MACLAREN, William James
| Service Number: | 872 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Enlisted at Echuca, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Fryerstown, Victoria, Australia, 26 October 1874 |
| Home Town: | Fryerstown, Mount Alexander, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Castlemaine Grammar School, Victoria |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 8 May 1915, aged 40 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Helles Memorial, Cape Helles, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fryerstown State School No 252 Honor Roll, Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Muckleford State School Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 872, Enlisted at Echuca, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Sergeant, 872, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Sergeant, 872, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 8 May 1915: | Involvement 872, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 872 awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Company Sergeant Major awm_died_date: 1915-05-08 |
Help us honour William James Maclaren's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Birth name registered as William James McLaren number 22888
Residential address at the time of enlistment was Pannoomilloo near Rochester, Victoria
Son of William MacLaren and Annie Frances MacLaren nee Williams of 42 Charles Street, Footscray, Victoria. Brother of Isabella MacLaren, Alfred John MacLaren and Charles Roderick MacLaren
Husband of Mary MacLaren nee Donnes of Monument Hill, Castlemaine, Victoria. William and Mary married in 1905c. Father of Thelma MacLaren, Donald MacLaren, Williiam Morris MacLaren and Alainie MacLaren
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Also served in the Boer War plus a further 6 years in the Militia
Biography contributed by Andreena Hockley
"Sergeant-Major William James MacLaren was born on the 26th of October, 1874. He joined the service of this Department in November, 1908, as temporary head teacher, being appointed to the Pannoomilloo School. Since then, he was in charge of various other schools, and then went back as a classified head master to his first school. He was a conscientious worker, and a man of energy and intelligence.
He ceased duty to enlist in August, 1914, and embarked with the 7th Battalion as a Sergeant.
After training in Egypt, he proceeded to Gallipoli, and took part with his unit in the Landing. He was killed on the 8th of May, 1915, leaving a widow to mourn his loss."
Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.
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