John Morrison, 6 Melbost Borve

Stornoway Gazette, 2 February 1940
By the regrettable sinking of HMS Exmouth the grim reality of war, with its attendant losses, has been forcibly brought hom to Galson and district. In this tragedy, among the many gallant men who made the supreme sacrifice, was one of our own - seaman John Morrison, RNR, son of Mr and Mrs John Morrison of 6 Melbost [Borve]. John, who was 37 years of age, and to whom the call of the sea came early, spent most of his life in the Merchant Service, being a valued employee first with the Furness Withy Line and later with the City Line. Proof of his marked ability wasthat John sailed as a quartermaster. In July last, prior to the outbreak of hostilities, John, as a naval reservist, volunteered for service with the Fleet and was drafted to the ill-fated Exmouth. To this community the shock is great, but to those at home deprived of a devoted and dutiful son, and a loving brother, the loss is irrepairable. Poignancy is added by the fact that only a month earlier, John's sister, Isabella, lost her husband, Malcolm Graham, of Borve, by the sinking of the James Ludford. To the sorrowing father and mother (Mr Morrison, a native of North Dell, was himself badly injured when his ship was torpedoed during the Great War), to his sisters and to his only brother, who is on active service in foreign waters, the deepest sympathy of the Ness and Barvas is extended.

Stornoway Gazette, 16 February 1940
John Morrison, 6 Melbost Borve, who is believed to have drowned in HMS Exmouth. An old shipmate writes:
"John responded to the call of the sea when he was about 20 years of age, and, as he possessed all the qualities of a true seaman, he was promoted within a short time. He was for a number of years in the Furness Withy Line, and later in the City Line of Glasgow as a quartermaster. He was held in great respect and esteem by all who knew him, being of a quiet and upright character. John was a dutiful son who never forgot to support his parents when away from home. Another brother is serving at present in the Navy. The sympathy of the whole community goes out to his sorrowing parents, brothers and sisters in their sore bereavement.