Background

Laughlin Donaldson King was born March 4, 1888 in Fredericton, New Brunswick to Elizabeth McDonald and Edward Myles King. Elizabeth and Edward both came from the Sheffield area and married one another April 24, 1871. According to census records, Laughlin had 4 siblings named Lillian, John, Edward, and Lee. Documents reveal that the King family lived in Fredericton for most of Laughlin's upbringing and that they lived at 269 Charlotte Street. His father worked as a lumberman throughout New Brunswick and Quebec, and Elizabeth kept their home and raised their children. While few details illustrate his early life, in September of 1895, tragedy hit the family. The Fredericton Daily Gleaner reports that while away in St. Magoire, Quebec for work with his brother Fred, Edward suffered an accidental self-inflicted gun-shot wound after falling in the woods. According to the report in the Gleaner at the time, Fred and Edward had gone deer hunting approximately sixty miles into the woods of St. Magoire when, according to accounts, Edward tripped on something causing his gun to mis-fire. He died shortly after the accident. Accounts suggest that the family had been planning to move to Quebec so that everyone could be closer while Edward was working in the woods. As a result of Edward's death, the family remained in Fredericton where Laughlin found work as a cook and some military training with the 71st Regiment. Eventually he left New Brunswick altogether and went out west where, according to newspapers, the family lost contact with him for ten years until the outbreak of the war. At the time of his formal enlistment in Edmonton, Alberta, September 8, 1915, Laughlin was twenty-seven years old and unmarried. According to his attestation document, he was described as having blue eyes, fair hair, a blonde complexion, while standing 5 feet 11 inches tall. Private King remained in Edmonton for training over the winter of 1915-1916, until the spring saw his unit make final preparations for going overseas. Records show that his brother, Lee, also enlisted. Laughlin never returned.

Wartime Experience

On April 28, 1916 he embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Olympic for England with the 66th Battalion. Upon arrival Laughlin would transfer to the 8th Battalion, and by June 29 he landed in France after less than a month of training in England. Private King was arriving at an important time in the war as Allies prepared for the battle of the Somme which began the first of July. While Canadian units were not formally brought into key phases of the Somme battles until September, many Canadians fought in British units throughout much of the Somme. After arriving with the 8th Battalion to the Somme region, information on Laughlin's specific movements is limited. According to his service record, the information shows him being with his unit in this region as fighting continued over the summer and into the fall. By September, Private King was near Puchevillers, France when, according to his circumstances of death record, he received a gunshot wound to the abdomen leaving him with wounds that medical staff could not treat. Laughlin passed away in number 3 casualty clearing station on September 14, 1916. News of his death was reported in the Daily Gleaner a week later confirming that he had succumbed to wounds after only a few months on the front line. Leaving behind 4 siblings, and his medals to his brother, Lee, Laughlin was thirty-one years of age at the time of his death.

Lest We Forget

Private Laughlin Donaldson King is buried at Puchevillers British Cemetery located in Puchevillers, France. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he is one of approximately 1, 756 identified casualties in his cemetery.