Woodvale Park, Curban, NSW
4840
13th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
Gilgandra Coo-ee
Killed in Action, France 2.4.1918
Private Laurence Leslie Maguire 4840
Laurence was a 26 year old labourer of Curban when he joined the Coo-ee March after passing his medical examination in Gilgandra on October 8, 1915. He was described as 5’ 4 ½” tall, 10stone7lb (66kgs), fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair and small scar on back of left ear. His religion was Anglican. His next of kin was his father, R Maguire of Gulgong NSW.
He trained at Liverpool and embarked for Egypt on the Star of England on March 8, 1916 with the 13 th Battalion. After further training in Egypt he transferred to the 45th Battalion in April 1916.
The battalion arrived in France in June to face the Battle of the Somme, Pozieres and Mouquet Farm. In November 1916 he was admitted to hospital with scalded feet (no reason given). Treatment and convalescence kept him in England until September 1917 when he returned to France. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in November 1917. He sent cigarette silks to his home in Curban, NSW and Ida Lummis stitched them into a cushion, which is on display in the Gilgandra Heritage Museum Gallery.
The unit was at Dernancourt, near Albert when Laurence was killed in action on April 2 1918. The War Unit Diary states ‘the enemy put down a heavy barrage (bombing) on our Support Line and on the Front Line…our total casualties were light’.
Mr Maguire received the possessions of his son, a disc, tobacco pack, wallet, belt, photo, 2 cards and a photo of the memorial cross. The Memorial Plaque, the British War Medal and the Victory Cross were sent later.
Laurence has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux War Memorial, the Australian War Memorial, the Gilgandra Coo-ee Gateway Memorial and the Gilgandra Presbyterian Church Honour Roll.
