Private Hugh Grant McLaren
Survivor of WW1
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Hugh Grant McLaren was born in Ormstown, Quebec, on 6 July 1884. A plumber, steamfitter and farmer, he enlisted at Saskatoon on 28 July 1916 as Private 1018648 with the 232nd Battalion. He went overseas in April 1917, served in France with the 28th Battalion, and on 30 May 1918 was wounded by shell burst near Arras in the left hand and lower limb. The hand wound required the amputation of two fingers and left him with permanent loss of function. After extensive hospital and orthopaedic treatment in France, England and Canada, including treatment at the Dominion Orthopaedic Hospital in Toronto, a Medical Board recommended his discharge. He was discharged at Montreal on 27 October 1919 as medically unfit. Department of Veterans Affairs records report his death on 19 September 1974.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
1018648
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Battalion:
28th Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Ormstown, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
32 years
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
35 years 3 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
90 years 2 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Plumber, steamfitter and farmer
Next of Kin:
Peter McLaren (father), Ormstown, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 8.0 in / 173 cm
Weight:
154 lbs / 70 kg
Chest:
37.0 in / 94 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Medically Unfit
Discharge Notes:
Medically unfit from residual disability after gunshot wounds to the left hand and left knee.
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
1186 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
28th Battalion |
|
|
|
| Default unit is combat battalion; later depot/hospital postings are administrative. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
15th Canadian Reserve Battalion |
|
|
|
| Taken on strength at Bramshott on 29 Apr 1917; proceeded overseas for service with 28th Battalion on 15 Nov 1917. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
232nd Battalion |
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1884-07-06 — Born
1916-07-28 — Enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force; 232nd Battalion
1917-03-14 — Admitted with sore throat / tonsillitis
1917-04-17 — Embarked for England
1917-04-29 — Arrived in England; taken on strength of 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion
1917-05 — Treated for tonsillitis; tonsillectomy recorded, with recovery
1917-11-15 — Proceeded overseas for service with the 28th Battalion
1917-11-16 — Arrived in France and joined field service
1918-04 — Superficial gunshot wound to face recorded in later Medical Board history
1918-05-30 — Wounded by shell burst; gunshot/shrapnel wounds to left hand and lower limb/knee; two fingers of left hand amputated
1918-06-02 — Admitted for treatment of the battle wounds
1918-07-13 — Admitted for continuing treatment of the left-hand wound
1918-07-14 — Alternate summary-record admission date for No. 4 Canadian General Hospital
1918-09-30 — Discharged/transferred from No. 4 Canadian General Hospital
1918-10-01 — Admitted for continuing treatment
1918-10-14 — Invalided to Canada; hospital/transport record references Araguaya
1918-11-13 — Admitted for prolonged treatment after return to Canada
1918-12 — Joints of remaining left-hand fingers manipulated under anaesthesia
1919-08-02 — Transferred/admitted for orthopaedic and prosthetic treatment
1919-09-09 — Transfer documentation prepared from Dominion Orthopaedic Hospital to Montreal
1919-09-16 — Struck off strength of District Depot No. 2 on transfer to District Depot No. 4
1919-09-20 — Taken on strength of District Depot No. 4; final hospital treatment period began
1919-10-15 — Medical Board recommended discharge as medically unfit
1919-10-23 — Medical Board recommendation approved
1919-10-24 — Discharged from hospital / returned to casualty company for discharge processing
1919-10-27 — Discharged as medically unfit
1974-09-19 — Died
Notes
At enlistment McLaren was a plumber, steamfitter and farmer. He was 5 ft 8 in tall, weighed 154 lb and had a 37 in chest with 3 in expansion; records describe a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was Presbyterian. He was treated for sore throat/tonsillitis in 1917 and a later Medical Board history records a tonsillectomy in May 1917 with recovery. The same history records a superficial gunshot wound to the face in April 1918. On 30 May 1918 he was wounded by shell burst near Arras in the left hand and lower limb/knee. The left hand was badly damaged and two fingers were amputated; later records describe marked limitation of wrist and finger movement and fitting of an artificial appliance. Medical Board examination recorded partial loss of function of the left hand/wrist and partial loss of function of the left knee. The Board considered the disability permanent and recorded that he could not resume his former trade.
Additional Service Notes
Hugh Grant McLaren enlisted at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on 28 July 1916 with the 232nd Battalion. He embarked from Halifax on 17 April 1917 aboard S.S. Northland, arrived in England on 29 April and was taken on strength of the 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott. He proceeded to France in November 1917 and served as a Private with the 28th Battalion. A 1919 Medical Board history also records a superficial gunshot wound to the face in April 1918. On 30 May 1918, near Arras, he was wounded by shell burst in the left hand and lower limb/knee. The hand injury required amputation of two fingers and produced permanent loss of function. He was admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen on 2 June, later treated at No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, Basingstoke, and No. 5 Canadian General Hospital, Liverpool, and was invalided to Canada in October 1918. In Canada he received prolonged treatment at St. James Military Hospital, Montreal, and at the Dominion Orthopaedic Hospital, Toronto, where an artificial hand/finger appliance was fitted. After further treatment in Quebec in September-October 1919, a Medical Board recommended discharge. He was discharged at Montreal on 27 October 1919 as medically unfit.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Father Peter McLaren of Ormstown, Quebec was named as next of kin. Family forms record both father and mother alive and resident in Ormstown, and state that Hugh Grant McLaren was unmarried and had no wife or children.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-30 14:54:38
by: marc
