MacLAREN, John Dougall

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Hensall, Ontario
Original Unit
161st Huron Battalion
Regimental Number
654462
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
26 years 9 months
Cemetery
Dury Crucifix Cemetery - Pas de Calais - France
Cenotaph
Hensall Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654462
RESIDENCE:                    Hensall – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            November 30, 1891
                                             Hensall – Hay Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           September 1, 1918               26 years     9 months
CEMETERY:                     Dury Crucifix Cemetery – Dury –
                                             Pas de Calais – France
                                             III     C     48
PARENTS:                         Mr. Robert and Margaret MacLaren – Hensall - Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer                                  Religion:     Presbyterian
Enlistment:                         Hensall – February 17, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 24 years     2 ½ months

The men of the 161st Battalion arrived in England on November 11, 1916.
At the end of February 1918, Private MacLaren moved to the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion and Struck off Strength from the 161st Battalion. At the end of March 1918, he joined the 47th Battalion in the field.
Private MacLaren was making his way to the front lines with his unit and passing through the town of Vis-en-Artois toward the front so they could take up their positions. As they moved forward the German artillery intermittently shelled their positions. He was struck by the shrapnel from an exploding shell he and died immediately.
Winds were south-west with good weather and excellent observation.
The advance was to begin against the Drocourt-Queant Trench and lines. The march to the assembly position was 2 ¾ hours. As the Battalion Crossed the Remy Valley which was being heavily shelled with high explosive shells and gas. There were casualties taken here but not from the gas. Haucourt had to be traversed through intermittent shelling.
This is where it is believed Private MacLaren lost his life as our research indicates from all the information we could locate from the file of Private MacLaren and from the diaries