WWII: How Edward ‘Ted’ McLachlan met my mother

THIS Brisbane City Councillor is immensely proud of his late father, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during WWII.

Cr David McLachlan's father Edward William McLachlan was an RAAF pilot serving in Bomber Command during WWII. Photo: Paul Guy

EDWARD ‘Ted’ William McLachlan was an “ordinary country bloke” who faced extraordinary circumstances in a Lancaster bomber during WWII.

Ted’s son, Brisbane City Councillor David McLachlan (Hamilton), said as a child it had been difficult to comprehend the harrowing nature of his father’s experiences.

“It’s only really in later life that I have realised what it would have been like,” he said.

“Flying around in a fairly flimsy plane, hoping like hell you’d be OK.

“I regret that he passed away when I was too young to really engage in a great conversation about what it was like.”

Ted joined the RAAF in 1942 and was sent to Canada to take part in the Empire Air Training Scheme.

He graduated from training and started work as a navigator in bomber commands based in Europe.

Cr David McLachlan's father Edward William McLachlan was an RAAF pilot serving in Bomber Command during WWII.

Mr McLachlan said his father may have been a proficient navigator but his survival was likely luck alone.

“Every time planes took off it was almost guaranteed that some of those planes wouldn’t return, it was pure luck or fate if you survived,” he said.

“The survival rate for bomber commands wasn’t great and to make it through an entire tour of duty the chances were stacked against you.”

Ted was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his successful tour of operation which included the pivotal Stuttgart air raids.

To commemorate 100 years since the Anzac landing at Gallipoli, and recognise the sacrifices of those men and women who have served out country since WWI, Quest Community Newspapers will publish one story each day online in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

Ted also met his wife, Margret (known by many as Peg), while on duty leave in London.

“When my father met my mother she was 21 and already a war window, her husband was a RAAF spitfire pilot and he lost his live in battle over France,” he said.

The pair focused on building a family after settling in Australia and Ted found work as an accountant.

Ted died in his mid-fifties in 1977.

Mr McLachlan will wear his father’s medals and attend numerous ceremonies in his honour on April 25.

THIS story is part of Quest Community Newspapers’ 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile Queensland WWI heroes and families as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during WWI, let us know on our Facebook page or email [e-mail]

Originally published as WWII: How Edward ‘Ted’ McLachlan met my mother