This building is named in honour of Staff Sergeant Dennis (Mike) Gerard McLaughlin, MMM and bar, CD.
Dennis Gerard McLaughlin was born in Edmonton, AB in 1917. He joined the military shortly after start of the Second World War and was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers. After completing his training in Canada and England, he embarked for Italy with his unit, 10th Field Squadron, RCE, arriving in the autumn of 1943. The unit was immediately sent into operations and by mid-September 1944, the Canadians found themselves south of Rimini. On the night of 12-13 September, 3 Troop of 10th Field Squadron was tasked with opening two crossings over the Besanigo River to assist 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade in the capture of Coriano Ridge. Despite being under constant mortar and machine gun fire, Sgt McLaughlin on his own initiative led a Sherman bulldozer down to the river and personally directed the crossing work. By his personal bravery and coolness under heavy fire, Sergeant McLaughlin enabled armour to cross the Besanigo in time to counter the enemy thrust and thus made it possible for the infantry capture of the ridge. For this action Sgt McLaughlin was awarded the Military Medal. During the liberation of Holland, on the night of 30 April/1 May 1945, at the battle leading up to the attack on Port Delfzijl, Sgt McLaughlin, again under heavy mortar and machine gun fire, lead his troop in clearing a heavily mined crater on the road near the Village of Heveskes. For gallantry under fire, Sgt McLaughlin was awarded a second Military Medal becoming one of only 10 Canadian soldiers awarded a bar to their Military Medal. After the war, Sgt McLaughlin re-enrolled in the Royal Canadian Engineers and served until 1968, including serving in Korea with 23rd Field Squadron, RCE. He retired while serving with No.3 Engineer Stores Depot in Camp Petawawa.
Building S-111 was built to house the CFB Petawawa Base Construction Engineer section. Eventually, some elements of the Base Headquarters (HQ) also came to be housed in the building. Over the years, CFB Petawawa HQ came to be known as Area Support Unit Petawawa and more recently 4th Canadian Division Support Base/Group (4 CDSG) Petawawa. Presently, the building continues to accomodate the Construction Engineering services as well as 4 CDSG HQ.
