Donald Mackay was born in 1904 in Melness son of Robert Mackay and Marion MacIntosh Mackay. He was married to Barbara Mackay from Torrisdale. He was employed as a labourer on the roads by Sindlay and also worked as a labourer on the crofts around Skerray and Borgie. He served with the Royal Naval Patrol Service during World War Two.
In late 1942 he sailed from Lowestoft on the old Aberdeen trawler Tritelia, commandeered into Naval Service, to patrol the sea between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands. Donald took ill on board the ship and when the Tritelia docked in Iceland he was sent home to a hospital in England.
He was then transferred to a hospital in Golspie to be near his family; he died there in January 1943. His twin brother George served in the Lovat Scouts during World War Two, returning home to Skerray at the end of hostilities.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL EDINBURGH CASTLE No entry found. There is no entry for Stoker Donald Mackay, Royal Navy because he died from disease and not enemy action. Only servicemen who died or were killed on active serve have their name remembered in the National War Memorial.
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION Mackay Stoker Donald, LT/KX 131279 Royal Navy Patrol Service HMS Tritelia. Died 16 of January 1943. Age 38. Husband of Barbara Mackay Torrisdale. Grave 109.
Stoker Donald Mackay 131279 is buried in a war grave in TORRISDALE BURIAL GROUND SKERRAY.