George Smith McLachlan was killed in action on 16/10/1944, aged 21. He was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, 75 Anti Tank Regiment (Service No. 1147690). He was initially buried on Janssen’s property in Loobeek east of Overloon, then re-interred on 2 June 1947 in Grave IV. E. 14. at the CWGC Cemetery in Overloon. His grave is inscribed “Brave he must have been and kind to leave so fragrant a memory behind.”
 
The photo above is believed by both family and Overloon War Chronicles Foundation to be that of George Smith McLachlan, although it is not certain. The logic supporting this belief is made clear in the story below. If anyone knows otherwise or has another photo of George please contact the Foundation.

Military career

George may, at some point, have been in the  Royal Artillery 51 (West Highland) Anti Tank Regiment which was disbanded in July 1940. There is a reference to this Regiment on a Royal Artillery Attestation record for him with a date of 30/4/1942 – though this was after it was disbanded. At some point he must have joined the 75 Anti Tank regiment. It had been formed in November 1940. It was based in the UK until June 1944. It was part of 11 Armoured Division.
 
The Regiment had a poor start when it attempted to land in Normandy after D-Day. The majority of the Regiment embarked at Southend on 14 June but their vessel ran aground on the Goodwin Sands overnight on 15/16 June and had to return to Southend. By 18 June, the whole Regiment was in Normandy where they supported other Regiments through the rest of June, July and into August. On 21 August, when they were to the south of Falaise in France, it was recorded in the war diary that “ Normandy ‘Sack’  closed last night – disaster for the Germans”.
 
By 31 August, the Regiment had reached Amiens and it was recorded that there was: “a tremendous and very moving welcome given to troops in Amiens and, in fact in all villages passed through since crossing the Seine.”
 
The Regiment advanced on into Belgium, entering Antwerp on 4 September. Again, there was a report that “since crossing the frontier we have passed through Tournai, Renaix and numerous villages and have encountered scenes of extraordinary enthusiasm everywhere”. They remained in Antwerp until 9 September when they continued the advance, reaching Peer and Wychmael on the 11 and 12 September where they had a brief rest.
 
On 17 September it was recorded that Operations Market and Garden had commenced and that 8 Corps was to provide right flank protection to 30 Corps. The Regiment began to enter the Netherlands on 20 September. By 25 September, 119 and 338 Batteries had reached St Anthonis. On 26 September, 119 Battery was at Oploo while 338 and 118 were in the vicinity of St Anthonis, with the former providing anti-tank protection for the village. 117 Battery was in Mortel.
 
On 29 September, 11 Armoured Division was relieved by the 7 US Armoured Division and the Regimental HQ moved to Gemert with Battalions being there and in Mortel where they had a rest and maintenance period until 7 October.
 
On 7 October, 11 Armoured Division relieved the 7 US Armoured Division in the area south of St Anthonis facing Overloon. At this time, 118 and 338 Batteries were deployed in and around St Anthonis while 119 Battery was in the De Rips area and 117 Battery was in reserve at Mortel. This situation remained the same for the next few days, with the war diary reporting on 10 October that it was “a quiet day. 119 Bty reported shooting impossible owing to pouring rain and bad visibility.”  117 Battery also moved up to St Anthonis on 11 October.
 
On 12 October it was reported that Operation Constellation had started, with 3 British Division passing through 11 Armoured Division to attack Overloon. The Regiment’s Batteries were still deployed as before. On 14 October the Regiment seems to have been deployed well to the north of Overloon and east of St Anthonis with the role of protecting the eastern flank of the advancing troops – with a similar role on 15th, clearing the enemy east of the British 3rd Division. A note in the War Diary that day says “Country most unsuitable for A.tk. guns”.
 
On 16 October it was recorded that Sgt. Taylor’s SP (117 Bty) had been knocked out. This took place just 500m north west of Smakt. It records the event as follows: “Believed hit by enemy tank or SP gun from SW direction. Nothing seen of enemy gun. Three killed, Sgt Taylor, Bde Franklin and Gnr McLachlan G.S. Two wounded  D/Mech Hoare and D/Op Day. Gun was well camouflaged and position may have been given away when the gun went in at 1730 hrs the previous evening, or by tanks of F & F Yeo which were firing nearby at the time and may have attracted close study and return fire. Sgt Brettle attempted to get Sgt Taylor out of the K.O’d SP while ammunition was still exploding, succeeded but Sgt Taylor was almost dead. Sgt Brettle badly burned on hands but did not report fact.”

Family background

The CWGC indicates that George was the son of Margaret and Lachlan McLachlan and another military record indicates that he was born in Pollockshields, Glasgow. Pollockshields lies south of Glasgow City centre and south of the River Clyde.
 
George Smith McLachlan was called George Smith at birth. He was born on 16/12/1922 at 20 Stevenson Drive, Glasgow to Margaret Smith. No father’s name was given on his birth certificate. Margaret was a Domestic Servant and her place of residence when the birth was registered was given as 32 John Street, Larkhall. The birth was initially registered in Glasgow on 26/12/1922 and later transcribed into the Larkhall Register on 27/12/1922. There is a note of a clerical error as the Parish of Birth should have been given as Cathcart in Glasgow. Cathcart is to the south of Pollockshields. Larkhall is on the main road heading south east out of Glasgow through the Scottish Borders.
 
Margaret was the daughter of James Smith and Jane Hamilton Lawson who had married on 23/2/1883 at Bellfield, in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire after banns according to the Church of Scotland. James had been born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire while Jane had been born in Lasmahagow. Lesmahagow is further south than Larkhall, on the same road. At the time of the marriage, James was a coalminer aged 23 who was living at Larkhall. His father was Robert Smith (deceased) who had been a coalminer and his mother was Betsy Smith (nee Barr). Jane was a Domestic Servant aged 20 living at Bellfield, Lesmahagow. Her father was John Lawson, a Limestone Miner, and her mother was Elizabeth Lawson (nee Twaddle). The witnesses were Alexander Smith and Betsy Lawson.
 
They had eight children as follows, all in Larkhall: Robert 1883, Elizabeth Twaddle 1885, Jeanie 1887, John Lawson 1890, Margaret 1892, Marion or Minnie 1885, James 1897, Janet Lawson 1900, Isabella 1903.
 
In 1891 they were living at 2, Hamilton Street, Dalserf, Larkhall with their first four children. James was still working as a coalminer. In 1901 they were living at Spaldings Buildings, Wellgate Street, Larkhall, Dalserf. All their first eight children except Elizabeth were with them. This included Margaret, shown as Maggie. James was still a coalminer and son Robert was a Slater and daughter Jeanie was a domestic servant. They were still in Larkhall in both 1911 and 1921. In 1911 only the six youngest children were present, except Margaret who seemed to have left home by then. By 1921, only the youngest two children were at home. It isn’t known where Margaret was in 1911 or 1921.
 
Margaret Smith married Lachlan McLachlan on 8/12/1925 at 12 Osborne Place, Govan, Glasgow after banns according to the Free Church of Scotland. Lachlan was aged 57 and a widower whereas Margart Smith was  just 33 and a spinster. Govan is on the south bank of the Clyde, east of Glasgow City Centre.
 
Lachlan McLachlan had been born in 1867 in Tarbert in Argyll. He was the son of Donald McLachlan, a fisherman, and Mary McLachlan (nee McArthur). He married Barbara McAlpine in 1895 in Govan. Barbara Smith McAlpine had been born in 1877 in Govan and was the daughter of Peter McAlpine and Eliza Carmichael who had married in Govan in 1876. Lachlan and Barbara had a son, Peter McAlpine McLachlan, in 1896 in Cambuslang. In 1901 they were living with Peter at Aitchison’s Land, Kilcalmonell, Tarbert, Argyllshire. Lachlan was working as a Vanman. All three were living in Govan by 1911. In June 1921, Lachlan and Barbara were living at 635 Govan Road, Glasgow. With them was a niece, Margaret Carter aged 6, who was born in Glasgow. Lachlan was working as a Motor Driver for the Fairfield Shipbuilding Coy Ltd. By this time their son, Peter, was working as a Ship’s Steward so was probably at sea at the time of the census. Peter married Mary Currie in 1923 and had two children, Ian McAlpine McLachan in 1923 and Peter McAlpine McLachlan in 1925.
 
 Barbara Smith McLachlan, aged 47, died in 1924 in Cathcart (Mother’s maiden name Carmichael).
 
At the time of his marriage to Margaret Smith, Lachlan McLachlan was working as an “Engineer’s Slinger” and living at 8 Mathieson Street, Govan, Glasgow. Margaret Smith was working as a domestic servant and living at 60 St Bride’s Road, Newlands, Glasgow. This is near Pollockshields. The witnesses were Donald Carmichael of 338 Duke Street, Dennistoun and Isabella M Fraser of 12 Osborne Place, Govan. The marriage was conducted by William Fraser, Minister of St Columba’s Free Church, Govan.
 
It is assumed that, after her marriage, George Smith took the name George Smith McLachlan. Sadly, he died on 16/10/1944 near Overloon.
 
Lachlan McLachlan died in 1948 in Govan aged 80 and Margaret McLachlan died in 1977 in Glasgow aged 84.
 
A photo of what is thought to be George Smith McLachlan has been provided by the granddaughter of Peter McAlpine McLachlan, son of Lachlan McLachlan by his first marriage. It was found in a box of photos belonging to her parents. It is not named, but she does not know of any other relatives who served in the Army and it does not look like any of her relatives. Her uncle Peter served in the RAF at the end of the war and her father worked in a reserved occupation at Govan shipyard. Her grandfather, Peter, was a steward on the White Star Line and her other grandfather was a baker so also in a reserved occupation. Overloon War Chronicles Foundation supports the logic of this argument, that it most probably is of George Smith McLachlan.

From FindMyPast: Scottish Census; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
From Scotland’s People: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; Scottish Census
RA 39-45 Website
War Diaries from Normandy War Guide website
Thanks to Sheila Phillips for assistance and the probable photo of George.

Research Elaine Gathercole