Serjeant, 1494, Matthew McLaren (20) – Died of Wounds

2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders,  19/06/1916

Serjeant Matthew McLaren.

Synopsis of Life and Military Service

Matthew McLaren was born in 1895, in Slamannan, Stirlingshire to his parents Matthew and Mary Brown or McLaren. Little is known of his younger years, although he was employed as a miner, as was the majority of his family. Following the outbreak of the Great War on 4 August 1914, Matthew was one of the first to enlist on 12 August 1914 in Edinburgh. Following his training, he was sent to France on 27 November 1914 and by 14 December 1914 where he was engaged in the fighting at Ypres, Belgium, and also took part in engagements at La Bassee, Givenchy, Festubert and Loos.

After the battle of La Bassee, which took place in northern France between 10 October and 2 November 1914, he suffered from frost damage to his legs which caused blackness up to his knees, as a result he was invalided home.

Following his recovery and his return to the conflict, he was to be engaged in the Battle of Loos, which took place between 25 September and 8 October 1915 and was the biggest British attack of 1915 and the first time they had used poison gas. During this period, he was sent home for recuperation. On 5 October 1915 following his involvement in the battle he wrote a letter home to his parents which reads as follows:

“I have been through the great advance, and come out without a hurt. On the morning of Saturday, 25th September, we were in the fourth line of trenches. We followed the lead and were soon in the centre of the enemy fire – whizz bangs, shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire. One of my chums – Calder of Broxburn – was wounded, but I expect he will get home to recuperate. He and I were charging together when he fell. I stopped and dressed him. A bullet struck his left breast, but fortunately a packet of letters kept it from inflicting little more than a deep flesh wound. It was lucky he had that packet of letters.

I am still in the trenches. The place we are holding is only 30 yards from the enemy, so we have to be on alert all the time.”

Following the official news of his son’s death, Mr McLaren received a letter from Captain Henry Brian-Brooke of the 2nd Gordon Highlanders, Matthew’s Company Commander which was published in the Linlithgowshire Gazette dated 30 June 1916.

It is with the deepest and most profound regret that I sit down to write you today to tell you the sad news of the death of your gallant son Colour Sergeant Matthew McLaren (No 1494). I know that no words of mine can in any way lessen the great sorrow which the loss of such a son must mean, but as his Company Commander I feel I must drop you a short line to tell you any point concerning your poor boy’s death which may be of interest to you.

It was the day before yesterday, 19th June, 9.30am a heavy high explosive shell fell in our trench, and killed one man, mortally wounded your son and the Company Sergeant Major, and severely wounded two others, who will recover. I was the first to arrive on the spot after the explosion and was with your son from then on until within a short time before his restful death. He lived about half an hour after being wounded. What with the shock at first and the morphia the doctor gave him as soon as he arrived, your son suffered comparatively no pain. He was conscious up to the end, and died a brave calm death. We bound him up and sent him off on a stretcher on which he passed peacefully away before he reached the hospital behind the trenches.

I cannot tell you, Mr McLaren how deeply the whole company feel the loss of your son. As to his platoon (No 5) I have never in all the war seen men so cut up. His Platoon Commander told me that the night that his men simply adored him and would have done anything in the world for him.

The loss of my own brother, who was killed with the battalion at the beginning of the war, makes me capable of fully entering into the sorrow of others, and I know what grief yours must be. But I can assure you it is shared by every officer, NCO and man in the regiment. As his Company Commander I feel his loss most deeply, both as the loss of a very fine soldier and one of my most efficient NCOs and also the loss of a man whom I had become tremendously attached to, as did everyone who came into contact with him.

Your son was in my company at King Street Barracks (Aberdeen) as well as out here, so I know him very well. He was buried yesterday, and when we go out of the trench next I shall take the first opportunity of going to see his grave. The grave committee will keep all the particulars concerning where his grave is.

Is there is anything I can do, please let me know.

Grave of Matthew McLaren at Citadel New Military Cemetery© Audrey Mavor

His death was clearly heartfelt within the family, as for several years following his death a few family members placed notices in their local newspapers with poems to him. One such poem placed by his father read :-

The fierce wild conflict now is o’er. The victors to their homes return; But he to us will come no more. His death to-day afresh we mourn.

War Diary – 2nd Gordon Highlanders

19 June 1916

Trenches – Received orders at 11pm on 18th to relieve the 2nd Border Regiment in the trenches in B2 Subsection. Dispositions of Coys. ‘C’ right, ‘D’ centre, ‘A’ left, ‘B’ reserve. 8th Devonshire Regiment on the right, 7 Yorkshire Regiment on the left. Relief completed in 2 and a half hours. 5 casualties including Company Sergeant Major Brown who died 25 minutes after being hit. His last words “Goodbye The Gordon Highlanders”.

Family

Matthew McLaren was born in Slamannan, Stirlingshire on 23 September 1895.

The following family information is taken from the 1901 and 1911 Census.

His family is shown as follows :-

  • Father: Matthew McLaren, born c.1863 at Bothwell, Lanarkshire (Miner).
  • Mother: Mary Brown or McLaren, born c.1867 at Douglas, Lanarkshire.
  • Sister: Marion, born on 4 December 1894 in Slamannan, Stirlingshire.
  • Sister: Mary, born on 27 December 1899 in Slamannan, Stirlingshire.
  • Brother: Thomas, born 20 March 1891 at Slamannan, Stirlingshire.(Miner).
  • Brother: David Brown, born 20 July 1893 at Slamannan, Stirlingshire. (Miner).
  • Brother: William Brown, born 21 May 1897 in Slamannan, Stirlingshire (Colliery Storekeeper).
  • Brother: Andrew Brown, born 9 April 1899 in Slamannan, Stirlingshire (Miner).
  • Sister: Lilias, born 13 June 1901 in Slamannan (died in infancy), Stirlingshire.
  • Brother: John Archibald, born 5 May 1906 in Airdrie/New Monkland, Lanarkshire.
  • Sister: Agnes Brown, born 28 April 1908, Blackridge, West Lothian.

Following his death his father was the sole legate of his effects.

Addresses

The following addresses have been ascertained for Mathew McLaren :-

  • 1901: 39 Lochside Row, Slamannan, Stirlingshire.
  • 1911: .23 Westrigg, Blackridge, West Lothian.

Medals

Mathew McLaren was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the  Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War.

Links to Additional Information

Remarks

The officer who sent a letter to the Matthew’s family following his death, Captain Henry Brian Brooke, was wounded three times at Mametz Wood during the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. He died of his wounds on 24 July 1916 at the Empire Hospital for Officers, London and was buried at Springbank Cemetery in Aberdeen.

References

  • 1901 Census.
  • 1911 Census.
  • Birth Certificate.
  • Pension Cards.
  • Medal Index Card..
  • Medal Roll – British War and Victory Medals (Gordon Highlanders).
  • Soldiers Died in Great War.
  • Register of Soldiers’ Effects.
  • Linlithgowshire Gazette.
  • West Lothian Courier.

Groups

Contributors:-

  • Audrey Mavor (Main Article)