As Remembrance Day draw closer, we continue to remember those who served. We also remember that Canadians are still serving on the Front Lines in Afghanistan.
In 1908, Cadets Hugh Johnston McLoughlin and William Webster McLoughlin trained at the Lindsay Armouries. They were the sons of Lindsay barrister Robert J McLoughlin and Elsie Webster McLoughlin.
Cadet Hugh J McLoughlin
Cadet William W McLoughlin
Lindsay Cadet Corps, 1908
Both Hugh and William went on to serve in WWI. Hugh was at the University of Toronto studying to be a lawyer. William was also a student at U of T.
On his Attestation papers, Hugh advised that he had 8 years of military training before he enlisted on 23 July 1915 with the 74th Battalion. The 74th did not see action as a unit. Rather on arrival in England they were absorbed by 50th and 52nd Infantry Battalions, as well as the 2nd CMR (Canadian Mounted Rifles) which all saw action in France and Flanders. He rose from Lieutenant to Captain.
Capt. Hugh J McLoughlin
Capt. William McLoughlin's Officer Declaration papers were signed on Feb 10th, 1916, by which time he had already signed up with the 166th battalion of the Queen's Own Rifles. They sailed for England in October 1916 and were absorbed into the 12th Reserve Battalion on January 8, 1917. However, photographic evidence suggests that McLoughlin transferred from the QOR to the 48th Highlanders who went overseas in March 1916 in which case he likely saw action at Arras, Vimy, Hill 70, Ypres, Passchendale, Amiens, the Hindenburg Line, and the persuit to Mons.
Capt. William W McLoughlin
Capt. William W McLoughlin somewhere in France
Both men returned home and to Sturgeon Point where their family cottage, The Brown House, can still be found at Rose Hill.
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