The Gallant MacDougalls of Lunga -

their lives for their country ' they loved duty more than they feared death

Lieut.-colonel MacDougall of Lunga - Special Battalion Orders.
10th Service Batt., Gordon Highlanders
Lieut,- Col MacDougall of Lunga Fell in action July 1915

France, 22nd July 1915

Major Wallace feels that all Officers Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 10th Gordon Highlanders share with him his deep sense of personal grief at the loss which the Regiment has sustained by the death of Lieut. Col MacDougall of Lunga, who was killed in the trenches near Vermelles, yesterday, 21st July 1915.
Lieut, Col MacDougall took over command of the Battalion shortly after its formation, on the 8th October, 1914. All ranks must be aware that his example and leading and to the great experience which he brought to bear on the organisation and training of the Regiment is due its efficiency and fitness for active service. Colonel MacDougall took great pride in the fine spirit which has characterised the Battalion on all occaisions during training, and he desired nothing better than to lead it in the field. His death at this time is an irreparable sorrow to all ranks who served under him.

The G.O.C , 15th Division desires that all ranks be informed of his high appreciation of Colonel MacDougall's services, and of his deep sympathy with the Battalion in the loss which they have sustained.

We deeply regret to state that Lieut,- Colonel MacDougall of Lunga has fallen in action in France.
When the news became known at the beginning of this week , it moved the people of Lorn and of Argyll in no ordinary way. Many refused to believe it, turning instinctively from the thought that the life of this truly heroic soldier and most gallant gentleman had been cut off so soon after he had landed on French soil at the head of his splendid Battalion.
The loss of Captain Ian MacDougall, yr of Lunga, is fresh in every mind, and his burial last December in the little God's acre of Kilvoree - brought over sea and land to lie at rest with kindred dust at home is a scene that will live long in the memory of all who saw and took part in it. When war was declared Lunga became at once impatient to renyer the Army on active service, though his years and the traces of an old woundrecieved at Tel-el Kebir might well have exempted him. Without hesitation however, he chivarously surrendered his life of retirement and placed himself at the disposal of the War Office, were the services of a highly competent and experienced officer were of the first value. When in October he was apponted to the 10th ( Service) Gordon Highlanders, Major MacDougall, as he then was, found a post after his own heart. Full of eagerness, he left Oban, where he had been in temporary residence, to join the Battalion. He threw himself into the work of his command with unbounded energy and enthusiasm, and the keen enjoyment of his duties was heavily clouded by the death of his son and heir in action in September, his bereavment served to hold him to these with renewed zest. Lunga was proud of his Battalion, and no commanding officer was ever more poular with men. His name, his record, his soldierly bearing, his rae pluck enhanced his personal prestige, and he could do anything he liked with his men. They were ready to follow him anywhere, and as he mentionedin a private note to ' The Oban Times' when he left to cross the channel at the beginning of the present month, not a single man of his Battalion was absent. Little was it known that the Battalion was to loses its gallant head. His death at the very beginning of the campaign, long and ardently prepared for, and to engage in which he went prepared to give his life, has plunged the whole regiment into a profound and unaffected grief. The Battalion has lost its leader, but the noble spirit and example remains. with it as a cherished possession.

How Lunga Fell

On Tuesday, the 20th, an Order came through for all commanding officers of the Brigade, of which the 10th Gordons formed a part, to move in turn to be attatched to regiments in the trenches in order to recieve practical instruction in actual trench warfare for four days. ieut.- Col MacDougall of Lunga and his Adjutant ( Captain Longman) were ordered to go to the trenches under the guidance of teh 2nd brigade of teh first division at Vermelles, about four miles away from were Lunga had been biletted at Houchain, which is near bethune. They went round the trenches on Tuesday night and slept in the headquarters dugout. On Wednesday morning Lunga and Captian Forbes, of the K.O.S.B ( the regiment he was attatched to ) and tw other officers went round the trenches again. They were apparently all four standing together in front of the trench at about 1030am when an enemy shel fell into the trench, bursting right among them. Colonel MacDougall was killed instantaneously. Colonel Forbes was wounded mortally , and the other officers were both seriously wounded. As soon as this sad news reached Major Wallace, Lunga's second in command, who was with teh regiment in Hougchain, he went to the General and got permission to bring the Colonels body out of the trenches. Lunga's servant ( Robertson) was sent into the trench to escort the body back. Captian Longman also accompanied it. The field ambulance containing the body reached Houchain about midnight, were it was met by Major Wallace and other officers of the 10th Gordon Highlanders, Lieut- Colonel lloyd (of Minard), 9th Black Watch, being also present. The body was then laid in a tent, over which a guard of Gordon Highlanders was mounted. Here it lay till Friday morning, when Lunga was temporarily buried in a cemetry at Houchain. The remains will be brought home to reest amogst his own people as soon as it can be arranged, but owing to certain formalities which have to be gone through there will be a considerable delay.

Memoir:
Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart MacDougall of Lunga was the second and oldest surviving son of John MacDougall of Lunga, and was born in 1854. Having been educated at home, he joined the 93rd Highlanders in 1876, and served through the Egyptian campaign of 1882. At the batle of Tel-el-Kebir he was seriously wounded, and was mentioned in dispatches, recieving a medal and clasp the Khedive's Star. He was Adjutant of the 4th Argylll and Sutherland Highlanders 1884-89, and retired as Major in 1892. Since 1900 Lunga has been one of the Gentlemen-at-Arms in his majesty's household, recieving the Coronation medals. He was one of the Stewards of the Argyllshire Gathering, were he frequently acted as a judge in the piping and athletic competitions, being very warmly attatched to the ancient customs of the Highlands. He was an office bearer and a warm supporter of the Clan MacDougall Society. A Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of Argyll, he was a member of the Carlton club, the Naval and Military Club, The New Club Edinburgh, and the Royal Highland yacht Club, Oban He was a keen Sportsman, and was an ideal Highland Gentlema, everywere esteemed for his fine personal qualities. and held in warm affection on his own estate and in his own parish. For Mrs MacDougall of Lunga and his two Daughters, and for Mrs Thorpe of Ardbrecknish and Miss MacDougallof Lunga, his sisters, the deepest sympathy is felt in the fresh sorrow they are called upon to bear.. It may be mentioned that the first announcement that Lunga had fallen was made known through Oban through Mr Duncan MacDougall, ironmonger. A brief note from Lunga's personal servant conveyed the fateful message, and the news as it quickly spread through the community has recieved with the most genuine sorrow.