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Rifleman Clement Rothery McLachlan
Description
TitleRifleman Clement Rothery McLachlanSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionClement was born at Doyleston on 17 February 1894, son of Alexander and Elizabeth McLachlan. Before enlisting he was farming at Doyleston he had previous military experience having served with the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry for 2 ½ years. He was 5ft 4½in tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and black Hair.
Clement’s name was drawn in the first Ballot in November 1916. He enlisted at Christchurch on 10 February 1917 and was assigned to New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Reinforcements G Company. He embarked with them from Wellington on 12 June 1917 arriving in Devonport on 16 August 1917, marching into Sling on the same day. He left for France on 1st October and marched into Base Depot at Etaples on 4 October 1917. He then marched out to join the Division in the field on 7 October and two days later he was posted to C Company, 3rd Battalion Auckland Infantry. On 18 January 1918 he was detached to the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company then after a month with them he was sent to the 22nd Corps Reinforcement Camp on 18th February. From there he joined the 2nd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade and was posted to D company on 24 February 1918. He was wounded in action on 18 April suffering gun-shot wounds to his head and a fractured frontal bone. Although he was taken up by the No.1 Field Ambulance he died of his wounds in the field. He was initially buried in the Beaussant Communal Cemetery Extension but after the war his body was gathered in to Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme. In New Zealand Clement is remembered on the Ellesmere County and Doyleston War Memorials and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
The village of Englebelmer was in Allied hands during the whole of the war, and it was used as a field ambulance station; but until the autumn of 1916, and again in the summer of 1918, it was liable to occasional shelling. The Extension was begun in October, 1916, closed in March, 1917, and used again in 1918; and after the Armistice graves were brought from the battlefields immediately north and east of Englebelmer and the following cemeteries:- Beaussart Communal Cemetery Extension, in a hamlet of Mailly-Maillet, was used at intervals from April, 1916, to May, 1918, and contained the graves of 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom and nine from New Zealand.First NameClement RotheryLast NameMcLachlanFamilySingleSon of Alexander and Elizabeth McLachlanDate of Birth17 February 1894Place of BirthDoylestonDate of Death18 April 1918
Clement’s name was drawn in the first Ballot in November 1916. He enlisted at Christchurch on 10 February 1917 and was assigned to New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Reinforcements G Company. He embarked with them from Wellington on 12 June 1917 arriving in Devonport on 16 August 1917, marching into Sling on the same day. He left for France on 1st October and marched into Base Depot at Etaples on 4 October 1917. He then marched out to join the Division in the field on 7 October and two days later he was posted to C Company, 3rd Battalion Auckland Infantry. On 18 January 1918 he was detached to the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company then after a month with them he was sent to the 22nd Corps Reinforcement Camp on 18th February. From there he joined the 2nd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade and was posted to D company on 24 February 1918. He was wounded in action on 18 April suffering gun-shot wounds to his head and a fractured frontal bone. Although he was taken up by the No.1 Field Ambulance he died of his wounds in the field. He was initially buried in the Beaussant Communal Cemetery Extension but after the war his body was gathered in to Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme. In New Zealand Clement is remembered on the Ellesmere County and Doyleston War Memorials and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
The village of Englebelmer was in Allied hands during the whole of the war, and it was used as a field ambulance station; but until the autumn of 1916, and again in the summer of 1918, it was liable to occasional shelling. The Extension was begun in October, 1916, closed in March, 1917, and used again in 1918; and after the Armistice graves were brought from the battlefields immediately north and east of Englebelmer and the following cemeteries:- Beaussart Communal Cemetery Extension, in a hamlet of Mailly-Maillet, was used at intervals from April, 1916, to May, 1918, and contained the graves of 18 soldiers from the United Kingdom and nine from New Zealand.First NameClement RotheryLast NameMcLachlanFamilySingleSon of Alexander and Elizabeth McLachlanDate of Birth17 February 1894Place of BirthDoylestonDate of Death18 April 1918
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDoyleston War MemorialLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryEllesmere County War MemorialDoyleston War Memorial Englebelmer Communal Cemetery ExtensionOccupation before EnlistingFarm HandRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details10th of February 1917Service Number53711Embarkation12th June 1917Place of EmbarkationWellington CountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Rifleman Clement Rothery McLachlan. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/224