During the search for soldiers of the 18th Battalion I found Lieutenant Thayer Vincent Milford a site was found referring to him as belonging to the Western Ontario Regiment on the West Carlton Honour Roll. As I perused the site I noticed an entry for a Lieutenant Ewen McLachlin. Having a connection through relatives to this name I did further research and it is apparent that this soldier is related to my children through their mother.
The McLachlin name here is associated with the McLachlin Brothers Lumber business and Ewen McLachlin was a family member. Ewen was most likely the grandson of Daniel McLachlin who was the founder of the family firm and a very important business person in the Ottawa Valley.
Ewen McLachlin branched out from his Ottawa Valley roots and Arnprior attending McGill in Applied Science from 1905 to 1907 and seems to have branched out to other businesses listing himself in his attestation papers as an “Electrical Manufacturer” but whatever his connection with his family he was well off.
He lived at 5 Blackburn Avenue in the Sandy Hill area of Ottawa home still to some of the wealthiest families in Ottawa and many embassies. Ironically I was to live in that area in the summer of 1994 living in residence at the University of Ottawa.
Regardless of his circumstances Ewen McLachlin felt the need to volunteer for service in His Majesties forces and joined the Unit Reserve Brigade Canadian Field Artillery at the age of 29 on October 27th, 1916 and was attested in Shorncliffe, Kent, England.
Listing his prior military experience as the Governor Generals Foot Guards with 3 years experience. There is a chance that his attestation paper reflects the fact that Ewen McLachlin joined an infantry unit initially and then was transferred to the Canadian Field Artillery as elements of the Guards made up 2nd Battalion C.E.F. then the 77th Battalion (Ottawa) until it was disbanded to populate other units.
At this time Lieutenant Ewen McLachlin’s service record is not digitized and it will be interesting to revisit this soldier and see the actual trail of his service in the C.E.F. It is also possible that he traveled as a private citizen and joined the C.E.F. in England. It is curious that he join an artillery unit given his experience in an infantry unit.
Sadly, Lieutenant Ewen McLachlin died accidentally on August 19th, 1917 at Seabrook, Hythe, Kent, England according to the McGill Honor Roll.
It is curious that he listed his sister as his next of kin at the time of attestation, his profession as being related to the electrical business, and that his grave has not special epitaph or sentiment on it. Below is a picture of the comprehensive list of gravestones listing any markers that had special inscriptions on them. Though this document is not dated it is sensible to believe that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission worked hard after the war to record any requests from families and meet those requests. Perhaps the McLachlin family was so heart broken by their loss that no inscription was deemed warranted.
Perhaps we will never know the answers to these questions.
APPLIED SCIENCE 1905-07
Born at Arnprior, Ont., February 22nd, 1887. Enlisted, October 27th, 1916, in the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Accidentally killed at Seabrook, Hythe, Kent, England, August 19th, 1917.
Below are some more images and a summary of Lieutenant McLachlin’s Attestation papers.
| Lt. Ewen McLachlin | Attested October 27, 1916 in Shornecliffe, Kent, England |
| What is your name? | Ewen McLachlin |
| In what Town, Township or Parish, and in what Country where you born?/What is your present address? | Arnprior, Ontario, Canada |
| What is the name of your next-of-kin? | Mrs. S. D. Hall (sister) |
| What is the address of your next-of-kin? | Arnprior, Ontario, Canada |
| What is your date of birth? | February 22, 1887 |
| What is your Trade or Calling? | Electrical Manufacturer |
| Are you married? | No |
| Are you willing to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated? | Yes |
| Do you belong to the Active Militia? | No |
| Have you ever served in any Military Force? | Governor Generals Foot Guards, Ottawa, 3 years |
| Do you understand the nature and terms of your engagement? | Yes |
| Are you willing to be attested to service in the CANADIAN OVER-SEAS EXPIDITIONARY FORCE? | Yes |
| Apparent Age | 29 years 8 months |
| Distinctive Marks | |
| Height | 5’ 6.75” |
| Girth when fully expanded | 35” |
| Range of expansion | 3“ |
| Complexion | Dark |
| Eyes | Blue |
| Hair | Dark |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Notations on Page 1 | Unite: Reserve Brigade C.F.A., 2nd [Brgd?], Shornecliffe, Temp. Lieut. 23.6, |
| Notations on Page 2 | None |
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History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 
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