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 Cameron of Lochiel's Own Website

A Message from
Donald Angus Cameron, XXVII Chief of Clan Cameron

"We, the Lochiel family, have been profoundly touched by the countless messages of condolences we have received from clansfolk around the world.  They have helped us enormously at this difficult time and we thank you all most sincerely for your very kind and comforting thoughts and words.  He was a wonderful family man who was always supportive of his wife, children and grandchildren and was, of course, very much loved by all of us.

 

He died peacefully in his beloved Achnacarry, without pain, with his wife by his side and after only a few hours of feeling slightly ill.  We gave him a great Highland farewell on a lovely day with bagpipes playing, Gaelic song, readings by Donald and Johnny, an address by the recently retired Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Douglas Cameron, lovely flowers and a host of family and friends.  We think he would have approved.

Thank you all for your wonderful support - it was very much appreciated and I hope you will understand that it is impossible to reply to all your messages individually."
 
Very best regards
Donald

COLONEL SIR DONALD HAMISH CAMERON OF LOCHIEL, 93

1910-2004

Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., C.V.O., T.D., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron died Thursday, 26th May, 2004 at Achnacarry, his home in Inverness-shire, Scotland.  He was 93.

Born 12th September, 1910 to Colonel Sir Donald Walter Cameron of Lochiel and Lady Hermione Emily (Graham), Donald’s formative years were spent at Harrow and later attending Balliol College, Oxford.  At the age of 19, Donald was commissioned in the Lovat Scouts, and at the outbreak of World War II in 1939 joined his regiment on mobilisation, rising to the rank of Major by 1940.  He served throughout the war (earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1945) commanding during the Italian Campaign.  Upon the death of his father in 1951, Donald returned to Achnacarry, to become Chief of Clan Cameron.  He was Director of the Royal Bank of Scotland from 1954-1980, county councillor for Kilmallie on the Inverness County Council and served as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Inverness-shire from 1971-85 (becoming the third generation of Lochiels to represent their Sovereign in the county; his son Donald Angus Cameron is presently serving as Lord Lieutenant).  In November 1973 Queen Elizabeth II created Donald a Knight of the Thistle in recognition of his services to his country.

In regard to the Clan Cameron Association, Donald not only continued the works of his father and grandfather in this area, but added to their efforts.  He supported the establishment of two new international branches, namely North America (1968) and England (1981).  There were also numerous International Gatherings held at Achnacarry (beginning in 1938, and most recently in 2001), a comprehensive history of Clan Cameron was published in 1971 and through the works of Donald, his son Donald Angus and daughter-in-law Lady Cecil Cameron, the Clan Cameron Museum was opened at Achnacarry in 1989.  During his fifty-three tenure as the Chief of Clan Cameron, Donald led with distinction and the noble intention of preserving the "Cameron Country" lands of Lochaber, not just for the people of Scotland, but for Camerons from throughout the world to discover.

Lochiel’s survivors include his wife of sixty-four years, Lady Margaret (Gathorne-Hardy); two sons, Donald A. and John A.; two daughters, Margaret A. (Knott-Bower) and Caroline M. (Hardman); numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral services will take place on Friday, 4th June at 2.30pm at St Andrew's Church in Fort William.  Please Note: A World Cup Mountain Bike event is being held over the June 4th-5th weekend in Fort William.  Consequently, most local hotels are already full.  Anyone planning on attending the funeral services would be advised to confirm accommodation prior to arriving in Lochaber.

  • 1910
    "Presentation to Lochiel's Heir," article on Donald Hamish Cameron, XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, Oban Times
  • 1914
    Lady Hermione Cameron, Violet Hermione Cameron, and Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron (age 3 years)
  • 1931
    Subscription request issued by the Clan Cameron Association, on the occasion of presenting a coming of age gift to Donald "Seumas" (Hamish) Cameron, XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron (at that time Yr. of Lochiel)
  • 1957, August
    Article on Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron's visit to Nova Scotia
  • 1958
    Lady Margaret Cameron, Donald Angus Cameron, John Alastair Cameron, Margaret Anne Cameron, Caroline Marion Cameron, and Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron
  • 1972
    Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron (third from right) along with the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, at the 1972 International Gathering of the Clans, which took place at the Royal Highland Show in Ingliston, Scotland
  • 1972, June 23
    Article on Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, Sanford (North Carolina) Herald
  • 1972, June 28
    Article on Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, Sanford (North Carolina) Herald
  • 1975, August 9
    Lochiel, addressing the clan at the 1975 International Gathering at Achnacarry
  • 1975, September
    "August 1975 - Achnacarry Castle, Inverness-shire," The Cameron Piper (newsletter of Clan Cameron Association, North America)
  • 1975, August 19
    Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, addressing the crowd at the Glenfinnan Highland Games
  • 1981, September
    "Gathering of the Clan," from the Little Piper (newsletter of Clan Cameron Association, Ontario Branch)
  • 1983, June 27
    Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, and Lady Margaret, at the Nova Scotia International Gathering of 1983
  • 1983, June 30
    Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, at Loch Broom, Nova Scotia
  • 1983
    Article on Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron's visit to the Nova Scotia International Gathering of 1983, Clan Cameron Association - Western U.S. Region Newsletter
  • 1984
    Speech given by Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T. XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron at the opening of the new Visitor Centre at Culloden Battlefield
  • 1986, September
    Article on Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T. XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, Scottish Field
  • c. 1988
         "Camerons in Lochaber - Yesterday Today and Tomorrow," by Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T. XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron
  • 1989, June
    Article on the opening of the Clan Cameron Museum, Scottish World
  • 1989, August 10
    Speech given by Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T. XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron at the 1989 Worldwide Gathering of Clan Cameron at Achnacarry
  • 1992, January 31
    Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, being presented with the Cameron crests (which now grace the gates to Achnacarry) at the Orlando Highland Games, Orlando, Florida
  • 1992, Fall
         "Lochiel Visits Orlando," by Patsie Cameron, from The Piper (newsletter of Clan Cameron Association, Grandfather Mountain Branch)
  • 1995, August
    Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron, at the Glenfinnan Highland Games
  • 1995, Winter
         "Gathering of Clan Cameron - Achnacarry Castle," by Donald J. Cameron, from The Piper (newsletter of Clan Cameron Association, Grandfather Mountain Branch)
  • 1999
    Lady Margaret and  Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T., XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron
  • 2000, September 16
    Address given to Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T. XXVI Chief of Clan Cameron on the occasion of his 90th birthday, by Alan I. Cameron
  • 2001, August 4
    Lord Cameron of Loch Broom's Address to Lochiel at the Red Oak Dedication Ceremony, Clan Cameron International Gathering
  • 2001, August 5
    "The Three Donalds," Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, K.T.; Donald Hamish Cameron, Younger of Lochiel; Donald Andrew Cameron
  • 2001, August
    A virtual tour of the 2001 International Gathering of Clan Cameron
  • 2003, February
    Excerpt from "Hail to the Chiefs," by Charles Maclean (Travel + Leisure Magazine)