Ebenezer McLauchlan was the son of James and Janet Greig McLauchlan and the husband of Georgina McLauchlan, of Barnhill, Kinnoull, Perth. At the time of his death he was 35 years of age and had three children, the youngest of which was a babe-in-arms.

SAINT-VALERY-EN-CAUX, JUNE 1940

After the evacuation at Dunkirk - codenamed Operation Dynamo - the 51st Highland Division and the French forces were forced back to St Valery-en-Caux. After arriving in the harbour on 10th June and finding no one there, the Navy had withdrawn on the 11th and after coming under air attack pulled further out to sea.

When the order came to carry out the evacuation it was too late. A combination of fog obscuring the coast, the loss of several boats and the fact that the enemy occupied the cliffs overlooking the town, made evacuation impossible. General Fortune considered all the options: a counter attack, further resistance, or re-taking the town, but against this there was no possibility of evacuation or support. The men were exhausted and virtually out of ammunition, with no artillery ammunition at all.

Shortly before 1000 hrs on 12th June General Fortune took the most difficult of decisions - to surrender. 2,000 men had lost their lives during this action around St Valery and 10,000 were taken prisoner. They took part in a forced march, followed by transport on cattle trucks and barges, during which many men lost their lives. Those who survived spent the rest of the war as POWs in Germany and German-occupied Poland.

Ebenezer McLauchlan lost his life during the final day of the retreat to St Valery and is buried with three other comrades in the communal cemetery in Ourville-en-Caux, which is 12 miles inland from St Valery.

The four comrades are the only Commonwealth casualties buried in this cemetery - the other three casualties are:

Serjeant William Erskine Campbell Chapman, RASC, age 38. Son of James and Norah Mahoney Chapman; husband of Jane Kydd Chapman, of Alyth, Perthshire.

Private Robert Angel Lancaster, 7th Bn. Royal Norfolk Regiment, age 21. Son of Walter and Winifred Lancaster, of Holloway, London.

Private Robert Andersin McDonald, Gordon Highlanders, age 22. Son of John and Helen McDonald, of Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. 

Dundee Courier, 19th July 1940

“A Perth man and his brother-in-law posted missing are Staff-Sgt. Ebe. M‘Laughlan, Smythfield, Barnhill, Perth, and Sgt. J M‘Donald, Mill of Fyall, Alyth. Both joined Territorials eight years ago."

“Staff-Sgt. M‘Laughlan, employed by Perth Corporation for about three years, is 35 and is a son of Mrs J. M‘Laughlan, Creich Farm, Luthrie, Cupar, and secretary of Perth Corporation Sports Club. His son was dux of Kinnoull School this year."

“Sgt. M‘Donald (34) was employed as head forester on Bamff estate, Alyth, for about two years. Has a family of two. His parents reside at South Lodge, Abercarny, Crieff."