Person Record

Metadata

Name

McLauchlan, George D.

Othernames

George Dillane McLauchlan
known as "GD" to family

Born

1874

Places of residence

Williamsford, Grey County
Owen Sound, Grey County along ______ Street (now called 4th Ave. East)
Toronto, Ontario
England (trips)
Overseas (W.W.#1)
507 10th St. West, Owen Sound (1937 telephone directory) from 1898+

Titles & honors

Honourary Lt. Colonel

Father

James H. McLauchlan

Mother

Hetty McLauchlan (nee Dillane)

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Owen Sound Collegiate Institute (O.S.C.I.)

Notes

George Dillane McLauchlan was one of the sons of James McLauchlan and Hetty Dillane. He was born in 1874.
As a young man, he was very sports-minded. In the 1890s, he belonged to the Owen Sound Clippers Baseball team.
There is an 1894 group photograph in the Grey Roots archives that shows this team and includes G. D. McLauchlan in it.
George McLauchlan owned property that later became known as the Hibou Conservation area. His estate representatives, Goldie Kennedy and Dr. Bebee had it listed for sale in November, 1970. Hibou Park's site was purchased in 1973.

Lieutenant G. D. McLauchlan of the 31st Grey Regiment attended the Royal School of Infantry at Toronto from the 19th of March, 1907, until the 28th of March, 1907, and qualified for the rank of Captain. Capt. McLauchlan later served in the Great War and was in the 20th Battalion (2nd Contingent). He was a military paymaster during the war.

Melba's GROWTH OF A COUNTY TOWN 1900-1920 on page 207 mentions how the 31st Regiment was ordered to recruit 100 men for the 20th Provisional Battalion, to be headed by Capt. George D. McLauchlan (his image, and his mess kit, and a certificate of his were shown in the Lost Regiments exhibit at Grey Roots in 2011).

The Tommy Holmes VC Memorial Armoury (Grey & Simcoe Foresters) owns an officer's mess kit and water bottle that belonged to him when he was "Capt. G. D. McLauchlan B. Co. 20th Btn CEF". This would be during the First World War. Captain McLauchlan lived at Owen Sound before he served overseas. Officers had to purchase their own kit.

Lt.-Colonel George D. McLauchlan's parents were James McLauchlan and Hetty Dillane McLauchlan. George D. McLauchlan lived at "Mont Royal", a residence at the top of the 10th St. West hill, Owen Sound, Grey County. His father was a confectioner and baker in the 19th-century, who developed the "McLauchlan & Sons" biscuit and confectionery company in Owen Sound, and all five of the McLauchlan sons were involved with the business. George became involved with the local militia, and during the First World War, he worked as a paymaster. Lieutenant G. D. McLauchlan of the 31st Grey Regiment attended the Royal School of Infantry at Toronto from the 19th of March, 1907, until the 28th of March, 1907, and qualified for the rank of Captain. Capt. McLauchlan later served in the Great War with the 20th Battalion and was in the 2nd Contingent.

A relative of his wrote the following "George Dillane [McLauchlan]; known as GD at home, was born in 1874-died 1967. He was a sportsman--I have ribbons for wins at O.S.C.I. for running. He enjoyed baseball--I have some of his bats, hunting, fishing. I also have his banjo, which he played in a Minstrel Show. He belonged to a Fishing Club whose camps were in Quebec and Labrador, and he often went to Manitoulin Island for hunting and fishing. George was a military man--he started with school cadets (O.S.C.I.) and attended Niagara Camp for many years (the 31st Grey Regiment went to Camp Niagara for training). He was with the military contingents for the coronations of King Edward VII in 1902, and King George V in 1911. I have replica annointing spoons, brooches and also ___ for pierced earrings. He was with the First Contingent to train at Valcartier [Quebec] for World War 1. When he arrived at camp in Englan, Baden Powell--the founder of Scouts [Boy Scouts]--offered him personally any assistance he would need in England--George had brought the information regarding Scouts back to Owen Sound on one of his previous trips. He was Pay Master, and experienced-if that is the right word for it--Ypres and Somme. His uniforms were given by my aunt to the Clarksburg Military Museum and two of them are included in the new publication by Murray Telford on the military history of Grey County. He was an Honourary Lt. Col. While George worked at the [family] business [McLauchlan & Sons] before and after the war, he dealt in investments and mortgages--between his father and him I am sure anyone interested could "populate" the streets of Owen Sound for many years using the mortgage copies I have. One investment we all know [about] is what is Hibou--the recreational area between Owen Sound and Leith."

One of the players of the Clipper Baseball Club was George Dillane McLauchlan of Owen Sound. He kept a newspaper edition, the UNION STANDARD (Thornbury-Clarksburg), dated Thursday, July 25, 1895, recounting the team's loss to the Thornbury team. McLauchlan was the Pitcher for the Clipper Baseball Club. Unfortunately, the reporter mis-spelt his name as McLaughlan. Grey Roots has an example of a 1894 Clippers Baseball Team ribbon, but it is not known which fellow wore it.

1980.369.001 Photograph of G. D. McLauchlan when elderly
1973.010.134 Deed of Land document between George D. McLauchlan to George Wakeford, Nov. 17, 1905
1973.111.006 Thermometer that belonged to G. D. McLauchlan
1973.111.157 Membership card for the Clipper Baseball team, for G. D. McLauchlan (1892)

Occupation

McLauchlan & Sons Company Limited (Biscuits/Candy industry)
Cement Industry
Accountant
Businessman (Investments and Mortgages)
Militia Officer
First World War (20th Battalion) / Veteran
Baseball Player (Clippers Baseball Club)
Sportsman / Hunting & Fishing
Boy Scouts
Lt. Colonel

Publications

McLauchlan, Gayle, THE McLAUCHLANS OF OWEN SOUND, 1991
Telford, Murray M., SCARLET TO GREEN, 1987 (shows 2 of McLauchlan's military uniforms)
White, Paul, OWEN SOUND: THE PORT CITY, 2000, p. 99, has a group image of baseball players and includes McLauchlan, but mis-spells his name.