Donald MacLennan, ghillie and forestry ranger

DONALD MacLennan, a well-known Highland ghillie and forestry ranger, survived the infamous Stalag prisoner of war camps – where he endured a five-year ordeal behind barbed wire fences.

It was October 1939, soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, when MacLennan joined 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. As part of the 51st Highland Division, he fought in France, where he made a Kings Corporal.

However, he was captured by the Germans at St Valerie on 12 June, 1940, following the rearguard action for Dunkirk.

MacLennan's son Roddie said: "He and his fellow comrades endured an arduous march to Poland and Germany, which is well-documented but which he rarely spoke about. He spent five years as a prisoner of war in Stalag 8B and Stalag VIIIB, having to work in Byton coal mine in Poland."

During this period, MacLennan's father John passed away at their home at Fasnakyle, near Cannich, Glen Affric. His mother, Margaret,had died aged 39 when he was four. His sister Mary helped an aunt to raise the family.

MacLennan went to Marydale School in Cannich and then got a job at Tulloch Castle Estate in Dingwall. Roddie MacLennan said: "He enjoyed his work trapping rabbits and general duties on the estate and got involved in the community, playing junior football in Ross-shire."

Following the end of the war, MacLennan was demobbed in December 1945 and returned home to the Highlands by train.

His son said: "On seeing the high hills of home in the distance, he vowed he would never again leave. As many knew, when he made up his mind he rarely changed it. He returned to Glen Affric to his brother Duncan and his wife Maree."

After a period of recuperation MacLennan met Anne MacDonnell at a dance in the village of Tomich, and they married at Fort Augustus Abbey on 1 June, 1949.

They were to be together for more than 60 years, celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary in June.

They moved around during the early years to get seasonal work, including at Ness Castle, Benula and Glen Affric. They moved to Kerrow where MacLennan was a rabbit trapper, also working as a fishing ghillie for the Glen Affric Hotel.

He got the opportunity to join the Forestry Commission as a keeper and retired in 1980 as a senior ranger. Shortly after joining the commission, the family – now including three sons Billy Donald and Roddie, and daughter Rosemary – moved to Muirdale, Cannich, which MacLennan purchased and renovated.

McLennan never went on holiday, always saying there was no need as he enjoyed what he did. He would work his time off as a stalker or ghillie on the rivers, lochs or hills. He had many offers from friends to go to Canada and the United States, but would always decline the invitations.

During his working life and retirement in Cannich, MacLennan enjoyed bee keeping, vegetable gardening, fishing on the rivers Ness, Moriston, Beauly, Farrar, Glass and many trout lochs.

He also enjoyed car racing at Ingliston and watching shinty in Strathglass on a Saturday. He also enjoyed clay pigeon shooting and went to shoots from Armadale in the north and as far away as Dunoon.

Roddie MacLennan said: "He loved the competition with great friend Willie Gordon. As he got older , he said the trigger finger would not do as the brain was telling it."

MacLennan was also an active member of Marydale Church and would assist with duties at Clachan Comar. Roddie MacLennan added: "Over the years, he met many people from all backgrounds and would talk to them all. Wherever he went, he always had an audience and a tale to tell."

MacLennan was cared for at Highview House in Inverness following a stroke in November. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on 13 December.