Clan Donald Roll of Honour, 1914-1918
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m M m& 35" National Library of Scotland '6000240027* " c 1&INE1U ><fL Clan Bonalb Eoll of honour 19144918 Clan ©onato Eoll of honour 1914—1918 . With Short history of the Clan from the time of Somerled until the extinction of the Clan system after the Rising of 1745 Published by The Clan Donald Roll of Honour Committee James MacDonald, K.C., President, Clan Donald Society, Edinburgh. John McDonald, J. P., President, The MacDonald Society, Glasgow. Dr. James H. MacDonald, Glasgow, Chairman. John D. MacDonald, Glasgow, Hon. Secy. Printed in Great Britain by Archibald Sinclair, "Celtic Press," 27a Cadogan Street, Glasgow. 1931 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/clandonaldrollof1931clan Clan Bonalb 1914*1918 at tbe Call of HHits jfrom tbe Jfour Corners of tbe Eartb came tbe Cbiloren of tbe Clan to battle for tbe IRtgbt. $n mans graves in mans lanos tbeir gallant booies sleep Gbetr spirits rest wltb <5©H>. XLo tbeir loveo ones, bereaveo of tbem, tbis IRoll proclaims tbe price tbe Clan batb paio. B Uoften it is also, bringing price to ligbten grief for lives so well laio oown. for tbis we Imow : ZbvQ set sball live again. preface The Committee entrusted with the production of the Clan " Roll of Honour," in presenting their work to the public, feel that they have, at least, done something to preserve the record of the Clan in the Great War. In limiting the records to the names of those who made the supreme sacrifice and of those who gained honours for their services, the members of the Committee were influenced, not by their feelings, but by the severely practical aspect of the work. It would have been a source of great satisfaction to them to have been able to place on record the names of all clansfolk who served, but when it is considered that there were some 40,000 of these, drawn to every branch of the Service from all quarters of the globe, it will be recognised that such a work was beyond the resources of voluntary effort. It is not, therefore, pretended that the Roll is a complete one. Indeed, a com- plete Roll of the Children of Clan Donald who served in the War is well nigh an impossibility. One has only to read the works of some of the historians, and learn something of the vast ramification of the Clan and its septs, in order to realise that without very large financial resources or widespread voluntary effort and expert assistance, such a work could not be contemplated. No effort has been spared to ensure accuracy within the limits of the Roll. The information included under each entry has been given as it appears in the official records which, unfortunately, are lacking in details in not a few instances. Notwithstanding many precautions, errors and omissions may have occurred, and if there should be any such it is hoped they will be forgiven. It remains to record the Committee's sincere thanks and gratitude to all those Departments and individuals who have placed their resources at its disposal, and especially to those clansfolk who contributed financially to the original fund which enabled the work to be undertaken. James H. MacDonald, Chairman of Committee. Jjtstorical Jforetoorb Part One In preserving- for all time a record of Clansmen of Clan Donald who gave their lives for their Country in the Great European War and of those whose distinguished services were rewarded by honours bestowed upon them, it is appropriate that some notice should be taken of the traditions to which they were heir and which, no doubt unconsciously in many instances, inspired their valour. The Clan system with its internal feuds, and continual struggle for existence, formed an excellent school of Military Training, and from the earliest period of its history the Clan Donald had many distinguished warriors at its head and in the ranks. The Clan derives its origin from very ancient sources, and its history, from Conn of the Hundred Battles and Colla Uais down to Somerled of the Isles, whose military genius wrested the Isles from their Scandinavian conquerors and restored the Celtic influence which was then well nigh extinguished, is a history of battle. From the time of Somerled to the present day there has never been a lack of distinguished clansmen who have taken part in the wars of their period, and the names of Angus Og, Donald of Harlaw and Alistair MacColla, Montrose's great Lieutenant, are imperishable names in Scottish History. It is almost impossible to estimate the importance of Somerled in the history of the Clan and of Gaeldom. Without him there would have been no Celtic Lordship of the Isles, and the great heritage of Gaelic Poetry and Music which has come down to us would probably have been lost for ever. The fortunes of Somerled's family had fallen to a low ebb as a consequence of the Norse occupation of the Isles, and about the middle of the 12th Century we find him living with his father in the wilds of Morven, apparently an unambitious young man. The men of the Isles were in revolt against the tyrannies of their Scandinavian rulers when a combination of circumstances placed Somerled at their head. By his genius many victories were won. He followed up his victories and in a very short time made himself master of the mainland territories of his ancestors and assumed the title of Thane of Argyll. Soon afterwards Somerled had consolidated his position so well that he was able to throw down the gauntlet to Godred, the Norwegian King of the Isles, and in a great naval battle off the coast of Isla on the night of Epiphany 1156 A.D. he gained a victory sufficient to assure to him, in a treaty of peace with Godred, possession of the whole of the Isles south of the point of Ardnamurchan along with Kintyre. The treaty of peace did not last very long and two years later we find Somerled invading Man with a fleet of 53 galleys. He routed Godred, laid the island waste, and held Man during his lifetime. It was scarcely to be expected that the rise in power of Somerled could be viewed otherwise than with feelings of alarm by the Kingdom of Scotland, and so there were dissensions. It is difficult to judge whether Somerled had made up his mind to make a bold bid to establish Celtic rule over the whole country or whether he was only defending his hard-won territory, but it is certain that in 1164 he gathered a great army of 15,000 men and with a fleet of 160 galleys sailed up the 10 Clyde to Greenock, where he disembarked. He marched to Renfrew, where the King's army was encamped. It does not appear that a battle of any consequence was fought, but Somerled's death was encompassed. It is the tradition of the Clan that Somerled was treacherously slain in his tent by one of his own attendants and that he was buried in the Monastery of Saddell. After the death of Somerled his followers dispersed and returned to their native isles ; but his family remained in undisturbed possession of the vast territories he had won with his sword. He was succeeded in part of his possessions by his son, Reginald, who reigned peacefully until 1207, when he died and was succeeded by his son, Donald of Isla, from whom the Clan takes its name. Donald was not by any means of so peace-loving a nature as his father, and we find him engaging in raiding expeditions to Ireland and assisting in rebellions against the King of Scotland. It is said that after a stormy career he went on a pilgrimage to Rome and did penance for his sins. Having obtained absolution from the Pope, he enriched the Church with many gifts of lands. He died at Skipness about the year 1249. A very interesting period of the Clan history is next entered. Angus Mor, who succeeded Donald, was chief at the time of Haco's expedition and assisted him throughout the war, although it does not appear that he suffered either in person or in property in consequence of the treaty afterwards arranged by the Kings of Norway and of Scotland. In 1284 he attended the Convention which declared the Maid of Norway heiress to the Scottish Crown, and he received a grant of land in Ardnamurchan. He is said to have been of an amiable disposition, and was greatly mourned when he died in the year 1300. His son, Alexander, who succeeded him had a short reign of 3 years, and having joined John of Lome in his opposition to Bruce, became involved in the downfall of that family. His posses- sions were forfeited to the Crown of Scotland, but after his death in 1303 they were granted to his brother, Angus Og, who succeeded him. Angus Og remained the steady friend of Bruce and accompanied him to the field of Bannockburn, where with his islesmen, he contributed largely to the victory which won Scotland her independence for ever. He received many favours from the King, and at the time of his death in 1329 passed on a great inheritance to his son, John of Isla. This John was one of the most notable chiefs of the Clan, and although the times were not such as to give him the good fortune to take part in an epoch-making battle like Bannockburn he, nevertheless, played a great part in the troublous times that followed the death of the Bruce.