Private Frederick Freeman Laing | Soldiers | Great War

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Child-Soldiers

“I am here because someone must do it“

Somehow, Private Frederick Freeman Laing 478051 enlisted at Halifax on 25 February 1915. Exactly fourteen years, one month, and 24 days of age. He stood only 5′ 1 and 1/4″ tall and 100 pounds. Frederick growing fast, another examination (16 September 1916) had him at 5′ 2 and 1/8″ tall, 110 pounds, and a subsequent examination had him at 5’3″ tall and 119 1/2 pounds.

The smallest man in the Canadians (10th Battalion?), age 15, enlisted in November 1914 at Vancouver. His name was Pte J. Quinn, 57 inches in height, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand at Lens in January 1918. Came from Victoria. MIKAN No. 3404835

Youngest Canadian Serviceman to Die in the Great War

Note the CWGC claims Pte “Clifford Oulton is the youngest Canadian serviceman to fight and fall in the First World War.” Born on 2 December 1901 Clifford died of his wounds on November 1, 1917, aged 15 years and 334 days old. Private Frederick Freeman Laing born 1 January 1901 and died 11 May 1916, aged 15 years and 131 days old, over six months younger than Oulton. CEFRG believes even younger soldiers with the CEF died on the Western Front.

Stowaway

Pte Laing began his service as a Driver in the Regiment’s Depot Company at Halifax when he surrendered as a stowaway aboard the S.S. Caledonian on 27 Aug 1915.

A total of seven men surrendered as stowaways and taken on strength of the Regiment.

20265 – Pte Frederick Laing, Depot Coy, The RCR
T/495 – Dr Leo Landry, CPASC
T/373 (16412/478046) – Dr Auquatine McNulty, CPASC
T/492 – Dr Joseph Molloy, CPASC
210 – Pte E. Carroll (a.k.a. Naylor), 1st CGA
702 – Pte Thomas O’Meara, 66th Regt PLF
705 – Pte A. Shaw, 66th Regt PLF

England

Laing was taken on the strength of the Royal Canadian Regiment, and initially attached to “Base” Company for rations and discipline. Transferred on to “A” Company on 13 Sep 1915 but returned to ‘Base’ Company ten days later.

Laing’s regimental number 20265 replaced by a new CEF service number, 478051, from the number block allocated to the Regiment. Laing did not, however, enter France with The RCR in November 1915 and rejoined Regiment on being transferred from the 11th Reserve Battalion on 26 March 1916. During his second examination, Pte Laing noted as slight and a little under age, but well-developed for his years. A position as a Bugler suggested.

Royal Canadian Regiment

The Royal Canadian Regiment had arrived in France on 1 November 1915 following garrison duty in Bermuda and a short period of training in England. Corps troops until 24 December 1915 when it became part of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division.

Shorncliffe

While at Shorncliffe, Pte Laing absented himself for a 48 hour period over New Year’s eve. Forfeited 4 days pay. On 17 January 1916, found to have absented himself from Fatigue. Awarded 168 hours detention and forfeited 7 days pay. On 24 March 1916, he proceeded overseas.

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD DIES HERO’S DEATH

France

Private Frederick Freeman Laing proceeded overseas for service 24 March 1916 and entered the Western Front on 26 March 1916. Arrived at his unit on 2 April 1916. Only five weeks later, Private Frederick Laing makes the Supreme Sacrifice.

11 May 1916

Relatively quiet with the RCR in trenches. Pte J Britton 477108 wounded by enemy shellfire at Border Dugouts. Corporal W A Herron 477400 suffers a slight shell wound. No. 478051 Private Frederick Freeman Laing, killed in action by enemy shell at Border Dugouts. Only the 40th soldier of the RCR to die in battle thus far in the Great War. Buried Sheet 28.I.24.c.3.9 (Maple Copse).

Border Dugouts evacuated this date owing to them being continually heavily shelled and it was considered that they were not of any tactical value. Situation quiet the following day.

First burial report extracted 26 May 1916, with a second burial report extracted 7 June 1916. However, on 26 August 1916 the GRC reports a now unknown location for the grave. Another attempt in 1921 following the Armistice can no longer determine the exact location of Private Frederick Freeman Laing’s burial due to shellfire.

Dug-outs in Maple Copse, a few days after the attack by the 18th Brigade, 6th Division, on the 9th August 1915, to restore the line at Hooge. Q 49348
photograph (Q 49367) Dug-outs in Maple Copse, June 1915. Q 49367

Maple Copse Cemetery

Maple Copse the name given by the Army to a small plantation about 900 metres east of the village of Zillebeke, and just west of Sanctuary Wood. The place used by Advanced Dressing Stations and burials took place there both before and after the Battle of Mount Sorrel in June 1916. However, in that engagement, and in later fighting, the graves mostly destroyed.

The site of the cemetery, on the north side of the copse, enclosed after the Armistice, but of the graves known to exist there, only a small number could be definitely located.

Maple Copse Cemetery, 15 April 2018, CEFRG.ca

Special Memorial

Special Memorials headstones with ‘superscription’ text at the top, only used in very specific circumstances. These headstones do not sit over an actual grave.

Sp. Mem. A “Buried elsewhere in this cemetery”
Sp. Mem. B “Believed to be buried in this cemetery”
Sp. Mem. C “Buried near this spot”
Sp. Mem. D “Believed to be…………”
Sp. Mem. E This is known as a Kipling Memorial –

Kipling Memorial

The Kipling Memorial headstone so called because the quotation from the Apocrypha (Ecclesiasticus 44, verse 13) “THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT” which appears on the headstone was chosen by Rudyard Kipling. These headstones commemorate casualties whose graves in a particular cemetery destroyed or who were known to be buried in a particular cemetery but the exact whereabouts within the cemetery not recorded.

Cemetery of the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Scottish Regiment) Nine Elms Military Cemetery. Note the officer is looking at the Memorial Cross listing 44 men of the 16th Battalion who died on 9 April 1917. Plot 4 was renamed shortly after this photo was taken, and 40 missing men of the 16th Battalion now lay in Plot V.

Note a CWGC change in policy in recent years has eliminated any chance of these Kipling Memorials being erected in the future.

Churchyard Graves

Sp. Mem. F “Buried in ……………. Cemetery (or Churchyard)”

There can be variations in the wording (eg ‘Chapelyard’ instead of ‘Churchyard’). Types E and F are to be found in a nearby cemetery to the one in which the actual grave was known to be located.

Special Memorial, Row C, Grave 25, Maple Copse

At one time, Frederick had bequeathed all to a Miss Margaret Hawbolt of Bishop Street, Halifax. He later crossed out his Will, writing ‘mistake’.

Other Stowaways

Dr Auquatine McNulty, CPASC

Sergeant Auquatine McNulty MM spent time in England (on leave and while recovering after being wounded), he was married, promoted (to Corporal and then to Sergeant), charged (twice for absences without proper authority), and decorated for bravery in battle. After each departure from the battlefield, he returned to serve with the Regiment. McNulty not finally struck off the strength of The RCR until February 1919 when released in England on demobilization.

Dr Joseph Molloy, CPASC

Frequently in trouble, Private Joseph Molloy died of a self-inflicted GSW on 16 March 1916 at Mont-des-Cats.

Menin_Gate_at_midnight_(Will_Longstaff) Private Frederick Freeman Laing — Menin_Gate_at_midnight_(Will_Longstaff)

Dr Leo Landry, CPASC

Private Leo Landry served with the Regiment until Killed in Action on 4 June 1916. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

Pte E. Carroll (a.k.a. Naylor), 1st CGA

Private Ernest Naylor (a.k.a. Ernest Carroll) continued to serve with the Regiment until 9 Sep 1916, when medical fitness to serve classified as “Permanent Base” and transferred to the Canadian Corps Assembly centre (CCAC) at Folkestone.

Pte Thomas O’Meara, 66th Regt PLF

Private Thomas O’Meara landed in France with the Regiment on 1 Nov 1915. After a year at the front given a rest when tasked to work at the Brigade Washing and Drying Plant from Dec 1916 until Feb 1917. He had another short task with the Divisional Headquarters in May that year, and hospitalized in July 1917 with diagnoses of delirium tremens and alcoholism. Thereafter transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool and struck off the strength of the Regiment on 16 Oct 1917 to become a Cook in the Canadian Forestry Corps.

Bramshott Camp © IWM HU 128884 Private Frederick Freeman Laing — Bramshott Camp © IWM HU 128884

Pte A. Shaw, 66th Regt PLF

Private Alfred Shaw continued to serve with The RCR in France until evacuated wounded on 10 Aug 1918. He crossed to England on the Hospital Ship Guildford and struck off the strength of the Regiment to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot in Bramshott.