Nicol Murray, 1 New Shawbost

Stornoway Gazette, 19 June 1942
The village of Shawbost was shock on Sunday 7th June, when it was learned that Murdo Murray, 1 New Shawbost, had received official intimation that his son, Pte Nicol Murray, had lost his life through drowning on the 6th June, at his station somewhere in England. Nicol, who was 22 years of age, was called up to the RAOC in the early spring of 1941, but, owing to weak eyesight, he was later transferred to the Pioneer Corps. It is just four weeks ago that we had the pleasure of his company, home on spring leave. Being of a genial disposition, his radiant smile and ever ready wit made him a general favourite in the village. On Tuesday 9th June, his remains, accompanied by his brother Murdo, who is in the Navy, arrived home by the mailboat and the esteem in which the deceased was held locally was testified to the following morning by the very large concourse at the funeral.
Nicol was the fourth of five sons - Murdo is on an armed tralwer and although shipwrecked twice since war broke out, he experienced not hurt. Neil was shipwrecked too, but suffered no ill effects. Donald was wounded and taken prisoner in the sinking of HMS Vandyck, off the coast of Norway in June 1940. Angus, the youngest, has been called to his medical examination for Military Service. He is meantime in the Home Guard. Their father served four years in the Navy in the last war. To them all, and to his aunt, who has attended to them with motherly love for the past eighteen and a half years, we extend our deepest sympathy in the irreparable loss of a most dutiful son and brother.