My grandfather Ranald came from Sleat on the Isle of Skye
Ranald Macdonald
My grandfather Ranald was born on the 28th of October 1897 in Kilmore, Sleat.
His father Angus was the Registrar for Sleat. Ranald was a native Gaelic speaker. He went to Ferrindonald Primary School. When his father, Angus, died in August 1911 Ranald was just fourteen. He had four younger siblings. He worked the crofts at 1 & 2 Kilmore and followed the family tradition of working with horses. As a young man Ranald served one year in the Army, I believe this was early in World War 1 and that he was brought out of the Army to work on the family crofts. This was not unusual as early in the war the Army combed out a lot of men who would have had reserved occupations. Ranald left to go to London in 1924 when his younger brothers were old enough to take his place managing the croft. In August 1924 Ranald joined the Metropolitan Police. He began on B (Chelsea) Division, specifically station code BG (Gerald Road)
The photo to the left is his marriage photo to Margaret Burns Scott in Chelsea London in the summer of 1935. Over the next few years they had three sons.
His immediate family
This picture from Kilmore shows Ranald's mother, Christina; his sister Anne; and his brothers John (front) and Angus (back) His siblings were:
- Mary, born 1898 (d1974). She married John Macdonald of Isle Ornsay and remained in Skye all her life.
- Anne, born 1900. Ann never married and worked for many years as a lady's companion. She died in Inverness in the early eighties.
- John, born 1903. John never married and worked the crofts in Kilmore until my Grandfather returned after WW2.
- Angus, born June 1908. Angus lived in Sleat and married Mary McAskill in 1948.
Career in the Police
Ranald joined the Police in 1924. In November 1927 Ranald received a commendation for stopping a runaway horse. In his career he was promoted to Sergeant in January 1933. He started his service in Chelsea later in the 30s he was moved to the East End. He was certainly in L Division by 27 January 1933. The records also confirm that he spent time on H (Whitechapel). He was first transferred from station code LT on 6 March 1935 before ending up at HB (Bethnal Green) on 29 April the same year. He was the anchorman in the Metropolitan Police tug of war winning team and his records show he was a subscriber to the athletics club. In 1939 Ranald's address was 37 Mulberry House, Bethnal Green. Ranald served in this area throughout the war. After the war he had to retire early after being being injured in the line of duty. In 1947 Ranald moved the family back to the crofts at Kilmore.
He passed away on the 6th of March 1952. His wife Margaret lived at Kilmore until her passing in December 1989.
Below are my family trees starting with my grandfather Ranald macdonald
My grandfathers ancestors
My Great grandfathers Ancestors
My great grandmother's ancestors
