LAIRD, Charles Sidney
| Service Number: | 2698 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 May 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Ryde, Ryde, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Boatbuilder |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 3 September 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, France Plot VIII, Row B, Grave 65, Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Daours, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 23 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2698, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2698, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 2698, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Honoured Military Medal | |
| 3 Sep 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2698, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2698 awm_unit: 56th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-09-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Biography - Charles Sidney Laird - Service Number 2698
Charles Sidney Laird, a graduate of Sydney Technical High School (from 1912 to 1913), was born in July 1897 in Marrickville, Sydney, New South Wales (1). His father, Charles Percy Laird was a clerk and accountant; while his mother, Edith Adelina Laird, was unemployed. His methodist family also consisted of his 2 brothers (Herbert Robert Laird and Walter Norman Laird) and 5 sisters (Edith Alma Laird, Majorie Victoria Laird, Edna Mary Laird, Mabel Johanna Laird and Phyllis May Laird) (2). After Laird enlisted and was assigned to the 56th Battalion, he fought valiantly in operations on the Western Front before being fatally wounded by shell fire.
After Laird received a scholarship to enter Sydney Technical High School, he performed impressively in comparison to the rest of his cohort (class of 1913), mathematics and engineering in particular. Following his graduation from Sydney Technical High School with an Intermediate Certificate in 1913, he then studied the courses: Shipbuilding Stage 1, and Engineering Trade Calculations at Sydney Technical College. At the time, Sydney Technical College was a prestigious school that concentrated on the sciences, engineering and architecture. In 1915, he graduated with pass and honours (3). For a short period before Laird chose to enlist, he utilised his shipbuilding degree and worked as a boatbuilder for an unknown employer (4).
Laird officially enlisted for war on the 23rd of May, 1916 and was assigned to the 56th Batallion (5). On the 7th of October, 1916, his unit left Sydney for training in Egypt on the HMAT A40 Ceramic (6). The members of his battalion consisted of war veterans of the 4th Battalion, who fought in Gallipoli (before they were relocated to the 56th battalion); while the other half, like him, were fresh reinforcements sent from Australia (7). After harsh training, the 56th battalion arrived in France on the 30th of June, 1916; where they entered the front-line trenches approximately 2 weeks later (8). The main battles/operations that the 56th battalion was involved in are as follows: 2nd Battle of Bullecourt (1917), operations in Polygon Wood (26th of September 1917) and the Allies’ offensive against Germany (August 1918) (9).
On the 11th of August, 1918, Private Charles Sidney Laird, was officially promoted to Lance Corporal. Two and a half weeks later he was recommended a Military Medal by his commanding officer (1/9/1918). In recognition of the incredible actions of Laird, J Talbot Hobbs, Major General of the 5th Australian Division, declared that “His personal disregard of danger, unceasing energy and devotion to duty were indeed very inspiring and I strongly recommend him for the Military Medal’ (11). A mere day later, when the Lance Corporal was still celebrating his fantastic feat, tragedy struck. During Germany’s attack on the town of Peronne, among the endless waves of bullets and artillery, Laird was wounded from shellfire on his leg, foot, hip and thigh. The following day, he tragically succumbed to these wounds (12).
The unfortunate death of such a courageous soldier was felt by all who were around him. An official letter was subsequently sent to Laird’s parents to inform them of their son’s death. An excerpt of the letter stated, ‘I am to ask you to accept his deep personal sympathy in the loss which, not only you, but the Australian Army has sustained by the death of Lance Corporal Laird whose magnificent conduct on the field of battle has helped to earn for our Australian soldiers a fame which will endure as long as memory lasts.’ (14). As stated in this excerpt, Australia will never fail to remember the valiant legacy of Lance Corporal Laird and the brave acts he committed to protect his loved ones and nation. His final resting place resides in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, a Commonwealth burial ground where numerous other fallen Allied soldiers rest (15).
Endnotes:
(1) The AIF Project, Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Details. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=168887>
(2) Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive
(3) ibid
(4) The AIF Project, Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Details. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=168887>
(5) Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive
(6) The AIF Project, Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Details. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=168887>
(7) Australian War Memorial, 56th Australian Infantry Battalion. (n.d.). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51496>
(8) ibid
(9) ibid
(10) Lukin, F. T. (n.d.). Report of Charles Sidney Laird’s promotions, appointments, and casualties. Laird Charles Sidney. National Archives of Australia.
(11) The AIF Project, Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Details. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=168887>
(12) Lukin, F. T. (n.d.). Report of Charles Sidney Laird’s promotions, appointments, and casualties. Laird Charles Sidney. National Archives of Australia.
(13) The AIF Project Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Details. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=168887>
(14) National Archives of Australia, Official Letter to Charles Sidney Laird’s father regarding his death. (n.d.). Laird Charles Sidney.
(15) The AIF Project Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Details. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=168887>
Bibliography:
Australian War Memorial, 56th Australian Infantry Battalion. (n.d.). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51496>
Australian War Memorial, Lance corporal Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved July 10, 2024b, from <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11031762>
Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive
Lukin, F. T. (n.d.). Report of Charles Sidney Laird’s promotions, appointments, and casualties. Laird Charles Sidney. National Archives of Australia.
National Archives of Australia, Official Letter to Charles Sidney Laird’s father regarding his death. (n.d.). Laird Charles Sidney.
National Archives of Australia, Laird Charles Sidney. (2024). RecordSearch. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=7375695&isAv=N>
The AIF Project, Charles Sidney Laird. (n.d.). Details. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=168887>
Virtual War Memorial, Charles Sidney Laird MM. (n.d.). Virtual War Memorial | Charles Sidney LAIRD MM. Retrieved July 10, 2024, from <https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/368191>