Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William McLaren, born on 7 May 1885 at Outram, Otago, was the son of William McLaren (senior), a butcher, and Mary (nee O'Neil).

The Clutha Leader of 4 April 1916 recorded William being called up for the 15th Reinforcement draft. At the time of his enlistment William was working as a grocer’s assistant for an AJ Wingfield and was located at Kaitangata. He gave his sister, Miss Marion (Tot) McLaren, as his next of kin. Her address was care of Porirua Mental Hospital, Wellington, but at some point this was changed to Mrs Chapman of Main Street, Taihape – reflecting his sister’s circumstances changing after marriage in 1917.

William was ultimately posted to 16th Reinforcements, J Company on 3 May 1916, formally attesting for service at Trentham. His formal attestation records his physical condition: his height was given as 5ft 2 inches, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, with light brown hair. He gave his religious profession as Presbyterian. His eyesight appears to have been normal, as was his hearing. His general physical shape appeared to be well formed and free from hernia and other common afflictions that were checked for. It was noted that he had no vaccination marks and his teeth were deemed sufficient, but he expressed a willingness for them to be attended to at camp. Finally he did note that he had previously had an injury to his left ankle that was not sufficient to cause rejection from service.

He embarked from New Zealand on HMNZT 63 Navua with the, on 20 May 1916, disembarking at Devonport on 25 October 1916. There he marched into the training camp, Sling, the following day to begin further training and conditioning before heading to his next posting. On 14 November 1916 he was posted to 1 Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, and proceeded overseas (to France), entering camp at Etaples. Soon after he joined the main battalion and was posted to the 8th Company in the field on 4 December 1916.

Six months later, on 4 June 1917, William was attached to the 1st Field Company of the New Zealand Engineers. The family understand he worked as a tunneller and may have been attached to or working with Canadian forces. On 15 June 1917 he was reported sick, being admitted to No.3 then No.10 NZ Field Ambulance. Ultimately he was admitted to 55 General Hospital in Boulogne on 30 June, reportedly with a case of diarrhoea - which is sometimes one of the early symptoms of mustard gas poisoning. A little over a week later he was discharged to No.7 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne, then No.10 Convalescent Depot, ultimately being returned to the base depot on 21 July, his statement of service noting he was attached to the “N.Z. T & G. B. Depot” (dated 24 July 1917). About three weeks later, on 15 August, he marched out to be posted to the NZ Division Employment Company. This unit provided light work for soldiers in poor physical health who were classed as unfit for further military service and undertook labouring work behind the lines. Ultimately he was classified as “C” Class fitness on 12 December by a medical board, and was returned to Sling Camp, England, on 27 December. Three days later he was marched to the depot at Torquay, no doubt in preparation for return to New Zealand.

William was returned to New Zealand on the transport ship “Tahiti”, embarking on 1 February 1918, arriving on 20 March. After serving for a year and 348 days, all but 135 of those overseas, he was discharged on 17 April 1918 as no longer physically fit for service on account of illness contracted on active service. William’s certificate of discharge / certificate of character however stated that he was discharged on account of wounds received in action (gas poisoning) Unfortunately, his service record does not appear to include a copy of his medical board report which may have clarified this apparent descrepancy. In any case William’s intended address was recorded as 99 Victoria Street, Timaru. For his service he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

After the war William appears to have relocated to Timaru, returned to working in the grocery business, being listed as a grocer in several electoral rolls from 1919 to 1931. He was listed as living in Grey Street in 1919, Rothwell Street in 1922, and then at 15 Otipua Road, Timaru by 1931. Soon after returning from the war he had married Elizabeth (Lizzy) McMurtrie (1893-1972) on 27 November 1919, at St Peter’s, Temuka. A McLaren descendant recalls: “As a widow in the 1960s Lizzy was a straight-laced tall and erect woman who loved her garden and flower (rose) beds. The interior of the 15 Otipua Rd house was always dark with blinds half drawn. The galley-type kitchen near the back door always smelled of coal gas, which heated the ring top and stove. Her husband Willy's WWI photo was hung on the lounge wall. The section was down a gully and the house had a large cellar.”

His family further recalled that William was active in the Timaru RSA and during World War Two, arranging for gifts and donations to be sent to troops from Timaru. Attached to this profile are some extracts that outline some of these activities. “One memorable day in 1944 his nephews, William Harold McLaren (Christchurch), William Henry Callow (Timaru) and William Edward North (Dunedin) met up in a pup tent in Italy during WW2 and celebrated ‘Three Bill cousins’ together.”.

William died on 9 May 1956, at Timaru, aged 71, and was buried in Timaru Cemetery.

Sources

SCRoll web submission by C Callow; Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [2 July 2024]; NZ Defence Force Records (Archives NZ ref. R10926039) [2 July 2024]; NZ BDM Historical Records at https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz [2 July 2024]; "Supply and Administrative Units" on NZ History at https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/supply-and-administrative-units/employment-companies [accessed 2 July 2024];

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• The RSA Welcome Club - newspaper clippings (pdf, 117.6 KB updated 02-Jul-2024)

Researched and Written by

Tony Rippin, South Canterbury Museum

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.