The Home Front

“The following particulars show the response made by several families in this district:

Mr Malcolm Maciver, (26), four sons and two sons-in-law;

Mr John Macmillan, (Glen), four sons, two brothers and a son-in-law;

Mr Donald Mackenzie, (73), three sons, two grandsons and a son-in-law;

Mr D.Macdonald (48) three sons and three sons-in-law.

Widow Murray, (4), three sons, three grandsons and two sons-in-law;

Widow Murray, (49), two sons, five grandsons and a son-in-law;

Widow Angus Smith, (24), two sons, four grandsons and a son-in-law;

and last, but not least,

Mrs John Campbell Jr, (54), (Bean Horrigan) who had her husband, six brothers and six brothers-in-law serving.

• The last mentioned case is probably a record one.

There are many others who have given several sons and near relatIons.

THE SEVEN SONS OF WIDOW CAMPBELL

In 1913, John Campbell of 54 North Tolsta passed away, leaving a widow, Isabella, two daughters and seven sons.  At the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, all the boys were eligible and willing to defend their country.   However, Mrs Campbell was given the option of keeping one of her sons at home, as was the custom for those who already had six of the family on active service.   She declined, saying she could not, and would not, make that choice!    All seven boys thus joined the Royal Naval Reservists.   Three of them did not survive the war, one of those was lost in the Iolaire disaster on his way home on New Year’s Day 1919. 

“It is worthy of note that Widow John Campbell (54), whose seven sons were on active service at the beginning of hostilities, received, in December 1914, a special letter of Congratulations from His Majesty the King.”