John Macdonald was a younger brother of my grandma, Johanna Macdonald.  The family were originally from Cnoc an Torrain on North Uist and were Gaelic speakers.  John died in February 1918 when the collier SS Rio Verde was torpedoed without warning by a German submarine U86 four miles west of Cramock Head, Mull of Galloway.  All 20 crew died that day.  Eight of the sailors are buried at Kirkmaiden Cemetery overlooking Luce Bay; the final resting place of John is unknown (my father remembers his grandfather, Donald Macdonald) talking about going to Scapa Flow to identify his remains, but it is unclear what the result was.  John is also mentioned on the War Memorial at Petty church, nr. Inverness.   

Ian Macdonld Inglis