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Private Albert James Mclaughlin
Description
TitlePrivate Albert James (Jim) MclaughlinAlternative NameJimSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionAlbert James (known as Jim) was born at Dunsandel on 31 January 1882, son of Seaton and Elizabeth McLaughlin. He was educated at the Dunsandel and Selwyn Schools and formerly employed on New Zealand Railways as a surface-man, the last occupation given was farming for himself at Dunsandel. The family farm was just south of Dunsandel, but the three brothers also owned land at Greendale (McLaughlins Road/Coaltrack Road) between the Selwyn and Waireka rivers. He was widely known throughout the district and much respected by all who knew him. He was a keen sportsman, and as a footballer was out on his own, representing the Dunsandel Club for a number of years, and on many occasions played in the Ellesmere Sub-Union's team. He was a member of the Masonic order and an active worker in the interests of the Anglican Church. His height was not recorded but he had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He also had a scar on his left thigh.
Jim enlisted on 17 November 1915 and was assigned to 11th Reinforcements, K Company. He embarked from Wellington on 2 April 1916. Arriving in Suez on 3 May 1916, he was posted to the Canterbury Regiment, 2nd NZ Mounted Rifles on 4 May 1916. However he did not spend long in Egypt for he embarked for France from Alexandria on 20 May 1916 and arrived in Etaples to be attached to the base depot on 28th. He joined the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field on 18 July and remained with them until detached to No.1 company NZ Engineers on 5 June 1917. Upon re-joining his battalion on 28 June he was sent on leave to England from 17 August until 7 September. However shortly after return on 29 September he was evacuated to No 1 NZ Field Hospital with a skin infection. He was treated and was discharged on 9 October and re-joined his unit on 12 October. On 2 November he had another period of leave this time to Paris. Returning on 10th November, a week later on the 17th he was off to hospital again this time in Boulogne. Possibly he had overdone it in Paris but it was 27 January 1918 before he was well enough to return to duty and marched in to Etaples the next day. He was sent on to Reinforcement Camp at Abeele the next day and on 11th February he was transferred to the NZ Cyclists Corps and posted to the unit on 18 February. He had leave again in England from 14 March to 4 April. Returning he settled in to his new unit but once again he was evacuated sick this time because of an injury. This was an accident as whilst acting as runner on 2nd June 1918 he fell from his bike and suffered abrasions of his face and broken dental plate. He was sent for dental treatment and to have his plate mended and was discharged to duty on 10 June, arriving in Etaples the next day. From there he marched out to XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion on 21 June. He was killed in action on 23 July 1918, aged 36. Marfaux, the Battalion's objective, is a small village on the right bank of the River Ardre and marked the limit of the German's advance on 3 June, 1918. The village was successfully taken but Albert was one of the 21 killed. His body was not recovered and his name is inscribed on the Marfaux (New Zealand) Memorial, Marne. In New Zealand Albert is remembered on the Dunsandel War Memorial.
Marfaux (New Zealand) Memorial takes the form of a panel stone erected in the shelter in Marfaux British Cemetery. It commemorates, by name, 10 casualties of the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion who fell in July 1918 and who have no known grave. Marfaux is a commune 18.5kms from Reims and 16kms from Epernay. Marfaux was captured by the Germans in May 1918, and retaken, after severe fighting, on 23 July, by the 51st (Highland) and 62nd (West Riding) Divisions and the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion.First NameAlbert JamesLast NameMcLaughlinFamilySingleSon of Seaton and Elizabeth McLaughlinDate of Birth31 January 1882Place of BirthDunsandel, CanterburyDate of Death23 July 1918Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death36
Jim enlisted on 17 November 1915 and was assigned to 11th Reinforcements, K Company. He embarked from Wellington on 2 April 1916. Arriving in Suez on 3 May 1916, he was posted to the Canterbury Regiment, 2nd NZ Mounted Rifles on 4 May 1916. However he did not spend long in Egypt for he embarked for France from Alexandria on 20 May 1916 and arrived in Etaples to be attached to the base depot on 28th. He joined the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field on 18 July and remained with them until detached to No.1 company NZ Engineers on 5 June 1917. Upon re-joining his battalion on 28 June he was sent on leave to England from 17 August until 7 September. However shortly after return on 29 September he was evacuated to No 1 NZ Field Hospital with a skin infection. He was treated and was discharged on 9 October and re-joined his unit on 12 October. On 2 November he had another period of leave this time to Paris. Returning on 10th November, a week later on the 17th he was off to hospital again this time in Boulogne. Possibly he had overdone it in Paris but it was 27 January 1918 before he was well enough to return to duty and marched in to Etaples the next day. He was sent on to Reinforcement Camp at Abeele the next day and on 11th February he was transferred to the NZ Cyclists Corps and posted to the unit on 18 February. He had leave again in England from 14 March to 4 April. Returning he settled in to his new unit but once again he was evacuated sick this time because of an injury. This was an accident as whilst acting as runner on 2nd June 1918 he fell from his bike and suffered abrasions of his face and broken dental plate. He was sent for dental treatment and to have his plate mended and was discharged to duty on 10 June, arriving in Etaples the next day. From there he marched out to XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion on 21 June. He was killed in action on 23 July 1918, aged 36. Marfaux, the Battalion's objective, is a small village on the right bank of the River Ardre and marked the limit of the German's advance on 3 June, 1918. The village was successfully taken but Albert was one of the 21 killed. His body was not recovered and his name is inscribed on the Marfaux (New Zealand) Memorial, Marne. In New Zealand Albert is remembered on the Dunsandel War Memorial.
Marfaux (New Zealand) Memorial takes the form of a panel stone erected in the shelter in Marfaux British Cemetery. It commemorates, by name, 10 casualties of the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion who fell in July 1918 and who have no known grave. Marfaux is a commune 18.5kms from Reims and 16kms from Epernay. Marfaux was captured by the Germans in May 1918, and retaken, after severe fighting, on 23 July, by the 51st (Highland) and 62nd (West Riding) Divisions and the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion.First NameAlbert JamesLast NameMcLaughlinFamilySingleSon of Seaton and Elizabeth McLaughlinDate of Birth31 January 1882Place of BirthDunsandel, CanterburyDate of Death23 July 1918Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in action Age at Death36
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDunsandel War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryMarfaux Memorial Dunsandel War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarmerRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Cyclist BattalionEnlistment Details17th November 1915Service Number10047Rank Last HeldPrivateEmbarkation2nd April 1916Place of EmbarkationWellington TransportMaunganuiTahitiTheatre of WarWestern FrontNominal Roll28/19CountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private Albert James Mclaughlin. Selwyn Stories, accessed 12/11/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/390
