Wounded infighting

Villagers were this week in mourning over the death of a Stirling area soldier who had never seen the youngest of his children.

Pte Malcolm McDonald, who was serving with the Royal Highlanders and whose wife lived in Buchany, was killed in action on August 24, 1917.

Pte McDonald’s death was, said the Observer, as severe a blow as any to hit a family in the area given the number of dependents hit by the tragedy.

Besides a wife, he left five children, two boys and three girls, aged two months to 11 years.

Pte McDonald, who had been a year in the Army and had never seen his youngest child, went to France with his regiment in May, 1917.

Before joining up, he worked for 13 years as a as a ploughman at Home Farm, Doune Lodge.

Originally from Skye, he was regarded as a diligent and capable workman. Pte Tom Rorie, from Deanston, was reported to have been wounded in the latest fighting. He was in hospital in England but progressing well.