15938: Alexander Mackenzie
Alasdair Dhòmhnaill Dhòmhnaill
Alexander (1875-1952) was a son of Donald Mackenzie and Christina Smith of 12 Calbost.
At Govan, Glasgow, in 1903, he married Christina Nicolson, 11 Calbost. Alexander and Christina were Cottars at 11 and 12 Calbost and they had four children.
On October 1, 1905 he enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve Service Number B3737 and re-enrolled under X5498 and ZA9372 . His records indicate that he was 5 ft 4½ in tall with fresh complexion, blue eyes, a tattoo of an anchor on his left hand and a scar on the lower part of his left leg. Alexander was a fisherman on Banff, Inverness and Stornoway registered fishing boats including the Penguin. He was Mobilised on August 5, 1914 and served in the Royal Navy in the First World War. Based at HMS Pembroke and aboard HMS Inflexible and HMS Theseus. He was recommended for promotion to Leading Seaman. Alexander was Medically Discharged in June 1916 with Hypermetropia and received a Disability Pension of £12.3s per annum for life. He also received War Prize Money of £2.10s and £18.15s and is mentioned Loyal Lewis: Roll of Honour 1914-1918.
Alexander was widowed in 1915 when he was at sea and the children went to live with their Maternal Grandparents at Stornoway.
At Marvig School, in 1918, he married Matilda Mackenzie, 4 Calbost. There was no mission hall in Marvig or Calbost at that time. Rev Donald MacCallum Keose officiated at the wedding. Alexander and Matilda were Cottars at 4 Calbost and they had five children.
4 Calbost was split after the death of Matilda's Aunt Flora with Matilda receiving 4a Calbost.
The family settled on croft 12 Calbost in 1933 but continued to cultivate croft 4a.
He was the village postman from 1917-1942, walking to Cromore for the mails three times a week until the daily delivery was introduced in 1928. He was Postmaster when a Sub Post Office was opened in Marvig. All these years he carried out the household delivery in Marvig and Calbost on foot. He was also a Free Church Elder and he took the evening Sunday service in the village as well as the weekly prayer meeting.
His sons John, Donald Alexander and Roderick John served in the Navy during the Second World War. Two of his daughters were Red Cross Nurses and two were Munitions Workers.
Details
- Record Type:
- Person
- Also Known As:
- Alasdair Dhomhnuill Bhig; Alasdair Gladaidh
- Date Of Birth:
- 1875
- Date of Death:
- 1952
- Gender:
- Male
- Brothers Keeper Reference:
- CEP 2125
- Occupation:
- Royal Navy; Fisherman; Postmaster; Royal Naval Reservist
- Record Maintained by:
- CEP
Related Media
Mackenzie children, 11 Calbost