1967 Great-Grandson Henry Milford applied for the Gallipoli Medallion and Badge
Malcolm McLaran's descendants' contributions to World War 1
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Six of Malcolm McLaran's grandchildren and great-grandchildren enlisted in World War 1, and one contributed in a unique way. Walter Milford paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Grandson:
Great Grandsons:
One Great Grandson made a significant technical contribution to the success of World War 1:
But in contrast, his brother was more a hinderance to the war effort:
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The Milford Brothers
James William McLaran
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Resting place of Walter Milford, KIA 11 Aug 1915
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Walter Milford’s World War 1 History:
Enlisted at Dalby 15 Dec 1914 Height 5'8" Age 19 yrs 11 months Trade - stockman Weight 147 lbs, complexion dark, eyes grey, hair brown Religion - Roman Catholic Appointed to 2nd Light Horse Regiment at Enoggera 9 Feb 15 Embarked at Brisbane on the "Itria" 9 Jul 15 Sailed to the Darnelles Killed in action 11 Aug 1915. Buried Plot 3 Row F Grave 6, Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, about 400 yards south east of Anzac Cove, Gallipoli. Personal effects returned to mother – small tin of photos, cards, tobacco case, wallet |
Dec 1914: the tragic letter written by Walter Milford's parents consenting to his enlistment.
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7 Sep 1915
AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES - SEVENTY-FOURTH LIST.
The seventy-fourth list, of Australian casualties was issued today. It contained 971 fresh names and includes 108 Queenslanders, as follows: ...
Killed in Action. Private W. Milford Dalby - 15th Battalion / Light Horse
1915 Dalby Herald
DALBY SOLDIER WOUNDED.
The relatives of Henry Milford, a Dalby soldier, have been notified that he has been wounded at the Dardanelles. He is a son of Mr Donald Milford, of this town.
AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES - SEVENTY-FOURTH LIST.
The seventy-fourth list, of Australian casualties was issued today. It contained 971 fresh names and includes 108 Queenslanders, as follows: ...
Killed in Action. Private W. Milford Dalby - 15th Battalion / Light Horse
1915 Dalby Herald
DALBY SOLDIER WOUNDED.
The relatives of Henry Milford, a Dalby soldier, have been notified that he has been wounded at the Dardanelles. He is a son of Mr Donald Milford, of this town.
1916 Harry Milford wrote to his mother from Egypt
4 Mar 1916 The Dalby Herald
A SOLDIER'S LETTER.
Private Harry Milford, of the Machine gun section of the 15th Battalion, writes from Egypt to his mother in Dalby, under date of January 12, as follows:
You will know by the time you get this that we have left the Dardanelles and now we are on ___ (censored). We landed here on December 31, and we are expecting a big battle here shortly. We are well prepared and will give the Turks some of what they gave us at Gallipoli. We had a hard time of it on the Peninsula, and I think it was best to get out of it altogether. We had a very poor Xmas. We got our billy cans all right and that cheered us up a little, but it was pretty hard to have to eat bully beef and biscuits for Christmas dinner. This is the second Xmas we have had on the water, and I hope the next one will be in Australia. I have met a lot of Dalby boys over here, and some of them are in the 31st Battalion not far from us.
We are all about run down and I think it is about up to them to give all the old hands a trip back to Australia. The sand here is awful; and we can't eat anything but it is half full of sand. We are right out in the sandy desert waiting for Johnny Turk to come along. I have had some narrow shaves since I came back from England and have been in places where a bird could not fly without being hit by a bullet, and men have been falling all around me. I thought I would never get out alive. I am in the best of health and will be going into Cairo in a few days. My letters have been going astray and I have only received one since I left England.
4 Mar 1916 The Dalby Herald
A SOLDIER'S LETTER.
Private Harry Milford, of the Machine gun section of the 15th Battalion, writes from Egypt to his mother in Dalby, under date of January 12, as follows:
You will know by the time you get this that we have left the Dardanelles and now we are on ___ (censored). We landed here on December 31, and we are expecting a big battle here shortly. We are well prepared and will give the Turks some of what they gave us at Gallipoli. We had a hard time of it on the Peninsula, and I think it was best to get out of it altogether. We had a very poor Xmas. We got our billy cans all right and that cheered us up a little, but it was pretty hard to have to eat bully beef and biscuits for Christmas dinner. This is the second Xmas we have had on the water, and I hope the next one will be in Australia. I have met a lot of Dalby boys over here, and some of them are in the 31st Battalion not far from us.
We are all about run down and I think it is about up to them to give all the old hands a trip back to Australia. The sand here is awful; and we can't eat anything but it is half full of sand. We are right out in the sandy desert waiting for Johnny Turk to come along. I have had some narrow shaves since I came back from England and have been in places where a bird could not fly without being hit by a bullet, and men have been falling all around me. I thought I would never get out alive. I am in the best of health and will be going into Cairo in a few days. My letters have been going astray and I have only received one since I left England.
Comments
Henry Milford (1890 – 1975)
Walter’s older brother claimed he was present at Gallipoli for both the landing and the evacuation. Henry was discharged in 1916 and in 1919 his wife delivered him a son whom they named Walter.
James William McLaran (1898 – 1989)
Youngest son of Donald McLaran, James was only 18 years of age when he enlisted. He saw active service in France in and was gassed several times. According to oral family history, Jim famously tossed his war medals into the Condamine River in disgust.
Harry Twine (1894 – 1933)
The second son of Agnes Sullivan, Harry enlisted but was discharged as “unsuited to military service”. Harry was a convicted pick-pocket.
Thomas Eversden Brown (1896 – 1967)
A grandson of Lewis Eversden and Jane Rider, Thomas enlisted in 1915 but returned from Cairo in 1916 suffering from TB and was discharged.
Any participation by descendants of Margaret McLaren or Alexander McLaren in World War 1 AIF remains undiscovered to date.
Henry Milford (1890 – 1975)
Walter’s older brother claimed he was present at Gallipoli for both the landing and the evacuation. Henry was discharged in 1916 and in 1919 his wife delivered him a son whom they named Walter.
James William McLaran (1898 – 1989)
Youngest son of Donald McLaran, James was only 18 years of age when he enlisted. He saw active service in France in and was gassed several times. According to oral family history, Jim famously tossed his war medals into the Condamine River in disgust.
Harry Twine (1894 – 1933)
The second son of Agnes Sullivan, Harry enlisted but was discharged as “unsuited to military service”. Harry was a convicted pick-pocket.
Thomas Eversden Brown (1896 – 1967)
A grandson of Lewis Eversden and Jane Rider, Thomas enlisted in 1915 but returned from Cairo in 1916 suffering from TB and was discharged.
Any participation by descendants of Margaret McLaren or Alexander McLaren in World War 1 AIF remains undiscovered to date.