| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Service # | CDN/171 |
| Unit # | Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, Royal Norfolk Regiment, 1st Battalion, Can Loan |
| Resident | Chatham |
Born 12/03/1920 in Stirling, Scotland. The eldest son of William Arthur and Alexandra Laurie, who had four other boys and three girls. The family moved to Canada when Fred was three years old and were living at 163 Wellington St., East, Chatham, ON. He attended public school at Queen Mary and high school at Chatham.
After graduation Fred worked at the CPR Hotel in Chatham. He started his military career by joining the Kent Regt. In 1938. John enlisted 26/07/1940. On the 28thof December, 1940 he married Isabel Emma Clough at Christ Church, Chatham and on 22/09/1941 their first child was born, named Kent after his militia regiment; a daughter Mary Ann was born 9/04/1942 Emma and Mary Ann were living at 83 Dover St., in Chatham. CDN 12/05/44(P).
Address at enlistment was 184 Wellington Street East, Chatham. John enlisted 26/07/1940. Next of Kin: was wife Isabel and his Father, Mr. William Arthur Laurie.
Lieut. Laurie, he had received his commission while still with the Kent Regt in April before leaving for England. Lieut. Laurie left for overseas from Halifax, NS. 6/04/44 aboard the S.S. Cavina and arrived in the United Kingdom 23/04/44. Due to a shortage of trained officer replacements in the British Army, Canadian were offered the opportunity to volunteer in British units under the program known as “CAN-LOAN” , some 700 submitted their names, which meant going almost immediately to active service units. Lieut. Fred Laurie was one hence his CDN/171 service number. He joined the 1st Royal Norfolk Regt.
On Tuesday, 6 June, 1944 “Operation Overlord” landed on the shore of Normandy the D-Day invasion of Europe. Fred was wounded and evacuated from France 27/06/44 on the hospital ship “Duke of Lancaster” with a poisoned hand, landing at Southhampton on the 28th.
He would return to active service on the 3rd of December, 1944. During operation “Blockbuster” on the Rhine River Lieut. Laurie would win a Military Cross. The citation for his Military Cross read as follows:
On the capture of Kervenheim on 28 Feb. this officer was platoon commander. Oh his company commander being wounded and the 2i/c being killed he immediately assumed command of the company. With great skill and under perpetual enemy sniper fire he organized his company and was personally instrumental in beating back and enemy counter attack. Not content with defensive fighting he led fighting patrols against the Boche [German] counter-attack force and by his forceful leadership and skillful use of fire wrought havoc amongst the opposition. During the whole operation his leadership and disregard of danger were conspicuous and in the manner in which he accepted his new responsibilities and discharged his duties as a company commander were commendable beyond words.
Near the German city of Breman a bullet ended Lieutenant John Alfred Laurie’s life with only three weeks left in this war. Sadly Lieut would not see the end of the war.
Date of Death: 24/04/1945, in Germany near Breman.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Awards | M.C. |
| Sources | Christ Church Chatham – Roll of Honour, Index of Overseas Deaths |
| Supplemental Information | The eldest son of William Arthur and Alexandra Laurie, who had four other boys and three girls. John was born in Stirling, Scotland on March 12, 1920. The family moved to Canada when Fred was three years old and were living at 163 Wellington St., East, Chatham, ON. He attended public school at Queen Mary and high school at Chatham. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. H. 10. Cemetery: HOLTEN CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY. |
| Age | 25 |
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