29018: John Macdonald
Iain Dhòmhnaill Dhòmhnail
John (1909-1942) was a son of Donald Macdonald and Mary Macleod, 2/4 Kershader.
On 11 July 1928 he enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve, Service Numbers AX14495 and re-enrolled under BX9030 under the name Ian Og Macdonald. His records indicate that he was 5ft 9in tall with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. John was a fisherman on Fraserburgh, Wick and Stornoway registered fishing boats including the Christina.
In 1931 he joined the Merchant Navy and made four trips to Russia on the SS Cara. He lived at 68 Stamford Road, London in 1935 and became unemployed. John worked as a bus conductor and was not eligible for the Royal Naval Reserve.
He served in the Royal Navy Service Number CJX262193, in the Second World War and lost his life when the SS Ben Lomond was sunk by a German Submarine in the Atlantic Ocean on 23rd November, 1942. His name is commemorated in Roll of Honour: Pairc, Second World War and on the Pairc War Memorial.
He was engaged to be married to a girl from Laxay but he was killed before they could marry. Her wedding dress was part of an Exhibition called Na mo Chuid Aodaich in recent years.
His brother, Donald Murdo, who was in the Merchant Navy, lost his life in the North Sea in 1940 and a third brother, Kenneth also lost his life in the War.
Details
- Record Type:
- Person
- Also Known As:
- Iain Òg a Chlachair
- Date Of Birth:
- 1 Sep 1909
- Date of Death:
- 23 Nov 1942
- Gender:
- Male
- Brothers Keeper Reference:
- CEP 2852
- Occupation:
- Fisherman; Royal Naval Reservist; Merchant Naval Seaman; Royal Naval Seaman; Bus Conductor
- Record Maintained by:
- CEP