58855: John Alexander Macdonald

Iain Alasdair Mhurchaidh Choinnich

John Alexander Macdonald (1917-1988) was a son of Murdo Macdonald and Margaret Macleod, 7 Lemreway.

On 21 February 1935 he enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve, Service Number  AX18172 and re-enrolled under SEX97, SDX10365 and T985420. His records indicate that he was 5ft 5¾ in tall with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. John Alexander was a fisherman and joined the Merchant Navy in 1935. He travelled to France on the SS Gogovale and the SS British Motorist, to Australia on the SS Port Denison, MV Opawa and the SS Royal Star, to Russia on the SS Strathmore and to Buenos Airies on the SS Blairlogie.

He was Mobilised on September 29, 1938 and served as a Leading Seaman in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Based at HMS Europa, HMS Fortitude, HMS Lucifer and  HMS Proserpine and at Lowestoft and Scapa Flow aboard HMT Golden Sheaf and HMD Contest. John Alexander was granted Agricultural Leave in Lemreway in 1943 and 1945  and took part in the Normandy Landings. His name is mentioned in Roll of Honour: Pairc, Second World War.

After the War John Alexander returned to the Merchant Navy serving on the  MV Bloemfontein Castle, HMT Empire Windrush, RMS Loch Gowan, SS Port Auckland, SS Port Pirie, SS Rhodesia Star, SS Rimutaka and SS Runic.

John Alexander was a bachelor at 7 Lemreway.