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Nicol was the second son and third of four children, born at Bordertown on the 3rd February 1913 to Mundulla farmer James Laidlaw and Ellen (Nellie) Kemp McLellan. He was named after his Scottish grandfather, who had emigrated to South Australia, becoming a highly respected sheep farmer. Their father, James and the family lived on a property called ‘Dalmally’ at Bordertown. Nicol’s siblings included Graeme Reid, Heather Gwin and Agnes Laidlaw. Nicol (Known as Nick or Nic) had just turned six years old when his 49-year-old father died in March 1919. One of his many interests had ben in horse racing at Bordertown, Mundalla and Lockhart. He had been at the Bordertown races when he took ill. It was a huge blow to the community and his family of four young children.
Nick first attended the local Bordertown School where he attained his Qualifying Certificate, before the travelling to Scotch College (a boarding School) to continue his education. Nick had played football for Ramblers in the Bordertown Competition and carried these skills to Scotch. He was chosen in the College representative team to play against the Old Scholars and against the Victorian Dookie Agricultural College in ’29. The latter was won by a convincing margin of seven goals.
Returning home to Bordertown, Nick resumed his football interest, captaining Wolseley whilst also working on the farm. However, WWII erupted. Having just turned 27, he enlisted on the 29th June 1940 and was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion as SX7054 with another local, Tom Windebank. The Border Chronicle proudly announced that 52 of their young men had enlisted from the areas of Bordertown, Mundalla and Nick from Wolseley. Unfortunately, the local Wolseley football team became completely swamped in their match against Federals, weakened by the enlistment of Nick.
Following training in the Adelaide Hills, the two young men had brief pre-embarkation leave, returning to Wolseley where a crowded local Institute Hall was filled to farewell both Nick and Tom, both popular sportsmen. By that stage, Nick had been promoted to Corporal McLellan and his mother were conducted to the platform whist speeches were made from representatives of the Wolseley Football Club. Nick was presented with a wallet and pair of socks from the Warworkers, £1 from the Patriotic Committee, and a gift from the R.S.L. Corporal McLellan responded on his and Tom’s behalf. The Wolseley Football Club also added their best wishes before supper and dancing resumed with the evening concluding with patriotic singing. A further farewell was conducted at Bordertown where Nick was one of five young men to be honoured. Each was the recipient of a money belt from the Bordertown Farewell Committee, on behalf of citizens of the town and district. Several speeches followed including one which shared that the men would take two things with them: the thought that, way back in Australia, there was a spot they could call home: and that the name and reputation of Australia's land fighting forces depended on the name and reputation of each individual soldier.
In response Corporal McLellan said the responsibility which the men had undertaken had not been lightly shouldered. They realised the magnitude of the task ahead of them, but he thought they "could do the job." As Diggers they were appreciative of what the homefolk were doing to promote their welfare.
The enlistees boarded the Stratheden o the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December. Almost immediately, Nick attended the Officer Training Unit, again being promoted to Lieutenant in June. He was to become one of the highly respected Rats of Tobruk. Originally designed as a term of derision to encourage the soldiers to surrender rather than live like rats in their hand hewn, hot, dusty underground dug outs, the term was immediately owned as a badge of honour by the men.
By June ’41 an announcement appeared I the Border Chronicle that Lieut. Nick McLellan, of Bordertown, after four months at an officers' training school in Cairo, had received his commission and returned to Palestine, where he was in command of a company.
In October ’42 Nick had several fortunate escapes during the battle for El Alamein. The first was when a British jeep was heard approaching in the darkness. The men were ordered to hold their fire until the occupants were identified. It pulled up inside the wire in front of A Company commanded by Lieutenant Nic McLellan. As the first man exited the jeep and shouted out in German, every gun opened up. The badly wounded occupants were taken prisoner back to headquarters where they shared that they had been on reconnaissance five days previously when the area was in German hands.
A second incident occurred when, with shrapnel slapping in to the ground near the 2/48th trucks, the men began scraping and digging shallow trenches. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ‘Stretcher bearer Dunn, a big man, had just settled into his hole with a sigh of satisfaction when he heard a strange clanging noise beside him. A mine had toppled in from the edge. He, with Lieutenant McLellan and several others, had dug slit tranches right in a minefield.’
Nick wrote to his brother, Graeme, with the letter being published in the Border Chronicle in October ’42 (but dated in August). At that time Nick was the second in charge of a company adding he had;
“had a hectic time of late. His unit "lobbed" in Egypt after a 600-mile trip in motor trucks and went straight into action. "It has been a lot different from the Tobruk show. We had Jerry out in the open and got a fair crack at him, and it was a decent crack we gave him. It's the biggest shock he has had for a long time. Our lads are too good for him when they get anything like an even go. He tried out his tanks on us first and lost most of them. Then he tried infantry—we cut them to pieces. He is very careful now what he does on our front." Lieut. McLellan was four months at Tobruk, and in a letter to his mother said that Jack Champion, after seven months with the Tobruk garrison, was "still going strong".
He also added that the Australians' propensity for misappropriation (or the politer term, souveniring) has earned them special recognition from Lord Haw Haw, Berlin’s mystery broadcaster, who refers to them as "Ali Baba Morshead and his 20,000 Thieves." Nick enclosed a copy of the verses which follow, composed by a member of his company:— "Old Jerry had us on the run, The news was far from hot.
He had his feet in Egypt And the Sphinx was"on the spot".
The G.O.C., despondent, sent signals out in sheaves,
Calling Ali Baba Morshead and his 20,000 thieves. –
So Leslie called his G staff And whispered in their ears.
His message went to Auchy— "Have a pot and drown your fears".
We'll make that bludger Rommel Think he's copped the Gyppo heaves,
Will Ali Baba Morshead and his 20,000 thieves.
So we travelled down to Egypt From those pleasant lands afar.
We knew the need was urgent 'Cause we came by motor car.
We didn't stop in Cairo, But Alexandria grieves
Over Ali Baba Morshead and his 20,000 thieves.
So we came back to the desert, Well known from days of yore.
We met the Fritz at Alamein Close by the Meddy shore.
The Ities were pathetic, The Huns fell back like leaves
From Ali Baba Morshead and his 20,000 thieves.
Now Rommel's got a headache, His tanks can't take a trick,
His drop-shots aren't so wonderful, And his Luftwaffe makes you sick.
His glorious dreams of yesteryear Are smashed—and is he peeved?
While Ali Baba gloats o'er what his 20,000 thieved.
Will history repeat itself Now we're once more in the game?
Will the- form displayed in '41 This year be just the same?
If so, then Rommel's stonkered Whate'er the plans he weaves
Against Ali Baba Morshead and his 20,000 thieves.’ Captain' Vanderkellin

Finally, the 2/48th headed back to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43 and by March both Nick and his friend Tom were back home at Wolseley where a huge Welcome Home Social was organised for the three young men who had been farewelled in ’40. . Lieutenant McLellan, Cpl J. H. Jarrett, and Tom. The Institute was crowded as the National Anthem was sung followed by dancing, singing and other entertainment. As part of their welcome, speeches commented that the guests had been in many parts of the world since they were farewelled from the hall; but would be glad to be home again, wishing-the job were finished. Lieut. McLellan acknowledging the great work the Comforts Fund was doing for the men, instanced a time at Tobruk when they were hard pressed for a smoke but that the Comforts Fund issue came to light. When the lads knew their own people were behind them, and were supporting them to the utmost, it was great encouragement.
Nick was promoted to Temporary Captain in February ’44 in New Guinea, where he also contracted malaria and was hospitalised. He continued to attend courses in Tactics, undertaking the role of Captain full time as he headed to Morotai
Returning from Tarakan, Nick was finally discharged on the 10th October 45. Nick soon became a very popular president of the Tatiara Sub branch of the RSL. At the time, the old Bordertown Institute was under consideration to be disposed, but in a generous gesture, the decision was made to let the Diggers have the old hall for a specified term. Their plans were to repair and convert the hall into a Clubroom.
In April ’46, the first Anzac Day since peace was declared was held. As President of the Tatiana R.S.L. Nick opened the service sharing that the day was remembered for all that Anzac stood for—dauntless courage, noble sacrifice and high achievement in the cause of freedom and security. Just as the Anzacs had fought for the things they thought to be right, so had the young men of this generation of Australians and New Zealanders gone to war to defend the same ideals. The purpose of the gathering was to perpetuate the spirit and memory of the Anzacs.

In May ’46, Nick announced his engagement to Beryl Irene Marston (a twin) of Mintaro. In June, Nicol led a large march of over 100 ex-service men and women to celebrate Victory Day in June. Those who had served were honoured by each being presented with framed Certificates of Service and a £5 cheque each from the citizens, through the local Welcome Home Committee. A sports programme, football, and general celebrations followed.
Early in November, Nick, as President of the Tatiara sub-branch organised a huge reunion of 80 diggers from both World Wars in the local hotel. Visitors came from Naracoorte, Wolseley, Keith, and Darwin. In responding to the toasts, Nick shared that tradition played a vital part in the winning of the war. The navy, air force, and army had all established traditions. In the Battle of Britain, although outnumbered, the Royal Air Force defeated the enemy by tradition. Numerous examples could also be found in the exploits of the navy. When the first Australian diggers went to war, they were a young army, but they built the tradition of the Australian Army on Gallipoli and in France. History would show whether the men of World War II had lived up to that tradition.

Nick continued to be actively involved in gaining the best for returned servicemen, including tackling Land Settlement problems in the South East. The expectation was that soldiers be given workable land and that the move did not continue to be delayed by authorities. Nick represented Tatiara with other representatives from Naracoorte, Penola, Keith and Kingston. A further issue that was discussed at the conference was that returned servicepeople be given the same honour and respect as those in WWI, namely that their campaign medals be inscribed with the names of the recipients. The argument was that the personalisation of the medals would make them more valuable and would reflect the tremendous job the members of the forces had done for the country.

Beryl and Nick married on November 23rd that year in the Scots Church on North Terrace.
In November ’48 over eighty diggers from both World Wars had a reunion at the Tatiara Hotel, coming from Adelaide, Melbourne, Keith, Wolseley, Kaniva, and Naracoorte. Nicol honoured fallen comrades “who gave their lives so that we might live as we wish."
At subsequent R.S.L. reunion dinners, Nick was often called on to offer the homage to Fallen Comrades. In 1950 he referenced the forces fighting in Korea and dying for the same ideals that were foremost during WWII.
Beryl and Nick welcomed a son, Nicol John (Nicky) in May ‘50, followed by Julie in October ‘53 and Josie. Sadly, Nicky died aged 30. A plaque in his honour is now with his parents remains.
Aged 73, Nick died on the 1st December 1986. Initially his remains were at Centennial Park Cemetery. However the following year they were returned to the Bordertown Cemetery on the 22nd January the following year. He now rests with his wife, Beryl, who died on the 22nd August 2003.. Alongside, their much loved only son also rests.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.