Surname:	Cattanach
Forename(s):	Herbert Alexander
Rank:	Second Lieutanant
Service number:	236605
Regiment:	Royal Engineers
Date of death:	9 February 1943 Aged 28
Place of death:	Shenley Military Hospital, St Albans , Hertfordshire
Buried Commemorated	Shenley (St. Botolph) Churchyard Kingussie War Memorial

Background

Herbert was born on 2 October 1906 at the Laurels, Kingussie to Donald Cattanach and Nellie (Helen) m.s. McBeath or McBeth. His father was described as an architect. His parents had married in Kingussie on 19 September 1904 and his father lived at that time at the Laurels, Kingussie and he was described as a builder.

Herbert married Edith Mary Munro at St Columba High Church, Inverness on 18 August, 1939. Herbert was described as a civil engineer of Tarbet, Harris and Edith as a teacher of Minch View, Tarbet, Harris. Edith died in Edinburgh in 2014 aged 100.

Herbert’s connection to Kingussie is through his father Donald who was son of Alexander Cattanach, architect. His father was educated at Kingussie Higher Grade School and in 1905 was appointed the Burgh Surveyor of Kingussie. Donald became the Road Surveyor on Mull in 1908 when Herbert was an infant. During the First World War Donald was a Captain in the Royal Engineers and was mentioned in Dispatches.

During the 1920s Herbert’s father, Donald, was involved in the construction of a number of buildings on Harris e.g. the water tower and reservoir at Leverburgh, housing, Hulme Hall, Lochmaddy Poor House.  In 1926 he had an address in Tarbert, Harris. After Donald retired in 1930 he became a Councillor for the Burgh of Kingussie in 1932, a Junior Baillie in 1934 and a Senior Baillie in 1935. Donald died in 1944.

War Record

World War II Military Notices, London Gazette 28 July, 1942 “ The undernoted to be 2nd Lt 19 June 1942…..Herbert Alexander Cattanach 236605..)”

Herbert died at Shenley Military Hospital, St Albans, Hertfordshire and is buried in the local churchyard.