Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 24974 James McLauchlen

Age: 28
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

James was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool in early 1888 and was baptised in St. Silas Church, Liverpool, on 6th May 1888, parents address 11 Alder St. He was the second son of Thomas and Phoebe McLauchlen (née Lightfoot). His parents, both born in Liverpool, married in 1880 at St Silas, Toxteth and had eight children, one of whom died young. James had older siblings Mary, John, and Frances, and younger siblings Phoebe, Thomas, and Agnes.

In 1891 the family is living at 25 Treborth Street, Toxteth, with five children.

His father is a 40 year old freight clerk, whilst his mother is 36 years of age. James is 3 and his siblings are shown as; Mary E. aged 9, John aged 8, Frances A. aged 6 and Phoebe Hannah aged1.

1901 finds them at 50 Madryn Street, Toxteth Park, with five children.

His father is 50, and his mother is aged 46. James is 13 and his siblings sharing the home are listed as; Frances A. aged 16, Phoebe H. 11, Thomas 8 and Agnes L. 6 . His grandparents, Solomon and Mary Lightfoot, live three doors away.

In 1911 his parents are living at 126 Upper Warwick Street with daughters Phoebe and Agnes.

His father is a 60 year old freight clerk with the Dock Board. His parents have been married for 30 years and have had eight children, seven of whom have survived.

James has not been identified on any census in 1910/11, in England, Canada, or the U.S. or on any crew or passenger list. Prior to the war he was working in Canada with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.

James, aged 23, appears on a passenger list arriving alone on the “SS Canada” into Halifax, Nova Scotia in April 1911. He was a painter heading for Toronto, Ontario.

When war broke out he was on holiday in the UK and he enlisted in Liverpool on 01st February 1915 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24974.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

He embarked for France with his Battalion on 7th November 1915.

James was killed in action aged 28 during the attack at Montauban on 1st July 1916. In common with the men of the 17th Battalion who were killed in action on the 1st July 1916 he is officially listed as having died on 1st/2nd July, 1916.

17^th Battalion Diary

3.30 am the Battalion in position in assembly trenches -Battalion frontage from Maricourt – Briqueterie Rd to 100 yards west of Maricourt – Montauban Rd – 1^st wave, 2 platoons of A Company on the right and 2 platoons of B company on the left. 2^nd wave remaining platoons of these companies. 3^rd wave C Company and 4^th wave D Company in parallel trenches at about 100 yards distance and 3^rd Battalion 153^rd French Infantry on our right and 20 KLR on our left. The Battalion’s objective was Dublin Trench from Dublin Redoubt exclusive to a point 400 yards west.

7.30 am – “Zero Hour”. The assault commenced, some shelling but very slight infantry resistance and little machine gun fire encountered, the work of our artillery having been very effective on the German trenches.

8.30 am – the objective was taken at 08.30 am the French on our right gaining their’s at the same hour. Lieutenant-Colonel B C Fairfax and Commandant Le Petit commanding 3rd Battalion 153rd Regiment arrived together in Dublin Trench. A and B Companies dug in almost 100 yards south of Dublin Trench which the Germans shelled intermittently all day hardly touching the new trench. Casualties up to 12 noon, Captain E C Torrey commanding C Company, Lt D H Scott commanding A Company and 2nd Lieutenant P L Wright wounded 100 other ranks. Later in the day the 90th Brigade took Montauban and the 20th KLR captured the Briqueterie. Lt Scott died of wounds in a French hospital at Cerisy where Captain Mirascou commanding the left Company of the French also lay wounded. Perfect liaison existed between the French and ourselves the above two officers commanding respectively our right Company and the French left Company being in constant touch. Shortly after the attack commenced the Battalion Headquarters moved to a German dugout in Favieres Support under Briqueterie Road where Commandant Le Petit also established his H.Q. During the remainder of the day there was intermittent bombardment of Dublin and Casement and Favieres Support trenches. Rations were brought up safely at night. Disposition of the Battalion – 2 Companies in Dublin and 2 in Casement.

James' body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. James was 28 years old. (CWGC gives his age as 19.)

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His family announced his death in the Liverpool Echo on 20th July 1916:

“July 1, killed in action, aged 28 years, Private James McLauchlen (“Pals”), second son of T. and P. McLauchlen, 47 Dovey Street, Liverpool. (He did his duty. Deeply regretted. American and Canadian papers please copy.)”.

His death was reported in the local press under the heading:

"Came from Canada":

"Private James M'Laughlen, of the "Pals", second son of Mr. Thomas M'Lauchlen, 47, Dovey Street, Liverpool, has been killed. He was twenty-eight years of age, and was employed in Canada by the C.P.R. Company. He came to Liverpool on a holiday, and joined the "Pals" in February, 1915. A comrade states that he was a good soldier, always cheerful, and the life of his platoon, and is greatly missed."

Liverpool Echo 2nd Aug 1916

CONDOLENCE.

McLAUCHLEN—Mr. and Mrs. McLauchlen and Family desire to thank all friends for their kind sympathy and letters received during their recent bereavement in the loss of their dear son, James "Pals". - 47 Dovey-street.

His family placed an In Memoriam notice on the first anniversary of his death:

“In loving memory of Private James McLauchlen, 17th K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed in action July 1, 1916. (His duty well done. Sadly remembered by his Father and Mother and family.)”

James earned his three medals.

His father Thomas received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £6.

His older brother John enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1900 for 12 years and served in the Merchant Marine during the war.

His sister Phoebe worked as a hospital sister in Sierra Leone and China.

His mother died in 1925 aged 71, and his father in 1934 at the age of 83.

Sadly, James has not been found on any memorials.

We currently have no further information on James McLauchlen, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All