War Memorial - Contin, Highland, Scotland - The men behind the names.

Robert Ernest English
	Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Captain 06 November 1883, Cape Colony, South Africa 13 May 1915 31 North Somerset Yeomanry Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium Son of Robert and Mary Ann English, nee Mayne.

Robert Ernest English was born in Kimberley, Frances Baard District, Northern Cape, South Africa on 06 November 1883 and was baptised in the Church of St. Cyprian, Kimberley, South Africa on 03 February 1884.
Remark: A connection to Contin couldn't be found.

Wills and Administrations, 1915
English, Robert Ernest, of 58, Great Cumberland-place, Hyde Park, Middlesex, a Captain, North Somerset Yeomanry, died 13 May 1915 near Ypres, Belgium, having been killed in action.
Probate London 30 June to Cecil Rowe English, Lieutenant, 10th Battalion King's Royal Rifles.
Effects £77871 4s. 3d.

England Census 1891 about Robert Ernest English and family Residence: 13, L. Berkeley Street, St. Marylebone, London, England
Name	Relation	Marital status:	Age	Birth	Place of Birth
Robert English Mary Ann English Cecil Rowe English Robert Ernest English Dorothy Mary English Margaret Alice English Grace Geraldine English Phoebe Elizabeth Wells Robert Briggs Mary Ann Swatton Elizabeth Westlake Catherine Gater Edith Vigar Phyllis Phillips	Head Wife Son Son Daughter Daughter Daughter Governess Butler Cook Housemaid Nurse dom. Kitchenmaid Sub-Nurse dom.	Married Married Single Single Single Single Single Single Single Single Single Single Single Single	40 34 9 7 4 2 1 mo. 30 29 38 25 22 20 15	abt. 1851 abt. 1857 abt. 1882 abt. 1884 abt. 1887 abt. 1889 abt. 1891 abt. 1861 abt. 1862 abt. 1853 abt. 1866 abt. 1869 abt. 1871 abt. 1876	Wincanton, Somerset Eaton, South Africa Cape Colony, South Africa Cape Colony, South Africa Streatham, London Kensington, London Marylebone, London Mountnessing, Essex Merstham, Surrey Ramsbury, Wiltshire Redhill, Surrey Haywards Heath, Sussex Horley, Surrey Kensington, London

Carlyon Will Mason-MacFarlane
	Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Captain 17 January 1891, Maidenhead, Berkshire 05 September 1916, Sohag, Egypt 25 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt Son of David James and May Blanche Mason, nee Anstie.

Carlyon Will Mason-MacFarlane was the younger son of Lieutenant-Colonel David Mason-MacFarlane, C. M. G., 4th Seaforth Highlanders (T. F.), of Kindowie, Maidenhead, and of Mary Blanche his wife.
He was in the School from I904 to I908. He entered the R. M. C., Sandhurst, in 1909, and passed out first with honours, gaining the King's Gold Medal and Sword and six first prizes. He was gazetted in October, 1910, to the 7th Hussars and went with the Regiment to India, having previously taken an Interpretership in German. While in India he passed first out of the School of Signalling at Poona, first out of the Cavalry School at Saugor, and took honours at the School of Musketry at Satara. He was gazetted Captain in March, 1914.
When War broke out he had been home on sick leave and was on the point of returning to India as Adjutant to the 7th Hussars. He at once applied for a post in the British Expeditionary Force, and was attached to the 15th Hussars, and, later, to the 2nd Dragoon Guards, until October. He was then appointed a Signalling Officer to the 1st Cavalry Division, a post which he held till he was invalided home in September, I915. In January, I916, he was sent to Egypt, and was made Commandant of Signals for the Western Frontier Egyptian Field Force. Later on he was specially selected from the Signal Service to command a Company in the Imperial Camel Corps on account of his initiative and resource. He carried out several daring reconnaissances in the Senussi district, more than once alone and on foot, at night, and armed only with a revolver. At last, after penetrating with a small patrol into an oasis that no one had entered before, he was cut off by a body of the Senussi and killed, together with the junior Officer who was with him, on September 5th, I916. Age 25.
Both bodies were subsequently recovered and buried at the foot of the cliffs where they fell.
He was mentioned in Despatches of October Ist, I916.
Some sense of the loss caused by his death, and the esteem in which his abilities and character were held, may be gathered from the following extracts from letters written by Officers of high rank who knew him :-
"MacFarlane's death was a great blow to all of us, and a really serious loss to the Force; in fact, speaking as an Intelligence Officer, I can only say that it is quite impossible to replace him."
"I cannot realise that my dear old pal 'Mac' has gone. He was the life and soul of the 1st Cavalry Division, and we who knew the work that he did at Messines and the First Battle of Ypres appreciated his worth and character."
"When I was Commanding the 7th Brigade, R. H. A., he used to share our Mess, and he was the life and soul of it, and we all had the greatest affection for him. He will be deeply deplored and missed by all who knew him. His death is a cruel misfortune, and a great loss to the Army, for I feel sure his abilities were out of the ordinary."
"Captain MacFarlane was the ideal type of a British Cavalry Officer."
"He was an Officer of the most brilliant promise. Exceptionally gifted intellectually, he had read deeply and could think deeply; and with it all he was just as full of fun as the most irresponsiblel Subaltern in the Army. And he was such a lovable man. His death is not only a loss to the Service, very hard to replace, but a personal loss to everyone who knew him."
(Subscribed from the book "Memorials of Rugbeians who fell in the Great War, Vol. IV"
printed for Rugby School by Philip Lee Warner (O. R.), of the Medici Society, Ltd., May 1918.)

England Census 1911 about Carlyon W. M. Mason and family Residence: Cookham Road, Maidenhead, Cookham, Berkshire, England
Name	Relation	Marital status:	Age	Birth	Place of Birth
David J. Mason May B. Mason Frank A. M. Mason Carlyon W. M. Mason Mary M. Crook Emily M. A. Hursley Caroline M. Colton Frederika D. C. Bakidt	Head Wife Son Son Servant Servant Servant Servant	Married Married Single Single Single Single Single Single	28 25 1 3 mo. 31 22 17 40	abt. 1863 abt. 1866 abt. 1890 abt. 1891 abt. 1860 abt. 1869 abt. 1874 abt. 1851	Scotland London, Middlesex Maidenhead, Berkshire Maidenhead, Berkshire Hungerford, Berkshire Freshwater, Hampshire Waterstock, Oxfordshire Wismar, Germany

Alick Matheson (CWGC: Alexander Matheson, Private)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Corporal (CWGC: Private) S/1522 abt. 1885 01 July 1915 30 7th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders formerly Lovat's Scouts Le Touret Memorial, France Son of Alexander and Catherine Matheson, of Tarvie, Contin, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire.

Alick Ross
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Lance Corporal Seaforth Highlanders

Probably:

Alexander Ross
© IWPP	Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Lance Corporal 12750 06 October 1885, King Edward, Aberdeenshire, Scotland 20 April 1916 30 5th Bn. Canadian Infantry Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Belgium Son of Charles and Elizabeth Ross of King Edward, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (1891 Census)

Hugh MacKenzie (Reliable information couldn't be found)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private Seaforth Highlanders

Alick MacLean (CWGC: Alexander MacLean)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 1674 abt. 1897 16 May 1915 18 4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France Son of Hector and Mary Ann MacLean, of "Riverside", Craig Road, Dingwall, Ross-shire, late of Contin.

The McLean family grave in the Contin Burial Ground, Contin, Highland, Scotland:

© Lori Kent-McPherson

Erected
by
Mr. & Mrs. H. McLean
Riverside, Contin,
in loving memory of
their beloved sons
Hector William
who died at Coontin, 27th Aug. 1903,
aged 21 years.
Alick,
who died at Boulogne of wounds
received in action at Festubert,
16th May 1915, aged 18 years.
and of the above
Hector McLean,
who died at Dingwall,
25th Dec 1930, aged 78 years.
And also of his wife
Mary Ann Shaw,
who died 2nd Aug 1936,
aged 80 years.
Also their daughter
Annie Mary MacLean,
died 23rd January 1965.

Donald Chisholm
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 201874 abt. 1887 20 September 1917 30 4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium Son of the late James and Annie Chisholm.

Scotland Census 1901 about Donald Chisholm and family Residence: Moy Bridge, Urray, Ross and Cromarty
Name	Relation	Marital status:	Age	Birth	Place of Birth
James Chisholm Anne Chisholm Isabella Chisholm Anne Chisholm Donald Chisholm Isabella Chisholm	Head Wife Daughter Daughter Son Mother	Married Married Single Single Single Widowed	51 40 6 5 4 90	abt. 1840 abt. 1851 abt. 1885 abt. 1886 abt. 1887 abt. 1801	Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Urray, Ross

The Chisholm family grave in the Urray Old Burial Ground, Urray, Highland, Scotland:

© Ruedi

In loving memory
of
Annie Tulloch
wife of James Chisholm
who died at Moy Bridge
23rd March 1920,
aged 72 years.
Also the said
James Chisholm
who died there
18th April 1921,
aged 83 years.
And their son
Donald Chisholm
reported missing in France
20th September 1917
believed killed on that date,
aged 30 years.

Hugh Kenneth Tolmie
	Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Serjeant (CWGC: Lance Corporal) 11536 abt. 1876 18 May 1915 39 2nd Bn. Scots Guards Le Tourtet Memorial, France Son of Mrs. Tolmie, of Contin, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire, husband of Elizabeth Madeline Tolmie, of 50, Priory Road, Couth Lambeth, London.

Scotland Census 1891 about Hugh K. Tolmie and family Residence: Contin, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Name	Relation	Marital status:	Age	Birth	Place of Birth
William Tolmie Ann Tolmie Margaret Tolmie Lilly Tolmie Hugh K. Tolmie Mary Tolmie William Tolmie Allan Kennedy Aulay Urquhart	Head Wife Daughter Daughter Son Daughter Son Lodger Lodger	Married Married Single Single Single Single Single Single Single	50 45 17 15 14 11 9 21 23	abt. 1841 abt. 1846 abt. 1874 abt. 1876 abt. 1877 abt. 1880 abt. 1882 abt. 1870 abt. 1868	Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Urray, Ross Contin, Ross Contin, Ross Inverness, Inverness-shire Lochbroom, Ross

England Census 1911 about Hugh Kenneth Tolmie and family Residence: 3, Hodson Street, Walworth S E, London, England
Name	Relation	Marital status:	Age	Birth	Place of Birth
Hugh Kenneth Tolmie Elizabeth Madeline Tolmie William Ermelo Tolmie Louisa Madeline Tolmie Raymond Kenneth Tolmie	Head Wife Son Daughter Son	Married Married Single Single Single	35 35 7 6 3	abt. 1876 abt. 1876 abt. 1904 abt. 1905 abt. 1908	Ross-shire Minster St. Pancras St. Pancras St. Pancras
Hugh Kenneth Tolmie was a Police Constabler of the Metropolitan Police.

John Stuart (Reliable information couldn't be found)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private Cameron Highlanders

Hugh Kelley Stuart (Probably) (CWGC: Stewart)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 9593 09 January 1915 1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders Le Touret Memorial, France

Alex Stuart (Reliable information couldn't be found)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private Cameron Highlanders

Norman MacLeod (CWGC: Norman Alexander McLeod)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 64567 abt. 1881, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire 30 May 1918 38 19th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) Soissons Memorial, France Husband of Flora McLeod, nee Pirie.

Norman McLeod was married to Jessie Williamson in Strathpeffer on 20 December 1901. Following children are known: Margaret Jane (born 1903), Donald (born 1905), Norman (born 1907). Jessie died in 1913 and Norman was married to Flora Pirie in Alness on 24 April 1914. The couple resided in the Spa Hotel in Strathpeffer and were parents of James McLeod (1915-2001).

Norman MacLeod was killed in action in France on May 30, 1918. He joined the Army on July 19, 1916 and was posted to the Seaforths at Ripon. After initial training he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He was sent to France on July 21, 1917. Prior to the war he was employed for 14 years at the Spa Hotel in Strathpeffer.

D. Stewart (Reliable information couldn't be found)
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Piper Black Watch

George MacKenzie
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Sapper 404157 08 August 1918 80th Field Coy. Royal Engineers Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, France Son of Mrs. MacKenzie, of 88, Hawkhill, Dundee.

Probably:
George McKenzie was born in Kinloch-Luichart, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland on 19 November 1873. His parents were Kenneth and Margaret McKenzie, nee Lawson.

Christopher MacRae
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 47834 abt. 1890 05 April 1918 28 6th Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment Pozieres Memorial, France Son of the late John McRae, husband of Mary McRae, of Kinellan, Loch, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire.

John MacAulay
© Iain MacFarlaine	Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 57872 abt. 1878 08 November 1918 40 3rd Bn. Hampshire Regiment Oban (Pennyfuir) Cemetery, Argyllshire, UK Son of John and Anne Grant MacAulay, husband of Kate MacAulay, of The Lodge, Glencruitten, Oban. Born at Contin, Ross-shire.

Peter Nicholson MacRae
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 35482 25 December 1882, Kiltearn, Ross-shire 29 April 1918 34 4th Bn. Canadian Infantry Etaples Military Cemetery, France Son of Donald and Margaret MacRae, nee Nicholson, of Scotland, husband of Minnie Louisa MacRae, nee Chedzoy, of 52, Catherine Street, South Hamilton, Ontario.

Scotland Census 1891 about Peter MacRae and family Residence: Bellvue, Urray, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland
Name	Relation	Marital status:	Age	Birth	Place of Birth
Donald MacRae Ann MacRae William MacRae Peter MacRae Wyrewood MacRae Margaret MacRae Annabella MacRae	Head Wife Son Son Daughter Daughter Daughter	Married Married Single Single Single Single Single	47 37 10 8 6 3 1	abt. 1844 abt. 1854 abt. 1881 abt. 1883 abt. 1885 abt. 1888 abt. 1890	Contin, Ross-shire Contin, Ross-shire Kiltearn, Ross-shire Kiltearn, Ross-shire Inverness, Inverness-shire Inverness, Inverness-shire Killearnan, Ross-shire

Ian Keith Matheson
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Captain 37588 17 April 1909, W3stminster, London 23 May 1940 31 Scots Guards Surcamps Churchyard, France Son of Hugh MacKay Matheson and Katharine Isobel Matheson, nee Arbuthnot, husband of Jean Cecely Mary Matheson, nee Grant, of Edinburgh. M. A. (Oxon.).

Wills and Administrations, 1941
Matheson, Ian Keith, of Cartbridge House, Send, Surrey, died 23 May 1940 on war service.
Probate Llandudno 13 December to Jean Cecely Mary Matheson, widow. Effects £4257 15s. 5d.

England Census 1911 about Ian Keith Matheson and family Residence: 11, St. James Place, Westminster, London S W, England
Name	Relation	Marital status:	Age	Birth	Place of Birth
Hugh MacKay Matheson Katherine Matheson Alexander Francis Matheson Patrick Hugh Matheson Ian Keith Matheson Clarisse Corbaz Ruth Baillie Agnes Brackstone Ellen Eggleton Louisa Randall Alexandrina MacDonald	Head Wife Son Son Son Governess Housemaid Ladiesmaid Cook Kitchenmaid Palour maid	Married Married Single Single Single Single Single Single Widowed Single Single	43 41 6 4 1 21 25 18 50 22 37	abt. 1868 abt. 1870 abt. 1905 abt. 1907 abt. 1910 abt. 1890 abt. 1886 abt. 1893 abt. 1861 abt. 1889 abt. 1874	Hampstead, London Sotacamund, India St. James, London St. James, London St. James, London Switzerland Knockbean, Ross-shire Egham, Surrey Kintbury, Berkshire Kingham, Buckingham Eddrachillis, Sutherland, Scotland

George Robertson
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Lance Corporal (CWGC: Private) 2820083 abt. 1914 04 June 1940 26 4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders Dunkirk Memorial, France Son of John and Catherine Robertson, of Contin, Ross and Cromarty.

Donald Urquhart
Rank: Service No.: Date of Birth: Date of Death: Age: Regiment: Cemetery: Add. Information:	Private 2820670 abt. 1919 04 June 1940 21 4th Bn. Seaforth Highlanders Dunkirk Memorial, France Son of William and Jemima Urquhart, stepson of Mary M. Urquhart, of Contin, Ross and Cromarty.

This page is dedicated to the 10 million victims of World War I and 60 million victims of World War II.
We should always remember the immense grief and loss each war brought to the world.