125255: War Story of Lordy Sheonaidh

Donald MacLeod born in 1896, was at the fishing in Fraserburgh when war was declared in 1914. Enlisting in the army at Fort George Barracks, he was issued with a regimental kilt which he wore for eighteen months without undressing once. In those days only one shirt was issued to soldiers, that shirt was on his back for thirteen months.

Donald MacLeod’s platoon served a marathon 31 days in one trench in France. In his own account he relates that he served in 27 of the regiment’s 29 battles. The Battle of Loos, Mesopotamia the 7th Battle of Assaye, The Battle of Gazza in Palestine, Messina in Asia Minor any many more.

It was while he was in Jerusalem, that Donald befriended a lizard, which he carried with him everywhere he went. The soldier from Leurbost kept it on his chest while he slept, as the lizard would eat the mosquitos and he could at least sleep in peace. Donald Macleod had the lizard put in a glass case as a keepsake and later took it home to Lewis.

Returning home on the mail boat the Chieftain on 28th April 1919, his earnings for five years’ war service was £42.00. 

Information from Comann Eachdraidh Ceann a Tuath Nan Loch.