In Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of Lieutenant Ian Breac MacLeod, serving with the 2nd Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), who died 17/04/1915.
The son of the Rev. Roderick Charles and Katherine Louisa MacLeod, of Mitford Vicarage, Morpeth, Northumberland.
Colin McMillan has provided the following:
Ian Breac MacLeod was born on 4th September 1893 at Bolney in Sussex. At the time of the 1901 census when he was 7, his home was The Vicarage, Mitford, Morpeth. His father was 48 year old Roderick Charles MacLeod, described as Clergyman (Church of England), born in Marylebone, London. Ian’s mother, Katharine Louisa was 42 and came from Longdon in Staffordshire. He had two siblings, both older than him. Brenda Katharine was 13 and Eila St. John was 9. Both girls, like their brother were born in Bolney. The household also had four servants: 29 year old Mabel Featherstone was a nurse, 24 year old Edith Scott was a parlour maid, 30 year old Margaret Kirsop was a cook and 16 year old Mary Isabella Tate was a housemaid.
Ten years later at the time of the 1911 census several changes had taken place. Roderick was then described as Clergyman (Established Church), Ian (17) was a student and his oldest sister Brenda (23) was now married and had become Brenda Katharine Mitford. She had a son, Humphrey, who was 2 months old. There had been some changes among the servants but there were still four of them, holding the positions filled in 1891.
Ian Breac MacLeod was the grandson of Norman MacLeod of MacLeod, of Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye, 22nd Chief of his clan. He was educated at Harrow and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the Black Watch on his 19th birthday, 4th September 1912 and promoted Lieutenant on 9th September 1914. He joined the 2nd Battalion in India in November 1912 and went with them to France in October 1914.
He was killed in action on 17th April 1915 in the trenches near Neuve Chapelle. According to De Ruvignys Roll of Honour 1914-1919 he was buried in the cemetery at Vielle Chapelle. He was awarded the 1914 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
Morpeth Herald 30/04/1915 carries an obituary:
MITFORD VICAR’S LOSS
The death of Mr Ian Breac Macleod, 2nd Battalion Black Watch (killed in action on 17th April) the only son of the Rev. Roderic Charles Macleod, vicar of Mitford, Morpeth, leaves the ancient family of Macleod without a male heir (after his uncle, Sir Reginald Macleod, and his father) in direct line.
Mr Ian Macleod, we learn from The Scotsman, came of age on 4th of September last. His father is the younger son of the late Norman Macleod, of MacLeod, 22nd Chief of Dunvegan Castle, by his marriage with a daughter of the 13th Lord St. John. The eldest son of that marriage is the present and 23rd Chief, Norman Magnus Macleod, of Macleod, C.M.G., who has daughters only. The second son, Torquil, died young. The third son is Sir Reginald Macleod, K.C.B.
Mr. Macleod was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. He entered the Army in 1912, and became lieutenant in 1914. He went to the Front in October.
His photo is shown on the Harrow School Roll of Honour, page 22. His name is also on the Sandhurst Roll of Honour.
Ian Breac MacLeod is remembered at Mitford on M12.02
