Henry Normand MacLaurin

Brigadier-General Henry Normand MacLaurin (31 October 1878 – 27 April 1915) was an Australian barrister and an Australian Army colonel who served in the First World War. He was shot dead by a Turkish sniper at Gallipoli, and was posthumously promoted to brigadier general when all brigade commanders in the Australian Imperial Force were thus promoted. Early life MacLaurin was born on 31 October 1878 in Sydney, Australia. He was the son of Sir Henry Normand MacLaurin, the chancellor of the University of Sydney. He was educated at Blair Lodge School, Polmont, Scotland; Sydney Grammar School; and the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. MacLaurin was later admitted to the bar in New South Wales and became a barrister. Military career MacLaurin enlisted in the New South Wales Scottish Rifles while still at university and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1899. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1900, captain in 1903 and major in 1908. On 1 July 1913, he took command of the 26th Infantry Regiment. First World War On 15 August 1914, MacLaurin joined the Australian Imperial Force as a full colonel and given command of the 1st Infantry Brigade.