James Edward Laugher

James Edward Laugher

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known "not known" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.
Place of Birth	Hobart, Tasmania
Death	2 May 1915
Place of Death	Gallipoli, Turkey
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 5 months
Description	5'4½" (1.64m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Mill hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr A. Laugher
Military Information
Reg Number	786
Date of Enlistment	26 Sep 1914
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	16th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement / 4th Brigade
Date of Embarkation	22 Dec 1914 ‒ 3 Feb 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A35 Berrima
Fate	Killed in Action 2 May 1915 at Baby 700, Gallipoli
Monument	Jarrahdale War Memorial Jarrahdale Honour Roll Lone Pine Memorial ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

As a member of the 1st reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, James also completed only part of his training at Blackboy Hill camp, with the rest provided at the Broadmeadows camp near Melbourne where the 4th Brigade had assembled. From here they sailed to Alexandria in Egypt aboard HMAT A35 Berrima as part of the second convoy of 16 transports. James' military records are devoid of any early detail other than that he was transferred to 'C 'Company on 22 Mar 1915, so we might assume that he landed with the main body of 16th Battalion in the early evening of 25 Apr 1915. On 2 May 1915 the battalion was part of the troops involved in an attack on Baby 700 a large hill on the northern flank of the Australian positions, held by the Turks. Despite several attempts to capture the feature it remained in Turkish hands. James' records show that on 15 May 1915 he was posted as having been missing from 2 May 1915. It is therefore likely that he was killed during this action on 2 May 1915, and that was the view of the Court of Enquiry held a year later at Serapeum in April 1916.

On file there is a statement by 400 Pte A.J. Whittington, 'C' Coy 16th Battalion dated 3 Aug 1916 at Étaples, France.

Laugher was in C Coy, (old E Coy). He was missing before Jun 15th. Edgar Morgan, C Coy, 16th Batt. (now 48th Batt.) who is in Rollestone Camp, Salisbury was seen with Laugher the night of 2 May 1915. After that night Laugher was missing. Morgan would probably know whether he was killed or not. Pte J. Breen, C Coy, 16th Batt. saw Laugher and Morgan together on May 2nd. Laugher was a short man with a dark moustache. He came from Tasmania, but was working in Western Australia when he enlisted. .

James widowed mother received a pension of 20/- per fortnight from 1 Mar 1916.

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  Lone Pine Memorial
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Notes

Enlisted in Jarrahdale. Originally listed as Missing on 15 May 1915, a Court of Enquiry held in Serapeum, Egypt 6-8-28 Apr 1916 resolved that he was KIA 2 May 1915. Of interest the Court of Enquiry was not instigated until his mother insisted that it was so and she need a death certificate to wind up his financial affairs.

A Brother 230 Driver W Laugher of the 3rd and 13th Field Ambulances died of accidental injuries on 16 Jan 1918 in France.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial