The soldiers named below have a link to Melness but do not appear on the War Memorial or the World War 1 Roll of Honour inside Tongue church
Angus Gunn was born in 1875 in Talmine, the eldest son of Angus Gunn, a joiner and Johan Gunn. They were married in Talmine in 1870. but moved away and built a house at 18 Strathnaver, Kinbrace, Sutherlandshire.
He emigrated to Canada prior to the outbreak of the First World War, enlisting into the Canadian Army at the start of the war to serve in the 43 Battalion, (Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada) in the 9 Brigade, 3 Canadian Division. (See also Donald Rankine Melness.)
Angus came home on leave to Strathnaver, when the second contingent of the 3 Canadian Division arrived in England in 1915. Whilst on leave he married Jeannie, the daughter of his neighbour, Mr Neil O’Brien the local mail contractor of 20 Strathnaver, Kinbrace. He returned to his unit and was sent to the trenches on the Western Front in France and Flanders.
He was severely wounded in the leg in the front line at Ypres in Belgium and was returned home for medical treatment in London. Lance Corporal Angus Gunn died on the 19 of February 1917, when under going an operation to amputate his leg in the City of London Hospital Epsom; he was 42 years of age.
His body was returned home by his family and buried in Melness cemetery next to his brother John, who had died from wounds in 1916. (John’s story also appears in this book.) His wife Jeannie, who had a young baby lived in Strathnaver with her parents.
Angus Gunn's name appears on Strathnaver War Memorial outside Syre church alongside that of his brother John.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL EDINBURGH CASTLEAngus Gunn 153399. Lance Corporal. Died of wounds on 19-02-17.43 BattalionCanadian Infantry.
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSIONGunn Lance Corporal A. 153399. 43 Battalion, Canadian Infantry(Manitoba)Regiment. Died of Wounds on the 19 of February 1917. Age 42. Husband of Jeannie Gunn of 20 Strathnaver, Kinbrace.
Lance Corporal Angus Gunn 153399, 43 Battalion, Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada is buried in a war grave in MELNESS CEMETERY.
Strathnaver War Memorial at Syre
John Gunn was born in Melness, the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Angus Gunn of 20 Strathnaver, Kinbrace, Sutherlandshire. The Duke of Sutherland employed him as a gamekeeper in Strathnaver; he also enlisted into the Lovat Scouts.
He was called up at the outbreak of the First World War and would have served with the Lovat Scouts in Gallipoli, where he was wounded. He died from his wounds in a military hospital in the United Kingdom, on the 21 of October 1916; he was 22 years of age.
His family returned his body home to Melness for burial, because at that time Strathnaver did not have it’s own cemetery. John Gunn’s name appears on Strathnaver War Memorial, outside Syre Church alongside that of his brother Angus. (Angus Gunn’s story appears above.)
SCOTTISH NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL EDINBURGH CASTLE5109 J Gunn. Private. (b) Melness, Sutherlandshire. Died of Wounds. 21-10-16. 2 Battalion Lovat Scouts.
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION Gunn. Private John 5109. 2/2 Lovat Scouts. Died of Wounds on the 21 October 1916. Age 22. Son of Mr and Mrs Angus Gunn of 18 Strathnaver, Kinbrace.
Private John Gunn 5109, 2 Battalion Lovat Scouts is buried in a war grave in MELNESS CEMETERY.