Strathnaver Museum

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The following list is the men who died during World War One and honoured on the Strathy War Memorial. If you have information or photographs of any of the men listed, or anyone from the area who took part in WWI, we’d love to hear from you! Please email Eileen Mackay at genealogy@strathnavermuseum.org.uk.

Allan Gilmour, Captain, Lovat Scouts

Murdoch M. Gunn, Private, 8th Bn Gordon Highlanders

David M. Jackson, Private, 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders

Alexander S. Mackay, Private, 28th Bn Canadian Expeditionary Force

Charles Mackay, Private, 9th Bn Highland Light Infantry

Charles, or Charlie as he was known by his friends and family, was the oldest son of Robert and Catherine (Kitty) Mackay from Strathy. Charles was one of five siblings, alongside George, James, Robert and Catherine, and was known to be a “lively, lovely chap”. The 9th or ‘Glasgow Highland’ Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry (HLI) was a territorial force which landed in France for service on the Western Front in November 1914.

On the 14th July 1916 men from the 9th were called upon as reinforcements to support the attack on High Wood but by the evening of the 15th German forces were still in control of the area. Charlie was one of 99 ordinary soldiers from the HLI who were declared missing that day; he was 18. Charlie’s body was eventually recovered from his temporary grave and he was buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval.

Thank you to Rachel Hosier who kindly supplied this information and photograph of her great, great uncle Charles Mackay.

Donald A. Mackay, Lance Corporal, 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders

Donald Mackay, Private, 20th Bn Canadian Expeditionary Force

Hugh Mackay, Deck Hand, Royal Naval Reserve

John Mackay, A/ Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers, 257346

A Commonwealth War Grave for John Mackay of the Royal Engineers

John Mackay served with the 263rd Railway Coy., Royal Engineers and died on the 6 December 1917. John was the son of George and Isabella Mackay, Stathy and husband of Fanny Mackay, 14 Duncan Street, Thurso.

John is buried at Oxford Road Cemetery, near Ypes in Belguim.

John Mackay, Deck Hand, Royal Naval Reserve

Neil Mackay, Private, 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders

Neil Macintosh, Private, 9th Bn Highland Light Infantry

R. Maclean, Lieutenant, Royal Navy