Current Information:

Age-27

Enlisted-London

Bethune Town Cemetery, France

On 30th March, 1915, the 14th London battalion, then of 1 Brigade, 1st Division, left their billets near Hinges and Locon and moved, via Le Touret, to the Rue de l’Epinette near Loos, where they took over the defences at Indian village with two companies in front and the other two in reserve positions. They remained here, with the companies alternating periodically, until relieved on 15th April. Charles Laidlaw died from wounds on 3rd April but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.