Tarradale Roll of Heroes Bios
The Story Behind the names - Lest We Forget
Below are short biographies on the men of Tarradale School who made the ultimate sacrifice during The Great War. Where relevant we have attached links to the Ross-shire Journal extracts for further information.
BLACKSMITH KENNETH MACKENZIE Service Number: 342118
Kenneth Mackenzie was born in the village on 9th April 1875 and was the son of Duncan Mackenzie and Mary Mackenzie. Duncan and Mary had been resident in Muir of Ord from at least the 1871 census where they had one child of 5 months old. Kenneth only appears on the 1881 census as by the 1891 census he would have either been serving as an apprentice or already serving in the Royal Navy. At the time of his father’s death in 1900, Kenneth was serving onboard HMS Southampton based at Chatham. He was married to Williamina Ross at Kiltearn in 1912. At that time, he was already serving as a Royal Navy Blacksmith on H.M.S. Boadicea, based at Chatham.
HMS Pathfinder was the first warship to be sunk by a submarine launched self-propelled torpedo near the Firth of Forth. Other ships had been sunk by torpedoes, and submarines had also been responsible for the sinking of enemy warships, but this was the first successful submarine launched torpedo attack.
The Times stated that 58 men had been rescued but that four had died of injuries however this is not possible to verify due to there being no definitive list of the crew on that day. CWGC lists 261 fatalities from the Pathfinder, including two civilian catering staff.
A newspaper report at the time of his death, reports the family as having resided at ‘The Quarry’. His wife was reported to have been living near Fortrose. The couple had one child, Catherine Geddes McKenzie, born 1914.
Kenneth had been in the Royal Navy for 17 years. His body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
PRIVATE PETER ROBERTSON CAMERON Service Number: 9390
Peter was born at Achilty in 1894 where his father, William was a ploughman. By the 1911 census, the family were living at Hilton Farm although Peter was not with them. Peter was living with his uncle where both were working for the railway at Wick. Peter as a Clerk and his uncle as an agent.
At the time of his death, Peter’s parents were recorded as living at MacKenzie Buildings.
Peter’s name is commemorated at the La Ferté-sous-Jouarre Memorial, commemorating 3,740 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who fell at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne between the end of August and early October 1914 and have no known graves
PRIVATE KENNETH MacKENZIE Service Number: 7214
Kenneth was born in 1887 at Tarradale Muir where his father Donald was a Quarryman. He was the eldest of three sons who were all killed during WW1.
Kenneth’s name is commemorated at the La Ferté-sous-Jouarre Memorial, commemorating 3,740 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who fell at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne between the end of August and early October 1914 and have no known graves.
PRIVATE FARQUHAR FRASER Service Number: 9704
Farquhar was born in 1893 at the Police house in the village where his father, Hugh was the local Police Sergeant. By the time of the 1901 census, Hugh had retired and the family had relocated to the Spittal Croft, Spittalwood on the outskirts of the village.
The 1991 census records Farquhar as being a postman at the age of 18. He was recorded missing from late January 1915, with his official date of death being recorded as the 25th of January.
Farquhar’s name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial commemorating over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave.
PRIVATE ALEXANDER MACINTOSH Service Number: 1225
Alexander was born around 1895 and was the son of George Mackintosh, a general merchant, possibly at Ivy cottage where they also lived. George died in 1900. There are no records for widow Macintosh or Alexander (Alick) on the 1901 or 1911 census records, however Widow MacIntosh has been mentioned in various newspaper reports on her son’s death.
Alick was reported to have been a sawyer at the Ord Distillery and was killed aged 20 years.
Alick’s name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial commemorating over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave.
PRIVATE JOHN CAMERON Service Number: 24589
John Duncan Cameron was born in 1881 and was the son of blacksmith, William Cameron and his wife, Isabella MacGregor. John worked for the railway as a switchman and prior to joining the Canadian Infantry, he had served for 2 years with the Lovat Scouts in South Africa.
He had emigrated to Canada in 1904 where he was employed on the Canadian Pacific Railway. At the outbreak of WW1, he volunteered for the 1st Canadian Contingent and joined the forces at Cranbrook, British Columbia. He took part in the defence of t Julien and Ypres before being captured on 24th April, whilst suffering for effects of gas poisoning which eventually caused his death a few days later.
He is buried at Roeselare, Arrondissement Roeselare, West Flanders, Belgium.
PRIVATE JAMES MANSON Service Number: 1333
James Manson was born in 1886 and was the youngest son of farm servant/ploughman, Charles Manson and Catherine Innes. Prior to WW1, he had been a Groomsman to one of the local houses, perhaps even the Tarradale Inn? There is nothing recorded to suggest who his employer may have been. He was a member of the Black Isle Company of Territorials and was mobilised with this unit to the Western Front.
He was killed at Aubers Ridge and is remembered on the wall of the Le Touret Memorial which commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave.
SERGEANT LEWIS MURRAY LISLE Service Number: 1561
Lewis Murray Lisle was born in 1892 at Rothes and was the son of Lewis Dunbar Harris Henderson Lisle and Ann Isabella Murray. Hi father was a cooper at Elgin before moving to the distillery at Muir of Ord around 1895 where they first appear on the 1895 valuation roll. It is believed Lewis was a Cooper at the distillery, with his father.
Lewis was killed at Aubers Ridge and is remembered on the wall of the Le Touret Memorial which commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave.
PRIVATE HUGH F. McDONALD Service Number: 1307
Hugh was born in Inverness and was the son of James McDonald and Johan Mckenzie. James was a general labourer and was employed by the County Council on the 1911 census. Hugh was aged 16 on the 1911 census and was also a general labourer but within the following three years he had become a Post man like his older brother.
Hugh was killed at Aubers Ridge and is remembered on the wall of the Le Touret Memorial which commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave.
PRIVATE JOHN CAMERON Service Number: 1885
John, also known by his Gaelic name, Ian, was born in 1889 and was the youngest son of Hctor and Helen Cameron of the Ord Arms Hotel.
Llike his siblings, Ian also assisted with the running of the hotel whilst also working as a law clerk with MacDonald & Graham, Inverness before re-joining the 1/4th Seaforth Highlanders at the outbreak of WW1. He was killed in action on 9th May 1915 and is buried at Rue-Petillon Military cemetery, Fleurbaix, France
SERGEANT DONALD MacKENZIE Service Number: S/13134
Donald Mackenzie was born around 1880. Not much can be determined about Donald as his first name and surname are very common names in the area. CWGC records only have a brother recorded as A. Mackenzie. They were both from Muir of Tarradale. Donald joined up on the 8th of July 1915 and was killed 2 months later. He was 35 years old.
The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war.
LANCE CORPORAL DONALD MACKENZIE Service Number: 8051
Donald was the second son of Quarryman Donald Mackenzie and Isabella Stewart of Loch na Mhoid to be killed during WW1.
Donald enlisted in August 1914 and was killed in October 1915.
The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war.
GUNNER D TUACH Service Number: 2916
Donald Tuach was born at Urray in 1885. He became a distillery worker and moved to work at the Dallas-Dhu distillery, Forres in 1906. By the time of his enlistment during WW1, he was now the manager at Dallas-Dhu. He was married to Robina Hay at Islington in 1915 and called up to active service with the Royal Garrison Artillery, Bute. It was during his basic training at Catterick barracks that he became unwell and died of Pnuemonia in 1916. Donald is buried, with a CWGC war Grave at Cluny Hill, Forres. The couple had one son.
PRIVATE WILLIAM MACPHAIL Service Number: 5022
William MacPhail was a crofter from the Balvaird area. The only mention pre WW1 was his entering the local Black Isle Show with his father and brother. He also worked for William Forbes in the Grocery shop.
The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave.
CORPORAL DUNCAN MACDONALD Service Number: S/40248
Duncan was born in 1893 and was the son of James MacDonald a coal merchant and storekeeper of Gowanfield, Seaforth Road. Duncan was recorded as a bank clerk apprentice on the 1911 census.
Duncan is remembered on the ARRAS MEMORIAL which commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917.
LANCE CORPORAL JOHN BARRON Service Number: S/40508
John was born in 1895 and was the son of James Barron, a distillery delivery man (Carter) and his wife Isabella. John enlisted with the 4th Seaforth Highlanders, (Service No. 1493) in November 1914 and in 1915 he was injured and spent some time at Stobhill Hospital Glasgow before being moved to a convalescent home, following which he returned to active service with the 2nd Seaforth Highlander (Service No. S/40508).
John is remembered on the ARRAS MEMORIAL which commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917.
PRIVATE J E MACLEOD Service Number: 200280
James E. Macleod was educated at Tarradale school, hence his name on the Roll of Honour. However, its has not been possible to determine much more about his story.
He enlisted in February 1915 into the Cameron Highlanders and later joined the Royal Flying Corps when he was wounded. He later died from his wounds in June 1917. His mother was recorded as Jeanie E.Macleod of Ferry Road, Beauly.
SERJEANT JOHN McLEAN Service Number: 9282
John McLean was the eldest son of Alexander Mclean of Lovat Cottage, Market Stance. CWGC records do not record an age at time of death for John so it has been rather difficult to research. More can be read about him by following the link.
John is remembered in a panel at the TYNE COT MEMORIAL which bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known.
PRIVATE DUNCAN ROBERT INNES Service Number: 23338
Duncan Robert Innes was born in 1890 at Urray, where his father, Duncan Innes was a farmer. Prior to mobilisation with the 4th Seaforths he was a draper in Dingwall. He mobilised along with his two brothers at the outbreak of WW1 and was injured six days after his brother, Lieutenant Donald Alexander in August 1917. Donald lost a leg and Duncan recovered, returning to the front. At the time of his death Duncan was serving with the 145th Company, Machine Gun Corps.
Duncan is remembered on the Cambrai memorial which commemorates more than 7,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South Africa who died in the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 and whose graves are not known.
SERJEANT THOMAS MACKENZIE Service Number: 5743
Thomas was born in 1886 and was the son of William and Isabel Mackenzie of Caberfeidh on the Black Isle Road. Thomas served as a soldier in the 1st battalion of the Scots Guards where he attained the rank of Serjeant. He was killed in action on 29th October 1914. He has no known grave and is one of the UK exceptions to be remembered on panel 11. of the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium. Most UK dead after August 1917, were named on the panels at Tyne Cot cemetery.
PRIVATE DUNCAN BARRON Service Number: S/22682
Duncan was born in 1897 and was the son of James Barron, a distillery delivery man (Carter) and his wife Isabella. He was the elder brother to LANCE CORPORAL JOHN BARRON, Service Number: S/40508 who was killed at Arras in May 1917.
Duncan was killed in March 1918 and is buried at Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-Le-Peux in France.
SERJEANT JOHN MACKENZIE Service Number: 265217
John was born in 1896 at Loch a Mhoid, Muir of Tarradale/Hughston. He enlisted in May 1915 with the1/6th Seaforth Highlanders. He was the youngest son of Quarryman Donald MacKenzie and Isabella Stewart and the last of their three sons to be killed during WW1. Prior to the war he was a Farm Labourer.
He was decorated for bravery, receiving the Military Medal (awarded after March 1916) following the battle at Beaumont Hamel in 1916 and awarded a bar in April 1918 when he was also mentioned in despatches.
It is believed he was also awarded the Croix de Guerre. Research continues to discover what his act of bravery was and whether the Croix de Guerre was awarded by France or Belgium.
John is buried at Anneux British Cemetery which contains 1,013 burials and commemorations of the First World War.
PRIVATE JOHN MacLEOD Service Number: 20167
John MacLeod was the one of three sons of John Fraser Macleod and Helen Gunn of Foresthill Cottage, Broomhill. John and Helen were married in 1879 at Tain and John was born around 1888 at Nigg in Easter Ross.
John died of Cholera whilst serving in Mesopotamia and is buried at the Tehran War Cemetery is located on the southern edge of the British Embassy’s Gholhak compound in north Tehran.
PRIVATE K W McKAY Service Number: S/41892
Kenneth William MacKay was born at Urray in 1899 to Catherine Mackay, a housemaid of Burnside, Muir of Ord. Kenneth was then brought up by his grandmother whilst his mother worked in domestic service. Kenneth was still living with his grandmother on the 1911 census. Prior to the outbreak of WW1, he was serving as an apprentice gardener at Ord House.
Kenneth’s mother was married at Urray in 1905 and she was recorded as living at Knock, Banffshire at the time of her son’s death in 1918 and then Cunnoquhie, Ladybank, Fife when CWGC graves & records were being collated a few years later.
Kenneth is buried at the Thiant Communal cemetery in Northern France where there are 72 Commonwealth burials, mostly men of the 51st (Highland) Division from October-November 1918.
PRIVATE WILLIAM TAYLOR Service Number: 55219
William was born at Wick in 1898 where his father worked for the Highland Railway as a station porter. The family had transferred to live at bank Cottage, Market stance by 1905 and were still living in Caithness on the 1901 census.
There is more of his story reported on the Ross-shire Journal excerpts.
William is buried at the Hamburg Cemetery which was used for the burial of over 300 Allied servicemen who died as prisoners of war.
