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A Lewis sailor foretold his own death before he left home and was killed in the Battle of Jutland during WW1.

Naval gunner Murdo Murray had such a strong feeling he would never see his family again, he renamed his new born daughter after himself.

Commemorations marking 100 years since the largest sea battle of WW1 are taking place.

Around 8,500 sailors died during the Battle of Jutland which took place in the North Sea off the west coast of Denmark over 36 hours between 31 May and 1 June 2016.

Many men from the Western Isles served on ships engaged in the conflict.

On Tuesday, three poppies were placed outside  the local community shop in the crofting village of North Tolsta in memory of the Seaman Murray and two other villagers - Angus Maciver and John Macleod - who perished in the largest naval clash of the Great War.

Of the Western Isles sailors who died, 11 were onboard the flagship battlecruiser, HMS Invincible, when she exploded under fire during the 36 hour clash - said to be the Royal Navy's bloodiest battle.

As a Royal Naval Reservist, Murdo Murray would have been called up immediately war was declared. By the end of 1914 he had served in Battle of the Falklands and also the Battle of Heligoland.

 

His grand-daughter Catherine Smith, 71, recalls her family often telling the story about her grandfather.

 

Mrs Smith said: “They had a six week old baby girl named Christy Mary. My grandfather had a premonition that he would not be coming back so he decided the child would be baptised Murdina - the female version of Murdo, his own name.”

 

Commander of the Invincible, Rear Admiral Sir Horace Hood, was also lost during the battle.

 

His widow, Lady Ellen Hood, wrote her condolences to every seaman’s family killed onboard the ship.

 

Mrs Smith said: “My grandmother felt sorry for Lady Hood because she knew she had lost her husband as well.

 

"They thought, regardless of Lady Hood’s status in the world, she was still left a widow like my grandmother.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murdo Murray (second from right in front row) was killed at the Battle of Jutland

 

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/scots-sailor-killed-at-jutland-had-premonition-of-death-1-4128885#ixzz4AFTxwUSo

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Island sailor predicted his death before Battle of Jutland

 

31 May 2016