John McLagan was born in Leith, Scotland on March 22, 1908, the son of James I. McLagan and Robina McLagan, of Windsor, Ontario. John had three brothers who at the time of his death were Thomas in Windsor; James of the Chatham police force; and Edward in Pasadena, California. John was a member of Christ Anglican Church in Chatham and was affiliated with the A.Y.P.A.. Living at 262 ½ King Street, Chatham, he was a baker, employed at the Sunshine Baker in Chatham. In 1938, John would marry Rose Bazeley, who was born in Stapleford, England, but was residing in Sarnia. John and Rose McLagan would reside at 423 Davis Street, Sarnia and have one child together, daughter, Mary Anne.
John McLagan enlisted in the Canadian Army in July 1940, becoming a member of the 1st Kent Regiment. In March 1943, he was transferred to the Essex Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C., with the rank of Private. He went overseas with the Essex Scottish, and participated with them in the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. John was wounded at Caen in July 1944 and would spend six months convalescing in an English hospital. In January of 1945, he would rejoin his unit in Holland. Three months later, on April 30, 1945, John McLagan would lose his life while fighting for the Liberation of the Netherlands. One week after John McLagan’s death in Holland, VE Day was declared, ending the war in Europe.
In mid-May of 1945, Rose McLagan in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing her that her husband, Private John P. McLagan, was killed in action on the western front on April 30. John McLagan would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Germany). John McLagan left behind his wife, Rose, and their daughter Mary Anne. Thirty-seven year old John McLagan is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands, Grave IX.B.12.
SOURCES: C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D