Silver War Badge: Private Theodore Kenneth McLachlan, 58 Battalion, AIF

ID Number    PERS017

Title               Silver War Badge: Private Theodore Kenneth McLachlan, 58 Battalion, AIF

Maker            Unknown

Object Type   Badge

Place made     Unknown

Date made      c 1918

Physical          Silver

Description

Description

Silver War Badge with impressed serial number 'A21207' on reverse. The badge is circular with the words 'FOR KING AND EMPIRE SERVICES RENDERED' around the rim, and a voided cypher and crown of King George V in the centre. The reverse has a hinged horizontal pin clasp. These badges were issued to men who could no longer serve and were discharged because age, wounds or sickness had rendered them permanently unfit for further service.

Summary

Theodore Kenneth McLachlan was a 30 year old drover from Echuca, with 4 ½ years part-time service in the Victoria Rangers (time expired 1909), when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 20 June 1916. 2773 Private McLachlan embarked for overseas from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A71 Nestor on 2 October 1916 with the 6 Reinforcement of 58 Battalion.  

He disembarked at Plymouth, England on 16 November 1916, and began training with 15 Training Battalion soon after. Private McLachlan proceeded overseas to France on 30 December and began a further period of training with 5 Division Base Depot, Etaples.

Private McLachlan was taken on strength of 58 Battalion in the field from 5 DBD on 7 February 1917. He was wounded in action on 26 March with a gun shot wound to the abdominal wall and fractured ribs. The seriously wounded McLachlan was evacuated to 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 28 March. This was followed by transportation to England and admission to Brooke War Hospital, Woolwich on 19 April. McLachlan was transferred to 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Woolwich on 20 July 1917.

On 7 Aug McLachlan was discharged from 3 Aux Hospital and allowed to go on 2 week furlough. At the completion of his leave, he was ordered to Weymouth on 21 Aug. He left England to return to Australia on 18 Oct and arrived in Melbourne on 10 December 1917.

2773 Private McLachlan was discharged as medically unfit on 8 Mar 1918. His GRI Silver War Badge was issued on 23 July 1918.

Theodore’s two brothers also served:

347 James Osrich Neil McLachlan, 13 Light Horse Regiment, enlisted on 28 Dec 1914, returned to Australia on 27 Apr 1919.

2195 Norman Hector McLachlan, 13 Light Horse Regiment, enlisted on 15 Oct 1915, returned to Australia on 15 Jan 1919.