Patrick McLaughlin was born May 8, 1923, the son of James McLaughlin and Lenora McLaughlin, of 444 South Brock Street, Sarnia. Patrick was educated at St.Joseph’s Separate School and the Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School. Prior to enlisting, he was a grocery clerk. Single at the time, he enlisted in the Canadian Army in April 1940 at London, Ontario, and then trained at London, Kitchener, Cornwall and Calgary. For fourteen months, he was in Labrador with the 30th Anti-aircraft Battery, after which it was disbanded. Patrick was then sent to Calgary where he trained with an armoured unit. Patrick went overseas in September 1944, first serving with the 30th Light Anti-aircraft Battery, and then with an armoured unit.
On February 27, 1945, while serving with the Royal Regiment of Canada, R.C.I.C. on the Western Front, Private Patrick McLaughlin would lose his life in Germany while fighting in the Battle of the Rhineland. In early March of 1945, parents James and Lenora McLaughlin in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Pte. Patrick McLaughlin, was killed on the Western Front. Patrick McLaughlin would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Germany). Twenty-one year old Patrick McLaughlin is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands, Grave VII.B.12. On Patrick McLaughlin’s headstone are inscribed the words, At rest.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, N, 2C