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Private John Forret Laing
Description
TitlePrivate John Forret Laing SummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJohn was born on 25 April 1890 in Fifeshire, son of Thomas Laing. Before enlisting he was working as a ploughman for Mrs Scott at Brookside. He was 5ft 7¾ in tall with a medium complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He also had two scars on the outer side of his right knee.
He enlisted at Trentham on 26 August 1915 and was assigned to the 8th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He embarked for Suez on 13 November 1915 but was then sent on to the front in France. His service notes are not clear but other records indicate that he received a gunshot wound to his arm on 16 September 1916 and was embarked for England on 21 September. After treatment he was sent to Greytowers to convalesce. From there he went to Codford on 1 November 1916. He seems to have had an interesting attitude to military life. He committed various infractions of military rules when at Codford; absent without leave (2 Feb 1917), he was also improperly dressed with dirty buttons (18 Apr 917) and late back from leave (25 May 1917). When back in the field (6 Sep 1917) he also made a false statement to his superior officer and created a disturbance. He forfeited a total of 27 days pay for his actions. However the same attitude may have contributed to his ability to take over the unit when it was left without officers during the Passchendaele attack. John was awarded the Military Medal "For gallant conduct and devotion to duty, during operations near Abraham Heights on the 12/13 October 1917. When his Officer and N.C.O's were all wounded he took charge of the Platoon, and his cheerfulness and courage was a fine example to his men." (London Gazette, 28 January 1918, p1405, rec no 1632). The Military Medal was instituted on the 25th March 1916. It was to be awarded for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty performed by non-commissioned officers and men of our army in the field". As it was not Gazetted until the following January he may not have known. Fifty-three days later he was killed in action on 28 October 1917, aged 27. His body was recovered and he is buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, grave ref XL G 4. In New Zealand John is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
First NameJohn ForretLast NameLaingFamilySingleDate of Birth25 April 1890Place of BirthFifeshire, ScotlandDate of Death28 October 1917Place of DeathZonnebeke, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27
He enlisted at Trentham on 26 August 1915 and was assigned to the 8th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He embarked for Suez on 13 November 1915 but was then sent on to the front in France. His service notes are not clear but other records indicate that he received a gunshot wound to his arm on 16 September 1916 and was embarked for England on 21 September. After treatment he was sent to Greytowers to convalesce. From there he went to Codford on 1 November 1916. He seems to have had an interesting attitude to military life. He committed various infractions of military rules when at Codford; absent without leave (2 Feb 1917), he was also improperly dressed with dirty buttons (18 Apr 917) and late back from leave (25 May 1917). When back in the field (6 Sep 1917) he also made a false statement to his superior officer and created a disturbance. He forfeited a total of 27 days pay for his actions. However the same attitude may have contributed to his ability to take over the unit when it was left without officers during the Passchendaele attack. John was awarded the Military Medal "For gallant conduct and devotion to duty, during operations near Abraham Heights on the 12/13 October 1917. When his Officer and N.C.O's were all wounded he took charge of the Platoon, and his cheerfulness and courage was a fine example to his men." (London Gazette, 28 January 1918, p1405, rec no 1632). The Military Medal was instituted on the 25th March 1916. It was to be awarded for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty performed by non-commissioned officers and men of our army in the field". As it was not Gazetted until the following January he may not have known. Fifty-three days later he was killed in action on 28 October 1917, aged 27. His body was recovered and he is buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, grave ref XL G 4. In New Zealand John is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
First NameJohn ForretLast NameLaingFamilySingleDate of Birth25 April 1890Place of BirthFifeshire, ScotlandDate of Death28 October 1917Place of DeathZonnebeke, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryTyne Cot CemeteryEllesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingPloughman Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details26th August 1915 at TrenthamService Number6/3377Reinforcement8th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private John Forret Laing . Selwyn Stories, accessed 25/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/247