Capt Colin Laird

• Age: 29
• From: Crewe, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 20th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Colin was born in Crewe, Cheshire, in August 1888, his parents, William Dunlop Laird and his wife Catherine (nee Pottie) who had married in Nantwich in 1881.

The 1891 Census shows Colin, aged two living with his parents and two siblings at "Stainforth", Newton Lane, Chester. His father was born in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire in 1857 and he is shown as Chief inspector of weights and measures, whilst his mother, shown as Kate, was born in Crewe in 1858. His siblings , both born in Crewe are recorded as; Harry Dunlop aged 8 and Louise Maxwell aged 5 both shown as scholars.

By 1901 the family have moved to "Rosthern", Newton Lane, Chester. Colin is now 12 years of age. Both parents are present alongside Colin's sister Louise now 15. Also present is Norah Laird described as "sister" so obviously she is Colin's aunt.   

The 1911 Census shows Colin as a 22-year-old accountant employed by the County Council and living in Shavington Avenue with his parents William and Kate, and his sister Louise and Flora MacAlister a domestic servant.

Colin enlisted in Liverpool in the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, on 1^st September 1914 as Private 16105.  He gives his age as 26 years and 4 days, and his occupation as accountant.  He is described as being 5’8” tall, weighing 148 lbs, with brown hair and eyes.  He gives his next of kin as his father, William Dunlop Laird, “Glascoed”, Newton, Chester. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 20^th May 1915, and was discharged on 31^st August 1915 “for the purpose of re-enlisting in the Inns of Court O.T.C.”.  After Officer Training, he joined the 19^th Bn K.L.R.

In the supplement to the London Gazette, 30^th December 1915: Colin Laird to be Temporary 2^nd Lieutenant, dated 13^th December.

He married Gladys Mary Gratton Lloyd on 3^rd June 1916 when he was 27 years old. They married in the Chapelry of Formby; Colin gives his address as “Willowbank”, Piercefield Road, Formby, and his occupation as “2nd Lieutenant, H.M. Army”.  The marriage certificate shows that Gladys was from ‘Meillionen’, Prestatyn, Flintshire. Colin's father was Chief Inspector of Weights and. Measures for Chester County Council.

It is not certain when he reported for duty, but he is first mentioned in the 19th Battalion War Diary in mid November 1916, then in the trenches at Pommier on the Somme from a course at the 30th Divisional Grenade School. He is further mentioned for leave and courses throughout 1917,so it is possible that his service was closely allied to the movements of the Battalion. By mid July 1917 his rank is shown as Lieutenant, and at the time of his death in action in Belgium on 20th September 1917,’ Officers Died in the Great War ‘ shows him to be acting Captain.

On that day, the Battalion had just relieved the 17th Battalion in the front line trenches close to Ravine Wood, near Dranoutre. Captain Laird was ordered to make a raid on two enemy block houses known as the Twins, and just before 06.00am he led a party of twenty five other ranks over the top. The attackers were machine gunned and despite several attempts to reach the objective, they were beaten back. In the process, Captain Laird and six other ranks were also killed, and fourteen other ranks were wounded. Laird was aged twenty nine.

His body was not found and identified after the war, and he is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient, at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Details of the action in whch he was killed were recorded in the Battalion diary:

19^th September 1917 – In support in Denys Wood.  Battalion relieved 17^th KLR in front line. Relief complete about 11 p.m.   

20^th September 1917 – A raid was carried out by a party of the battalion of 25 OR under Capt. C. Laird, just before 6 a.m. on The Twins. Enemy machine gun fire, however, proved too much for them, although several attempts were made to reach the objective.  Capt. C. Laird was killed in the operation, also 6 OR, and 14 OR were wounded.

Graham Maddocks in “Liverpool Pals”, p.178, explains: 

 “The remainder of September was fairly uneventful for the rest of the Pals Battalions, except for two trench raids made by the 19^th Battalion on 20 September 1917, which, elsewhere on the Salient, was the opening day of the phase of the offensive later referred to as the Battle of the Menin Road. These raids were made for two purposes. The first was an attempt to confuse the enemy as to the intensity and direction of the main attack, and the second was to try to capture two blockhouses known as ‘The Twins’, which commanded the 19^th Battalion’s trench front, and thus was able to dominate all its movement. The raiding party, consisting of Captain C. Laird, and twenty-five other ranks left the British front line at 6.00 a.m. and moved into No Man’s Land. However, it was soon spotted, and machine guns opened fire from the blockhouses. Despite a most determined effort to carry the objectives, the situation was hopeless from the start, and Laird and six other ranks were killed and fourteen more soldiers were wounded.”

 From the Chester Chronicle, 29^th September 1917

Lieut. Colin Laird (Killed):  News of the death in action, on the 20^th Sept., of Lieut. (Acting Capt.) Colin Laird, of the King’s Liverpool Regt., and younger son of Mr. W. D. Laird, Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures to the Cheshire County Council, and Mrs. Laird, Plas Coed, Shavington Avenue, Chester and district.  Lieut. Laird, who was 29, was an old King’s School boy, and after completing his education entered the office of the County Accountant.  As soon as war broke out he responded to the country’s call and joined the King’s Liverpool Regt. On the 21^st  [sic] Sept., 1914.  After twelve months’ training he obtained a commission in the same regiment, and had been at the front 13 months, and in much severe fighting.  His death has caused sorrow among his brother officers and the men of his battalion, among whom he was esteemed for his personal qualities and his efficiency and gallantry as a soldier.  The Lieut-Col. commanding the battalion, writing to his parents, says that he was leading a party of men endeavouring to capture a German strong point in the big battle, and from stories gleaned from his men, he was killed instantaneously by a German machine gun when only about 20 yards from his objective.  The commanding officer added, “He died gallantly as a fine soldier and an English gentleman.  His loss to me is a great one, as I had great trust in his capability and courage.  He was rapidly being promoted in the profession which he took up when his country called him.  He was always cheerful and bright, and it was always a pleasure to meet him.  I know nothing can help you in your great sorrow at this moment, but hope that possibly his brother officers’ and my own great opinion of him will somewhat help to soften the trouble.  With great sympathy from his brother officers and myself.” 

In civil life as in the Army Lieut. Laird was held in high esteem.  His never-failing cheerfulness and good heart made him popular wherever he went.  He was an enthusiastic oarsman, having been for several years an active member of the Grosvenor Rowing Club, of which he had been vice-captain.  He was always looked upon as a thorough sportsman.  He had rowed in successful crews of the Grosvenor Club, and was a useful oar, but at sculling he shone most, and gave promise of developing into a really good sculler.  He had won the junior sculls at Chester regatta, and at the last regatta competed unsuccessfully against strong opposition for the championship of the Dee.  He had also won several sculling races.

He leaves a widow, and to her and the other members of his family much sympathy will be extended.

Colin is commemorated on the Hoole and Newton Memorial, Cheshire.

He is remembered on his parents’ gravestone in Overleigh New Cemetery, Chester:

“In proud and loving memory, Colin Laird, Capt., 19^th Bn The King’s Liverpool Regt., Younger son of the above who fell in action in Flanders, Sept. 20^th 1917, Aged 29 years.”

His mother died in 1927 and his father in 1945.  His widow Gladys never remarried, and died in 1983, at the age of 92.

We currently have no further information on Colin Laird. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.