By David Lauder

John Robert Laudehr was a clerk, rising to become the NSW Manager of the National Insurance Company of New Zealand. [37]

Known as “Jack”, he married Beatrice Constance Breeze on 19th June 1918. [38] There were no children from this union.

He was divorced in (1945?) and subsequently married Jessie Dorothy Constance Channell, with whom he had a daughter, Judith Robyn Lauder.

John Robert was discovered living with Jessie by a private investigator in 1944 [39], whilst still married to Beatrice, who had gone to England in 1939. Jessie (known as Dorothy) had a son by a previous relationship, William James Channell, who died as a minor on the 6th December 1948.

Having served in the Cadets, John Robert was part of the first shipment of Victorian men to the Great War, serving in 5th Battalion, C Company of the 1st AIF. He was wounded (fractured leg) on the 15th May 1915 at Gallipoli and subsequently shipped back to Australia via Malta and England. [40] A letter he wrote from hospital in Malta is in the possession of William Martin Davies.

For his efforts he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is included in the War Memorial at Malvern Anglican Church.

He died on the 4th November 1947 of cardiac failure at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. [41] He was 52 years of age.

His funeral was held at St. Stephens Church (Anglican), Bellevue Hill (Sydney) on November 6th 1947. There was also a funeral notice from Royal Arch Chapter No 43, Mossman.