:    Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:    VI. G. 13.
Cemetery:    GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY

Buzancy18
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: forester on Friday 14 August 09 17:52 BST (UK)
Here is a link to his Attestation Papers:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/06wg/

Phil

Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: ainslie on Friday 14 August 09 17:54 BST (UK)
Looks like a brilliant piece of detection!
A
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Friday 14 August 09 18:15 BST (UK)
That's fantastic!  Really great site too as I have many relations from that area of the island so sure to be others cropping up
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Friday 14 August 09 18:21 BST (UK)
wow, to see his writing and physical description is amazing!!!
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: Alex Macleod on Monday 19 October 15 16:54 BST (UK)
I am reading your posts looking for information about Donald Macleod, son of Murdo Macleod & Annie Ferguson, Catherine Hill, Back, Isle of Lewis.
He was my great uncle (my grannies brother) died in France from pneumonia during 1st world war.
Please get in touch as I am curious who you are and how you know the family.
I now live in Inverness but my mother still lives in Back, my dad passed away a couple of months back, he too was Donald Macleod.
My granny Kate used to live at Catherine Hill and I have many memories of growing up there.
Best wishes Alex
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Monday 19 October 15 17:36 BST (UK)
Will PM you.  I know who you are and you know me!!!!
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: BumbleB on Monday 19 October 15 17:47 BST (UK)
Alex will have to post two more times before he can receive a PM!!!  So just reply to this post two more times  ;D ;D
Title: Re: died 19 July 1917 in France
Post by: scottish lassy on Monday 19 October 15 18:03 BST (UK)
see above Alex.   did I manage to e-mail you successfully?  Current computer came from the arc, so very slow

SL