The Eglinton Brothers in Arms:
Laurence (2106)
The third
and final of the Eglinton brothers to be featured in the lead up to Anzac Day
2022, is Laurence, service number 2106. Laurence was the youngest of the three,
aged just 21 years when he enlisted on 6 April 1916 following in the footsteps
of his older siblings. He was a labourer, single, had served as a cadet in the
citizen forces prior to joining the A.I.F. He had grey eyes and brown hair and
identified himself as an Anglican.
His mother
Elizabeth already had sons on active duty and to see her youngest go to war
must have been heartbreaking as it was for all those parents who saw their
beloved children depart. Like Thomas, Laurence was part of the 50th
Battalion and departed from Adelaide on- board the ‘Seeang Bee’ on 13 July
1916. He landed at the UK port of Devonport on 9 September 1916 to transfer to
France 2 months later at the start of November.
From the
French base at Etaples, Laurence marched to the 5th Australian
Division Base Depot on 18 November. He did not see any action until the
following year when his unit was on the front lines on February 14th,
1917. His time in the field was tragically brief as Laurence was recorded as
being killed in action just under 2 months later on 2 April. The last to
enlist, the youngest brother was the first to die and Elizabeth would have to
endure this loss and grief twice more over the next two years.
The service
records of the two brothers Thomas and Laurence, show that they were involved
at Noreuil at the same time and in the same battalion: Thomas being wounded on
the same day his younger brother Laurence was killed …April 2nd,
1917. One wonders if Thomas knew of the death
of his younger brother Laurence at that time or to learn later when he was recovering
from his wounds.
Laurence Eglinton
is buried in the Australian cemetery at Noreuil in France. The Connecting
Spirits tour group will visit his grave in September later this year.
Rest in
Peace young man.
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