| Edward Colhoun McLaughlin was the only son of Edward and Jeanie McLaughlin. He was born about 1925.
|
| Known family: Edward McLaughlin, Jeanie McLaughlin, Margaret C McLaughlin, Edward Colhoun McLaughlin (born about 1920).
|
| The family lived in the Ballyronan area.
|
| Edward McLaughlin attended the Rainey School in Magherafelt between 1938 and 1941. His sister Margaret attended between 1936 and 1941.
|
| Edward’s father was a constable in the police.
|
| Prior to enlisting, Edward worked in Walsley, England in his uncle’s grocer shop.
|
| Edward McLaughlin joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served with 100 Squadron.
|
|
| During the war, Sergeant McLaughlin flew numerous missions over Hanover, Bocum, Hagen, Munich, Kassel, Stuttgart, Dusseldorf and Berlin.
|
| On the night on Sunday 2nd January 1944, Sergeant Edward McLaughlin’s Lancaster bomber (Serial No JB549) took off from Grimsby for a night raid over Berlin. Sergeant McLaughlin was air gunner.
|
|
| The aircraft never returned and the aircraft and crew were lost without trace. Sergeant McLaughlin was 20 years old.
|
| The crew of the Lancaster on that night were:
|
1126757 Sergeant Ninian BOWMAN
|
|
J/19170 Pilot Officer Gerald William HENDERSON
|
|
1348243 Sergeant Gordon Hewett HENDRY
|
|
2204122 Sergeant Edward Colhoun McLAUGHLIN
|
|
J/22214 Flying Officer James Mcvie OGILVIE
|
|
1316590 Sergeant Richard Edward Leonard STONEMAN
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 8th January 1944: Roll of Honour
|
|
| MCLAUGHLIN – reported missing as the result of air operations on the night of 2nd / 3rd January, Sergeant Air Gunner Edward C McLaughlin, only son of Constable and Mrs E McLaughlin of Ballyronan.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 4th November 1944:
|
|
| It was with deep sorrow that we learnt of the death of Sergeant Edward McLaughlin, Royal Air Force. He had completed nearly thirty operations over enemy country. His modesty, courage and devotion to duty wer admired by all of us. We send to his parents and sisters our deepest sympathy.
|
| The following letter was received by Ted’s father Edward, dated 4th January 1944 written by Wing Commander J.F. Dilworth, R.A.F. Station, Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
|
| Dear Mr McLaughlin, Further to my telegram to the 3rd January, it is with the deepest regret that I write to you confirming that up to the present, no news has been received of your son, Sergeant Air Gunner Edward Colhoun McLaughlin who did not return from an operational sortie on the night of Sunday, 2/3 January 1944. Unfortunately, there is very little information that I can give you as nothing was heard from the plane after it took off from Base at 1140pm on 2nd January, to attack targets in Berlin. Although nothing was heard, there is, of course, a possibility that the crew were forced to abandon their aircraft over enemy territory, and they may be safe, although prisoners of war. Ted had been with us four months and during this time he had proved himself to be a very capable and efficient member of a gallant crew. They had taken part in many successful sorties against the most heavily defended targets in Germany. He was very popular with his colleagues, and we all desire to express our deepest sympathy and share with you the hope that he and his crew will soon be reported safe.’
|
| Ted’s sister, Margaret served with the Royal Navy, based on H.M.S. Caroline. In the latter years of the war she received a letter from the Red Cross stating that the whereabouts of Ted’s grave was unknown.
|
| Sergeant Edward McLaughlin has no known grave and is commemorated on Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.
|
|
| Sergeant Edward (Ted) McLaughlin is commemorated locally on the Roll of Honour at St John’s (Woods) Church of Ireland, Ballyronan.
|
| Sergeant Edward McLaughlin is also commemorated locally on the family headstone in the grounds of Woodschapel Church of Ireland in Ballyronan.
|
|
|
| The CWGC record Sergeant Edward Colhoun McLaughlin as the son of Edward and Jennie McLaughlin, of Ballyronan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
|
|
