Lieutenant George Van Wyck Laughton
Individual attestation record images are not available for this person.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
MILITARY INFORMATION
- Private (Army).
- Lieutenant (British Army). 1917-02-26 to 1918-05-11
- Private (Army). 1916-07-07 to 1916-12-18
- Private (Army). 1915-12-08 to 1916-03-03
Military Cross (Vimy Ridge, Arras)
Description: He displayed conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty and by his splendid example and lack of interest in his own welfare, encouraged his men to remarkable achievements. He led a bombing squad against a machine gun which was holding up the attack and, after the bombers we all killed, captured the gun single handed and destroyed its crew. After all the officers had been killed or wounded he assumed command of the fallen battalion for the remaining days and held the position unaided against repeated German counter-attacks
Comment: The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario present George Van Wyck Laughton with the Military Cross at the closing of the 1918 session of the Ontario Legislature. Just as the Governor General is the Queen's Representative in Canada, the Lieutenant Governor (Sir John Hendrie) is the Queen's Representative in the Province of Ontario.
Notes: Grandson Richard Van Wyck Laughton http://www.censol.ca/research/greatwar/hero.htm
Mentioned in Despatches 'A' List (Scarpe Valley)
Description: Sec. Lieut. George Van Wyck Laughton, Northumberland Fus. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During 24 hours he was on a picquet in front of our own lines and conducted a daylight patrol to within 50 yards of the enemy trenches. Throughout he displayed the greatest courage and determination during local operations in the Scarpe Valley in March, 1917.
Notes: http://www.censol.ca/research/greatwar/hero.htm
British War Medal
Notes: destroyed in 1967 house fire
Victory Medal
Notes: destroyed in 1967 house fire
Images
RESEARCH INFORMATION
Militia Experiene: 26th Middlesex Regiment Militia, then 1 year University of Toronto OTC
Lt., 7th Regiment Fusiliers, School of Infantry. Dept. Militia and Defence, London Ontario
Military Certificates.
Enlisted as a Private in the CEF , found his own way to England and took a posting with the British 3rd Army, 34th Division after completion of the officer training course at Oxford.
Wounded: May 1917, Scarpe Valley, sent to hospital and England and then recovery in Canada
Photo at award of Military Cross, Toronto can be seen on http://laughton.ca/military
These men of the 32nd Infantry Battalion attested on July 7, 1916 along with Grandfather Laughton are recorded on the Laughton site as C.O.T.C. men:
http://laughton.ca/mirror/military/ww1/gvlaughton/archives/toronto_cotc.htm
#82130 George Van Wyck Laughton, Toronto, Student, COTC UofT Book pages xliii and 343
#82131 James Palmer Kent, Toronto, Student, COTC
#82132 William Cuthbertson, Perth, Graduate Engineer, UofT Book 242
#82133 John William Chester (also #490783), Art Teacher, COTC UofT
#82134 Arthur King Kingsmill, Toronto, Merchant, from 9th Mississauga Horse
#82135 Kenneth Campbell MacIver, Toronto, Stock Broker, from 12th York Rangers
#82136 Eric Douglas Bruce Kippen, Toronto, Bank Clerk, COTC
#82137 Herbert Marshall, COTC Draft June 1916, UofT Book 391
#82138 Ernest Arthur Steven, Student, London, 7th Regiment Fusiliers (same as Laughton)
#82139 Stanley Reginald Wilkins, Toronto, Student, UofT Book 596
#82140 nobody listed (will check 490XXX series)
#82141 Albert Herman Parker, Civil Engineer, UofT Book 421
#82142 George Leslie McGee, Toronto, Student, COTC
#82143 Duncan Darroch McCosh, Paris Ontario, Bank Clerk, COTC
#82144 Walter Sidney Vacher, Mexico City, Student, from 10th Regiment
#82145 Franklin John Noonan, Mount Forest, Bank Clerk, COTC UofT
#82146 Sigmund Elias Lyons, Toronto, Real Estate Agent, 2nd Queens' Own Rifles
#82147 James MacLeod Hutcheson, Toronto, Student, 74th Battalion (underage)
#82148 John Lanigan Charlesworth, Guelph, Student, COTC #490757, UofT Book 223
Updated March 2007 to include details of the group of eighteen (18) men that attested in Shorncliffe on July 7, 1916 to the 32nd Infantry Battalion. This group is now listed on Grandfather Laughton's web site and are being added to the Canadian Great War Project database.
Complete details on George Van Wyck Laughton, M.C. can be found on the following web sites:
Laughton Family Tree: http://laughton.ca/ancestors/
Great War Research: http://laughton.ca/military/
Richard Van Wyck Laughton (Grandson, Milton ON) has done extensive research at the above sites http://laughton.ca or http://richard.laughton.tel
[Private Army Canadian Infantry 15th Reserve BattalionDocuments contained in his military service record indicate that on February 3, 1920 he was a Private in the 15th Reserve Battalion. We know from the University of Toronto "Honour Roll" (page xliii) that Lieut. G. V. Laughton was one of three who returned from overseas to take command of the O.T.C. company at the university.
It would appear, although this has yet to be confirmed, that upon resigning his commission in the Imperial Army, he rejoined the 15th Reserve Battalion. His "Casualty Form - Active Service" also indicates that he was with the 32nd Infantry Battalion & the 15th Reserve Battalion in January 1917, just prior to taking his Commission with the Imperial Army. When he resigned from the Imperial Army due to ill-health, it is likely that he went back to the last unit from which he resigned in the CEF, that being the 15th Reserve Battalion.
Private Army Canadian Infantry 32nd Battalion Grandfather Laughton's "Discharge Certificate" indicates that he was discharged from the 32nd Overseas Battalion in London, England to accept a Commission in the Imperial Army. Private Army Canadian Infantry 142nd BattalionEnlisted into the 142nd Overseas Battalion
Lieutenant British Army British Infantry 26th (Service) Battalion, (3rd Tyneside Irish), The Northumberland FusiliersSee web site for details of service with Tyneside Irish Brigade:
http://www.censol.ca/research/greatwar/tyneside/tyneside.htm
British War Medal Victory Medal Mentioned in Despatches & 'A' List Scarpe Valley Sec. Lieut. George Van Wyck Laughton, Northumberland Fus. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During 24 hours he was on a picquet in front of our own lines and conducted a daylight patrol to within 50 yards of the enemy trenches. Throughout he displayed the greatest courage and determination during local operations in the Scarpe Valley in March, 1917. Military Cross Vimy Ridge, Arras He displayed conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty and by his splendid example and lack of interest in his own welfare, encouraged his men to remarkable achievements. He led a bombing squad against a machine gun which was holding up the attack and, after the bombers we all killed, captured the gun single handed and destroyed its crew. After all the officers had been killed or wounded he assumed command of the fallen battalion for the remaining days and held the position unaided against repeated German counter-attacks The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario present George Van Wyck Laughton with the Military Cross at the closing of the 1918 session of the Ontario Legislature. Just as the Governor General is the Queen's Representative in Canada, the Lieutenant Governor (Sir John Hendrie) is the Queen's Representative in the Province of Ontario. ]