The Great War: Vimy Ridge
George Van Wyck Laughton, M.C.

Timeline for George Van Wyck Laughton	Source of Information and Web Link:
September 1915 University of Toronto Faculty of Law, COTC (Canadian Officers Training Corps)	University of Toronto, Roll of Service 1914-1918 Page 343: LAUGHTON, George Van Wyck; University Coll. 1919; 7th Regt., Lieut. 142nd Bn., Lieut., Nov. 1915; Northumberland Fusiliers, Sec. Lieut.; France, Jan. 1917. Armentieres, Arras secs., Vimy; Wounded, Vimy, April 29, 1917; Invalided June 1917; att. U of T O/S Tr. Coy.; Discharged April 1918; M.C., Arras Apl. 1917.
December 13, 1915 to February 11, 1916 Qualified for the rank of Lieutenant, 7th Regiment Fusiliers School of Infantry, Department of Militia and Defence London Ontario CANADA	Canadian Military History Gateway The London, Ontario unit that was given the number 7 in the list of Canadian Volunteer Militia infantry battalions was formed in 1866 from six independent companies. Like many others in the Canadian militia, the London unit chose to imitate the title and dress of one of the more impressive types of British regular infantry - in this case the fusiliers, with their bearskin busby. This plate shows an officer in full dress. Land Forces: The Canadian Fusiliers The Canadian Fusiliers web site indicates that Fusiliers were reorganized in 1920 to perpetuate the CEF (3rd Battalion perpetuating 142nd Battalion CEF). I assume that means they were somehow related prior to that time as well, or was the 7th Regiment Fusiliers always part of the 142nd Battalion?  The answer lies in the 7th Regiment providing recruits for the 142nd Battalion.
March 3, 1916 Record Record of Officer's Service December 8, 1915 to March 3, 1916 142nd Overseas Battalion, CEF "Orders to reduce the establishment from eight supernumeraries to four, Lieut. G. V. Laughton struck of the strength as one of the latest officers".	4th Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment On 6 August 1914, the 7th Regiment Fusiliers were placed on Active Service for local protective duties. Neither they, nor the 22nd Regiment, the Oxford Rifles were selected for overseas service as units, but both contributed heavily to the group formed in the Western Ontario Area. The first group was formed in September 1914 and was designated as the 1st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Forces (Western Ontario Regiment). Both units also recruited drafts for the 33rd, 71st, 142nd and 168th Battalions, CEF. These latter battalions were broken up once they arrived overseas and provided reinforcements for the Canadian Corps.
February 3, 1916 Reported for duty, Lieutenant G. V. Laughton 142nd Overseas Battalion, CEF CanadianSoldiers.com The Regiments of the Canadian Army were not mobilized as such, and instead, these Regiments instead recruited for the overseas units.   Many of the initial units were formed from one or two Militia units, and despite the official desire of the Minister of Defence to keep these CEF units separate, some adopted regimental insignia from their parent regiments.  Other CEF units drew recruits from several separate Militia Regiments, either selecting the identity of one of them, or simply adopting their new numbered identity without question. "Subsidiary Titles" were added to the official battalion designation of CEF units - for example, the table below lists "Western Ontario" as the subsidiary designation of the 1st Battalion.  The full title would thus be First (Western Ontario) Battalion, CEF or First Battalion, CEF (Western Ontario).    There are some exceptions; the Tenth Battalion for example was often simply referred to as Tenth Canadians.  The two Permanent Force units did not have a subsidiary title, as they were not granted a number.	Unit Location Raised Founding Militia Regiment(s) Subsidiary Title of CEF unit Date of Raising Assignment 1st Western Ontario 1st Hussars 7th Regiment (Fusiliers) 21st Regiment (Essex Fusiliers) 22nd Regiment (The Oxford Rifles) 23rd Regiment (The Northern Fusiliers) 24th Kent Regiment 25th Regiment 28th Perth Regiment 29th Regiment (Highland Light Infantry of Canada) 77th Wentworth Regiment Western Ontario Raised at Camp Valcartier, Quebec Sep 1914 1st Brigade 142nd London 7th Regiment (Fusiliers) 22nd Regiment (The Oxford Rifles)
July 7, 1916 Attestation Papers  Private G. V. Laughton 32nd Battalion, CEF (at the age of 19 years, 2 months) Shorncliffe, England CanadianSoldiers.com Maybe there is an error in the records as the 32nd is from Calgary and this makes it look like it was the 33rd, as they included the 7th Regiment (Fusiliers)?	32nd Calgary 12th Manitoba Dragoons 33rd London 7th Regiment (Fusiliers) 22nd Regiment (The Oxford Rifles) 25th Regiment
July 17, 1916 Discharged from CEF Discharged in Shorncliffe, England in order to accept commission in BEF.
December 1916, Oxford University He completed the Officer's short course at Oxford University. It is here he met the "Geordies" in Newcastle and thus the link to the Northumberland Fusiliers.
February 26, 1917 Posted to BEF Lieut. G. V. Laughton posted to the 26th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 34th Division, British 3rd Army.
March 15, 1917 Final pay to Private G. V. Laughton, CEF Transfer papers issued due to commission with the Imperial Army
April 9, 1917: Military Cross Award of Military Cross for "Conspicuous Bravery" at Vimy Ridge.
March 1917, Scarpe Valley Despatches from Sir Douglas Haig Injured and buried to the neck, foodless for 5 days behind enemy lines and found only after the British captured the position (good thing!). Granted extended furlough to Canada as a result of injuries. Transferred to hospital in England on May 1, 1917.	Canada 26/5/17 FOOD LESS FOR FIVE DAYS AND NIGHTS To be concealed behind German Lines and remain food less for five days and nights was the recent experience of G. V. Laughton, Northumberland Fusiliers.  Mr. Laughton was on night patrol with a sergeant, and eventually found himself behind the German front line and unable to get back to his own unit.  The sergeant was killed by a shell, and the officer had perforce to remain hidden for five days and nights without food. At the end of the period the British captured the enemy position, and Lieut. Laughton was found unconscious as a result of his privations.  The features of this case have aroused great interest in medical circles.  Mr. Laughton has been granted extended furlough to Canada.
May 11, 1918 telex to F. V. Laughton in Toronto, Canada War Office England grants resignation of temporary commission in BEF due to ill health.
February 3, 1920 Discharge from CEF Discharged as Private George Van Wyck Laughton. No record of Medals and/or Decorations (assume in CEF)
June 18, 1943 Certificate of Military Qualification, Canadian Army - Captain, Infantry (did not serve overseas due to medical problems associated with WWI injuries)