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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
L/Cpl. William MacDonald
British Army 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders
from:Ardmeanach, Rosemarkie, Ross-shire
(d.16th Apr 1918)
William MacDonald is my Great Great Uncle. Born in December 1881 at Rosehaugh Shepherd's House, on the Black Isle North of Inverness, he grew up on the family's croft at Ardmeanach at Milbuie, north of Rosemarkie. Family tradition has it that William emigrated to Australia early in the 20th century where he worked as a shepherd on the sheep stations. He is believed to have been engaged to be married in Australia. He was living in Inverness and at the outbreak of War immediately signed up to join the newly formed 5th Cameron Highlanders. This was the first of the Kitchener's New Army battalions of the Camerons, commanded by Cameron of Locheil himself.
The Battalion was part of 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. 5th Camerons saw action at Loos (where they were all but wiped out), Arras, the Somme, Passchendaele, Ypres and the Lys Offensive. It was during the last of these that William was killed, on 16th April 1918. The Battalion were holding a position South East of St Eloi when they came under heavy artillery fire. This heavy bombardment lasted from 0430hrs until 1230hrs, when the enemy made an attack on the line, which was resisted. The fighting was over in an hour. There are no records of when William was killed, or how, but it is assumed that he fell during the defence of the line during this attack, which has gone down in history as a minor skirmish in the lead up to the First Battle of Kemmel, a little distance to the West. He is commemorated on the War Memorial at the gate to Fortrose Cathedral and on the Tyne Cot Memorial. His brother, Archibald, received the memorial plaque or Dead Man's Penny, which currently hangs in my home.
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