LAURIE, Alexander Duncan Gordon
| Service Number: | 221 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 August 1915, Newcastle |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dingo Creek, 15 December 1892 |
| Home Town: | Gloucester, Gloucester Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fleur Baix, France, 20 July 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France Panel 2, VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France, Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-D'armentieres, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 221, 30 Garrison Battalion (Tas), Newcastle | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Driver, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Driver, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 221, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 221 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Help us honour Alexander Duncan Gordon Laurie's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Private Alexander Duncan Gordon Laurie, third and youngest son of Mr Joseph E. Laurie, of ‘Invergordon’, Gloucester River, was killed in action in France on 20th July last. Pte Laurie was a grandson of the late A. T. Laurie, of Rawdon Vale, and of the late G. McPherson, of Fairview, Upper Manning. He was in his 24th year, being born on 15th December 1892, at ‘Fairview’, his grandfather McPherson's place.
He was vigorous, and stalwart of form, cool and resolute in danger, generous and unselfish ever thoughtful for others, and always ready to do a kindly act, and with that rare old smile of his made him a favorite with everyone, and one always felt the better for meeting him. A deadly shot and a lover of horses. He, like his uncles, the McPherson family, was a fearless horseman. He knew that his going would be keenly felt, and that he could be ill spared at home. His sense of duty, however, was so strong that it overcame all other thoughts, and he joined the colors to do his bit for the old flag.
He was a long time in the transport service in Egypt but fearing he would not see service in the firing line, he got transferred to the infantry (30th Battalion), and was sent to France, and fell in that greatest of all battles, the battle of Pozieres, which portends to be the forerunner of peace. But will that great victory bring solace to the sorrowing parents, who mourn the loss of that gallant boy, who sleeps with his brave comrades in France.
(At the time, nothing was known of the tradgey and disaster of Fromelles - most only being aware of the battle of Pozieres.)
Pte Andrew Joseph Bruce Laurie, his brother, heard the sad news on the eve of his departure for England with his company of the machine gun section.
Source: Dungog Chronicle: Durham and Gloucester Advertiser, Tuesday 19 September 1916, page 2
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page15596383
Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was 23 and the third and youngest son of Joseph E. and Margaret Mary Laurie (nee Macpherson), of Invergordon, Gloucester, New South Wales.
He is remembered in the book of remembrance for Tweeddale. [Roll of honour of Peebleshire men killed in the Great War, 1914-1918. With portraits.]
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