LAURIE, Alexander Duncan Gordon
| Service Number: | 221 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 August 1915, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dingo Creek, New South Wales, Australia, 15 December 1892 |
| Home Town: | Gloucester, Gloucester Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Invergordon Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Gloucester Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 221, Depot Battalion , Newcastle, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 8 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Private, 30th Infantry Battalion, Reverts to "Pte" at own request. | |
| 16 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Hororata" | |
| 23 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed In Action | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 221 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Private Alexander Duncan Gordon Laurie, third and youngest son of Mr Joseph E. Laurie, of ‘Invergordon’, Gloucester River, was killed in action in France on 20th July last. Pte Laurie was a grandson of the late A. T. Laurie, of Rawdon Vale, and of the late G. McPherson, of Fairview, Upper Manning. He was in his 24th year, being born on 15th December 1892, at ‘Fairview’, his grandfather McPherson's place.
He was vigorous, and stalwart of form, cool and resolute in danger, generous and unselfish ever thoughtful for others, and always ready to do a kindly act, and with that rare old smile of his made him a favorite with everyone, and one always felt the better for meeting him. A deadly shot and a lover of horses. He, like his uncles, the McPherson family, was a fearless horseman. He knew that his going would be keenly felt, and that he could be ill spared at home. His sense of duty, however, was so strong that it overcame all other thoughts, and he joined the colors to do his bit for the old flag.
He was a long time in the transport service in Egypt but fearing he would not see service in the firing line, he got transferred to the infantry (30th Battalion), and was sent to France, and fell in that greatest of all battles, the battle of Pozieres, which portends to be the forerunner of peace. But will that great victory bring solace to the sorrowing parents, who mourn the loss of that gallant boy, who sleeps with his brave comrades in France.
(At the time, nothing was known of the tradgey and disaster of Fromelles - most only being aware of the battle of Pozieres.)
Pte Andrew Joseph Bruce Laurie, his brother, heard the sad news on the eve of his departure for England with his company of the machine gun section.
Source: Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser, Tuesday 19 September 1916, page 2
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page15596383
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was 23 and the third and youngest son of Joseph E. and Margaret Mary Laurie (nee Macpherson), of Invergordon, Gloucester, New South Wales.
He is remembered in the book of remembrance for Tweeddale. [Roll of honour of Peebleshire men killed in the Great War, 1914-1918. With portraits.]
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