PRIVATE Alexander Duncan Gordon Laurie was born on December 15, 1892, at Dingo Creek near Wingham.
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He was the son of Joseph Laurie and Margaret McPherson of Invergordon.
At the time of his enlistment in the AIF on August 2, 1915, he was a grazier.
He was five foot 10 inches tall with a fair complexion, yellowish hair and brown eyes.
Alexander Laurie was a private in the 30th Australia Infantry Battalion and embarked on the HMAT Katuna on December 16, 1915.
After spending some time at Alexandria in Egypt he arrived in Marseilles on the Hororat on June 23, 1916.
His obituary published in the Dungog Chronicle on September 19, 1916, read ‘he was vigorous and stalwart of form, cool and resolute in danger, generous and unselfish, ever thoughtful of others and always ready to do a kindly act.
That rare old smile of his made him a favourite with everyone, and one always felt the better for meeting him. A deadly shot and a lover of horses.
He, like his uncles, the McPherson family, was a fearless horseman. He knew that his going would be keenly felt and that he could be ill spared at home.
His sense of duty, however, was so strong that it overcame all other thoughts, and he joined the colours to do his bit for the old flag.
He was a long time in the transport service in Egypt, but fearing he would not see service in the firing line, he got transferred to the infantry, and was sent to France’.
He was killed in action at the Battle of Pozieres on July 20, 1916, aged 23 and has no known grave.
A Red Cross file states that he is believed to have been buried in Rue Petilleon Cemetery.
Alexander Duncan Gordon Laurie’s name is located at panel 117 in the commemorative area at the Australian War Memorial.
LANCE Corporal Albert Kingston Laurie was born in 1894 in Stroud to Joseph Laurie and Emily (nee Bignell).
Albert Laurie was an excellent all round cricketer and was also a renowned buckjumper.
He worked as a grazier before enlisting with the 18th Australian Infantry Battalion on July 2, 1915, as a private.
He embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT Euripides on November 2, 1915.
Laurie was wounded three times during his three years of military service.
In June 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal for his enterprise, with a companion, in capturing a German outpost, the occupants of which were engaged in directing the fire of the enemy guns on the Australian trenches.
Laurie and his colleague took the place of the Germans and directed the battery fire on the enemy trenches, causing considerable damage.
He was killed at Mont St Quentin in France on August 31, 1918, after volunteering with two companions to silence a gun.
They silenced the gun, but all three died in the effort.
Albert Laurie was 24.
Lance Corporal Laurie had been offered a field commission on several occasions but declined saying he would rather remain a ‘Digger’.
He was buried at Peronne Communal Cemetery in France.
Albert Kingston Laurie’s name is located at panel 86 in the commemorative area at the Australian War Memorial.
LANCE Corporal Clifton William Joseph Laurie was born at Washpool in 1893, the fifth son of James Laurie and Jessie Farley of Maudville.
He was educated at Invergordon Public School. After leaving school, Clifton worked on his father’s estate.
He became a skilled horseman, a good shot, learned bush lore and gave every promise of becoming an expert in the management of cattle.
Clifton was the first man in the district to enlist in the AIF.
During the period of training, his inherent cheerfulness made him a favourite with his comrades-in-arms.
Just prior to embarking for the Dardanelles, in his last letter to his mother, he wrote, ‘this might be the last letter you will get, but I hope not. We will soon see what Australians are made of. If I get shot, I’ll die fighting for my country as an Australian should’.
When news came of the daring dash of the Australians at Gallipoli, the list of wounded was headed with the name of Lance Corporal Laurie.
He died of his wounds on May 8, 1915, aged 21 in the 17th General Hospital at Alexandria in Egypt.
As no cable was sent to his parents it was hoped that his wounds were not serious.
Nine days afterwards the Reverend E L Slade-Mallen was asked to bear the sad news that Lance Corporal Laurie had died of wounds received in battle.
It was late on Saturday evening when word arrived and the next morning the little church among the hills of Upper Gloucester River, where the Laurie family were regular attendees, was crowded with worshippers, many of whom had ridden miles to honour the memory of their departed friend.
Lance Corporal Laurie was believed to be the first soldier from Gloucester to die in the First World War.
He was buried in Chatby War Memorial Cemetery at Alexandria.
Clifton William Joseph Laurie’s name is located at panel 69 in the commemorative area at the Australian War Memorial.