Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

The Calgary Highlanders, 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On 13 August 1944, the Calgary Highlanders under command of Lieutenant-Colonel MacLauchlan advanced along the low wooded country immediately to the West of River Laize to capture a crossing at Clair-Tison. The battalion had just completed a night march through difficult country and was to be covered in its further advance by another brigade which was to secure the high ground on the right. This ground was not in fact captured and the Calgary Highlanders were therefore advancing, overlooked from both flanks. Undeterred by this or by the fact that Battalion Headquarters was under heavy shell fire and mortar fire throughout the day Lieutenant-Colonel MacLauchlan pressed his battalion on making skillful use of the ground and passing companies through to successive objectives so quickly and steadily that the enemy was not able to determine the exact course of the battle and take any effective counter measures.
As a result of this determined drive the battalion was able to form a firm bridgehead over the River Laize by 1800 hours that evening and to hold it in spite of all enemy attempts to dislodge the battalion until the flanks had been secured and another formation passed through to the high ground beyond.
Lieutenant-Colonel MacLauchlan, demonstrating outstanding leadership by his personal courage and example, determination and endurance enabled his battalion to inflict a severe defeat on the enemy in this important engagement.