John Laughran (Loughran)

Died of Pneumonia on the 27/10/1918 at the 16th General Hospital, Le Treport

John was part of the Training and Tank Troops Reinforcement Depot at Mers-les-Bains (near Le Tréport) in 1918 before he died. The Tank Corps motto was "Through mud and blood to the green fields beyond". On the 04/07/1918 at Le Hamel and in front of Amiens on the 08/08/1918, Tanks played a central role in the crushing success of the Allied attack. Before Hamel, the Australian Corps carried out intensive training with the Tanks in order to overcome lingering doubts after Bullecourt and to tighten up Infantry / Tank co-operation. 450 of them took part in the Amiens attack, where the Whippets and various armoured cars penetrated deep behind the German defences. In conjunction with the new Artillery and Infantry tactics, Tanks proved to be useful in crushing wire ; over-running Machine Gun posts and strong points; helping Infantry through the streets of destroyed villages. However, Tank losses were significant and within days of the initial assault the Tank Corps was a temporarily spent force. It was not until the assaults on the Hindenburg Line in late September 1918 that a large enough force had been assembled again. From the 21/08/1918 to the Armistice on 11/11/1918, some 2,400 men and Officers of the Tank Corps became casualties. John Died of Pneumonia just 2 weeks before the Armistice. John is listed as LOUGHRAN on the Coatbridge Memorial. John was formerly with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry (19286). A big thanks to Jennifer Croall for the family information. During the First World War, Le Treport was an important Hospital centre and by July 1916, the town contained three General Hospitals (the 3rd, 16th and 2nd Canadian), No.3 Convalescent Depot and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital. The 7th Canadian, 47th and 16th USA General Hospitals arrived later, but all of the Hospitals had closed by March 1919. As the original Military Cemetery at Le Treport filled, it became necessary to use the new site at Mont Huon. There are now 2,128 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the Cemetery and seven from the Second World War. The Cemetery also contains more than 200 German war graves. John and his brother Francis are also remembered on the St. Augustine's Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 3, john's Pension Records x 2, Mont Huon Military Cemetery, his former Regiment the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and the Tank Corps Cap Badge. John's grave inscription reads "ETERNAL REST GIVE UNTO HIM O LORD". Finally, see photos for a Newspaper clipping from the Coatbridge Express 06/01/1915 showing the St. Augustine's Church Roll of Honour (John and his brother Francis listed).