Trying to find Donald Maclean in Merchant Navy

[trigger_happie]

Hi.  I am trying to find info on two of my great uncles.
Donald Maclean B. 27 Sept 1902 and Donald John Maclean B. 20 May 1906. Both born in Garrynamonie, South Uist to Angus Maclean and Katherine MacLellan.
  My Grand father came to NZ in 1928 and never really passed much family history on.
Our family has always been lead to believe that Donlad (1902) drowned during WW2 after his ship was torpedoed, but recently an aunt of mine told me that he was a merchant seaman and died in 1948; and then an uncle told me that he didn't drown but died of pneumonia later, but I cant seem to find a record of him anywhere.
  I have however found a record for a Donald John in the Merchant Navy but am unsure if he belongs in our family tree.  Is there any way to trace back to his family?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Trigger_happie

[jds1949]

You might find this of use:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?discoveryCustomSearch=true&_fn=Donald&_ln=Maclean&_no=&_ser=BT+395&_col=online&_dt=S&image1.x=60&image1.y=12&image1=GO

I can see your Donald John Maclean listed, but not Donald.

jds1949

[HMac]

Hello,
I have a Donald MacLean born 1902 died aged 38 of Pneumonia aboard the ship ALCORA on 26th February 1940. His home address is noted as West Kilbride in South Uist which is just down the road from Garrynamonie.
Did DJ die at sea?

Regards
Hugh

[jim1]

There's also an A.B. Donald John Maclean Merchant Navy died 31st. Jan. 1944 aboard the S.S. Caleb Sprague aged 38 giving a birth year of 1906.
No other details except that it was torpedoed & sank off Beachy Head.
Commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial London.
http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/Cadillac%20to%20Cambridge.html#Caleb_Sprague

jim

[seaweed]

Attached, survivors report for CALEB SPRAGUE

[trigger_happie]

Thanks all for your help.

 Hugh.  That is the best lead for Donald I have. Thank You.  Could you tell me if he was in the merchant navy or just a seaman?

  I am unsure about Donald John.  The only information I had on him was from a croft book and that only tells me he married Mary MacKay that's why I was wondering if it is possible to trace back to the family.
From the posting from jds1949 it looks as though it may be Donald John as he has the DOB that I have so it could very well be him.
  Would there be any death certificates for them anywhere?

Thanks
Trigger_happie

[HMac]

Donald was an AB in the Merchant Navy.
Donald John, lost on 'CALEB SPRAGUE', was also an AB, and interestingly he was also from Kilbride, South Uist, the same place as Donald who died on 'ALCORA'. There was another man, John MacLean aged 24 from Milton South Uist also lost on 'CALEB SPRAGUE' not sure if they were related. South Uist is a small island and Donald John is a very common name. I have South Uist connections and one of my gt uncle's, also a Donald John in the MN from Uist, was lost at sea during the war.

Regards
Hugh 

[trigger_happie]

Thanks Hugh.
 Although my Donald's were from a family of twelve there was no John in that family but there was another Donald Alexander.  I am unsure if any of the other boys in the family fought in the war, if they did they returned home and died from the 1970's onward. 

Where can I find copies of their records?

Trigger_happie

[Rosinish]

Hi.  I am trying to find info on two of my great uncles.
Donald Maclean B. 27 Sept 1902 and Donald John Maclean B. 20 May 1906. Both born in Garrynamonie, South Uist to Angus Maclean and Katherine MacLellan.
  My Grand father came to NZ in 1928 and never really passed much family history on.
Our family has always been lead to believe that Donlad (1902) drowned during WW2 after his ship was torpedoed, but recently an aunt of mine told me that he was a merchant seaman and died in 1948; and then an uncle told me that he didn't drown but died of pneumonia later, but I cant seem to find a record of him anywhere.
  I have however found a record for a Donald John in the Merchant Navy but am unsure if he belongs in our family tree.  Is there any way to trace back to his family?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Trigger_happie

Hi Trigger,

The croft book says Donald drowned although it doesn't state where. The name MacLean in the area of Kilbride listed in the book would point to Donald John being your relative. Although the name MacLean is a Uist name it isn't as common as some of the other's & the fact that the names are listed in the Croft book in the area of Kilbride is a pretty accurate call on D J being the right relative.

Anne Marie.

P.S. Pressed enter by mistake earlier :-)