SANDERSON, William Lauchlan
| Service Numbers: | 219, W9622 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 October 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 11th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Oamaru, New Zealand, 23 October 1890 |
| Home Town: | Claremont, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Scotch College, Claremont, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Surveyor and Drainage Engineer |
| Memorials: | Nedlands Scotch College WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 219, 10th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb 1915: | Involvement Sergeant, 219, 10th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Mashobra embarkation_ship_number: A47 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Feb 1915: | Embarked Sergeant, 219, 10th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Mashobra, Fremantle | |
| 29 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 219, 10th Light Horse Regiment, GSW back/shoulder was Temp 2nd Lt 15/8/1915 | |
| 6 Jan 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 10th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 7 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 24th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade | |
| 23 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 24th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade | |
| 11 Feb 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 11th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 22 Dec 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 4th Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 15 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 4th Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 20 Apr 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, 11th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 23 May 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 23 May 1919 on page 881 at position 92 Mentioned in the Despatches of Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of 8 November 1918. | |
| 23 May 1919: | Honoured Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Villers-Bretonneux, In May 1918, Lauchlan took part in the fighting around Villers-Bretonneux as the Special Liaison Officer with the Moroccan and 37th French Divisional Artillery, French army Corps, and was recommended for the Military Cross. The award was upgraded and he was made an Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). | |
| 23 Jul 1919: | Honoured Military Cross, "The Last Hundred Days", For directing artillery during the forcing of the Oise-Sambre Canal on 4 November 1918. | |
| 20 Mar 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 11th Field Artillery Brigade , 5th MD |
World War 2 Service
| 15 Aug 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, W9622 |
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Help us honour William Lauchlan Sanderson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Donna Baldy (tunnellers.net.au)
Capt William Lauchlan Sanderson (known as Lauchlan) was born in Oamaru, New Zealand on 23 October 1890 and was a Surveyor and Drainage Engineer by profession when he enlisted in October 1914. 219 Sergeant Sanderson embarked from Australia on 8 February 1915 with the 10th Light Horse, and embarked for Gallipoli on 16 May with the same unit. He was promoted temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 15 August and suffered a gun shot wound to the back on 29 August, which required his evacuation to hospital in Malta. He embarked for hospital in England in September, and after recovering was placed on the supernumery list, before being re-assigned to the 4th Divisional Artillery in the Middle East theatre.
In June he proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force in France and was promoted to Lieutenant in August 1916. He was promoted to Captain in January 1918 and taken on strength of the 11th Field Artillery Brigade on 11 April 1918.
In May 1918, Lauchlan took part in the fighting around Villers-Bretonneux as the Special Liaison Officer with the Moroccan and 37th French Divisional Artillery, French army Corps, and was recommended for the Military Cross. The award was upgraded and he was made an Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
He was awarded the Military Cross for directing artillery during the forcing of the Oise-Sambre Canal on 4 November 1918. Lauchlan was also awarded the Croix de Guerre Avec Etoile, and was Mentioned in the Despatches of Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatch of 8 November 1918.
He led the Australian contingent on a white horse in the Victory parade in London, and later was a founding member of the Flying Doctor Service in Australia.
Lauchlan enlisted 15 August 1940 at Cottesloe, Western Australia, for service in World War 2 and served as a Lieutenant with the 16th Battalion until discharged on 27 July 1945.
British Biographical Index: Burkes OBEs (1921)
Capt Sanderson's brother was Major Alexander Sanderson DSO MC+Bar MiD
SANDERSON, Capt. William Lauchlin, O.B.E., M.C. b. 23 Oct 1890; son of W.J.A. SANDERSON, of New Zealand and India. Educ.: Scotch Coll., Western Australia. Irrigation and Drainage Engineer; at present engaged in pastoral pursuits. War Work: Embarked from Western Australia with the Australian Light Horse, and served on Gallipoli, and after the evacuation, transferred to the 4th Australian Divisional Artillery, and served with them in France and Flanders from June, 1916, till the termination of the war; French Croix de Guerre; mentioned in despatches. Addresses: Claremont, Western Australia: Kooline Station, via Onslow, W.A.
Club: Naval And Military (Western Australia)
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