James Douglas McLachlan was born in Java on 14 Feb 1869. He was commissioned into the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders on 25 Mar 1891 as a 2nd lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 Aug 1892 and served with the Egyptian Army in 1894. He was with the regiment in Sudan in 1898, promoted to captain on 19 may 1898. He was promoted to major on 16 Dec 1904 and appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion with the rank of lieutenant-colonel on 9 March 1913. He took the Cameron Highlanders to France but was wounded in Sep 1914. Having recovered from his injuries he was given command of the 8th Infantry Brigade, from Oct 1915 to March 1916. In June 1916 he was awarded the DSO and mentioned in despatches. Staff work followed this and in September 1917 he was sent to the USA as military attaché.
He was promoted to major-general and appointed CB in June 1918, and CMG in June 1919. But on relinquishing his post in the US he reverted to the substantive rank of Colonel. He was married in August 1903 to Gwendolen Mab White from New South Wales. They had two daughters. Colonel McLachlan died on 7 November 1937.
