MCLAUGHLIN, Sylvester William James
| Service Number: | 2741 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Molong, New South Wales, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Lithgow, Lithgow, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Lithgow Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Pozieres, France, 30 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Pozières British Cemetery Plot III, Row K, Grave No. 2. TOO DEARLY LOVED TO BE EVER FORGOTTEN |
| Memorials: | Lithgow War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2741, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 2741, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 2741, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney |
Help us honour Sylvester William James McLaughlin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Sylvester McLaughlan – known as “Willie” – was born in Molong, New South Wales, in 1897. He attended the Lithgow public school, and went on to work in the local ironworks. He was the son of John William and Elizabeth McLaughlan of Lithgow.
In late July 1916 the 19th Battalion moved into forward positions near Pozieres. On 30 July Private McLaughlan was taking the chance to get some sleep in a spot with his best mate Private Wright and Private Fred Doherty. An artillery shell burst nearby, killing McLaughlan and Doherty instantly. Private Wright survived, although, as he later wrote, he “was knocked about a good deal”.
Private Wright wrote to Willie McLaughlan’s mother, saying “I find it my duty to write to you concerning your son’s death, which came as a great shock to me … if ever a lad did his duty well, it was Willie.”
McLaughlan’s mates ensured he was given a proper burial and a cross was erected over his grave. After the war he was moved to Pozieres British Cemetery, beside Private Fred Doherty, as their graves were found together.
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