Robert Noel McLaughlin was the son of James Franklin McLaughlin and Ethel Alice McLaughlin (Tyrie) who were dairy farmers in Upper Lansdowne.
Bob was born at Taree on 29 December 1912 and was reared on his parent’s dairy farm on Cicolini Lane, Upper Lansdowne and attended the Upper Lansdowne School. After leaving school he was working in an auto garage as a general mechanic and electrician.
In 1937 he married Annie Mary Berry at Dungog. They had 4 children: Neville, Colin, Marcia and Heather.
On 17 September 1940 he enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force and was posted to 2 AD Richmond naming his wife Annie as his next of kin.
Bob originally served as an electrician and then as an electrical fitter. In February 1941 he completed an Electricians Course 14 at Signals School, Point Cook. During Oct to Dec 1941 he completed an Electrician to Electrical Fitter Conversion Course at No 1 Engineering School, Ascot Vale.
During his time in the RAAF he was posted to Richmond, Sydney, Mascot, Ascot Vale, Tocumwal, Manangle, Darwin, South West Pacific and Bradfield Park. Bob embarked from Darwin on 17 June 1945 to the South West Pacific region returning on 26 November 1945.
Bob was awarded the Pacific Star, War Medal 1939-45, Australia Service Medal 1939-45 and the Returned from Active Service Badge.
When Bob was discharged from the Air Force on 29 November 1945 he was posted to 82 Squad Wing HQ.
Bob’s brothers James Hector, Milton Morris, Lawrence Arnold and Bruce Lindsay McLaughlin also served in WW2. Bruce died as a prisoner of war at Ranau, Borneo, Sandakan POW camp on 18 March 1945 of illness.
Bob died on 2 August 1993 aged 80 and is buried at Dawson River Cemetery.
