Donald McLeod Innes, son of Hugh McLeod Innes and brother of Patrick, who had served in the Royal Garrison Artillery during 1916-17, supporting the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Donald was born in Cambridge, ENGLAND on 6 June 1899 and went to Repton School, Derbyshire where he was a school pal of a future Olympic Runner, who became a family friend. My Grannie, who lost both her brothers in the Great War, remembered this friendship throughout her life time.
Donald whilst at school wrote a poem, which is thought to be related to the loss of his brother. ‘The Young Dead’. This was published in the Repton publication – A Public School Looks at the World – in November 1917.
Donald joined the war in June 1918 as 2nd Lieutenant in the 14th Battalion of the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). He died of wounds on 6th October 1918 (sustained on 22 September 1918) after being nursed in the war hospital by his Mother and is buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension.
My Grannie was 16 years old. She did not speak much of the 2 brothers she lost, but when she did she would remember them as young boys. Boys who were not allowed to ‘run on Sundays’ and at a young age, possibly about 5years old she would run in front of them knowing that they could not chase her.

Deborah ZEALEY