The Scottish War Graves Project

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Ness lies some 25 miles north of Stornoway along the A857, and comprises of a dozen villages. It has two graveyards, which lie within a few hundred yards of each other on the machair, the grassland above the sea.

They are easiest approached from the village of Habost, where a sign outside the Folk Museum points to Cladh Nis. About a mile from the village, the road ends at the new cemetery.

The old cemetery can be reached on foot ONLY. It can be approached from the village shop in Swainbost, where a road leads towardes Swainbost Farm, thence a track to the shore. Cross the bridge across the river, after which the cemetery is draped across the hillside to your right. It requires a sure foot to negotiate. The rocks are all gravestones, for those that could not afford an inscribed tombstone. About 9000 people are reportedly buried here.

An exit gate exists at the top of the graveyard, which offers a shortcut to the modern cemetery.

Grid reference: NB507638

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman NORMAN MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 17 Lionel,
Son of Donald and Jessie Morrison, of 17, Lionel, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT Urka
Service number: 12088/DA
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 20
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Signaller WILLIAM MACKAY
Last address in Lewis: 7 Fivepenny,
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Voluntary Reserve, HMS Vivid
Service number: Z/8218
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 26
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman JOHN MACDONALD
Last address in Lewis: 10 Skigersta,
Son of John and Christina Macdonald, husband of Jessie
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMY Seahorse
Service number: 4490/A
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 32
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness cemetery
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman MURDO CAMPBELL
Last address in Lewis: 4 Eorodale,
Son of Donald and Catherine Campbell, of 4, Eorodale, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Matthew Flynn
Service number: 20536/DA
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 18
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman JOHN MURRAY
Last address in Lewis: 36 Lionel,
Husband of Annie Murray, of 36, Lionel, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Pembroke
Service number: 2061/C
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 46
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman ANGUS McRITCHIE
Last address in Lewis: 38 Swainbost
Son of Donald and Henrietta McKenzie McRitchie, of 38, Swainbost, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT Hero
Service number: 16522/DA
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 20
Drowned in the sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman ANGUS GILLIES
Last address in Lewis: 35 South Dell,
Son of Alexander and Isabella Gillies, of 35, South Dell, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Seahorse
Service number: 4502/A
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 30
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Ness (St Peter) Old Churchyard, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Leading Seaman JOHN MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 12 Knockaird,
Son of Norman and Margaret Morrison, of 12, Knockaird, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT David Conn
Service number: 21746/DA
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 18
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman DONALD MURRAY
Last address in Lewis: 11 Habost, Ness,
Son of John and Margaret Murray, of 11, Habost, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT Joseph Burgen
Service number: 19804/DA
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 22
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman MALCOLM THOMSON
Last address in Lewis: 14 Swainbost,
Son of John and Christina McLean Thomson, of 14, Swainbost, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Redoubtable
Service number: 4557/A
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 27
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Deckhand JOHN MACLEOD
Last address in Lewis: 13 Eorodale,
Son of Donald and Mary Macdonald Macleod, of 13, Eorodale, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Attentive III
Service number: 15739/DA
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 20
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman RODERICK MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 2 Habost, Ness,
Son of Malcolm and Margaret Morrison; husband of Gormilla Morrison, of 2, Back St., Habost, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Ganges
Service number: 1750/CH
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 43
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Deckhand DONALD MORRISON
Last address in Lewis: 11 Fivepenny,
Son of Donald Morrison.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMT Sir Mark Sykes
Service number: 11859/DA
Date of death: 1 January 1919 at the age of 27
Drowned in sinking of HMY Iolaire
Interred: Old Ness cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross

Wounded whilst serving with the Seaforth Highlanders at Ypres, 1914.

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Seaman DONALD SMITH
Last address in Lewis: 22 Fivepenny,
Son of John and Dolina Smith, of 22, Fivepenny, Ness, Stornoway.
Regiment or division: Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Glory
Service number: 13740/DA
Date of death: 24 April 1919 at the age of 20
Died in hospital at Granton
Was invalided from Russia
Interred: Old Ness Cemetery, Lewis
Local memorial: North Lewis, Cross