Also known as Jack McLaughlan, Jack McLauchlin
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Scotland’s Canadian Titan
A muscular, powerful wrestler who stood only 5 feet six inches tall, Jack McLauchlan hopped in and out of British rings in the 1930s, more precisely between 1934 and 1940. He was a man with considerable experience when he first arrived, already well known in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand,, Rhodesia, and South Africa.
He was born John Thomas McLauchlan at Carlaverock Farm in Trenent, East Lothian, Scotland, on 11th November, 1902, son of Thomas and Marion.
The family, parents and children John and his younger sister Euphemia emigrated to Canada, leaving Glasgow as passengers on board the Scandinavian on 9th June, 1912.
In the 1916 Canadian census the family are recorded living in Park Street, Winnipeg, and in the 1921 census at Plinguet Street, St Boniface. They later moved to Richmond, Manitobia.
Our earliest record of Jack McLauchlan wrestling is in 1928, wrestling in New Zealand billed as an American. In May and June of 1930 we have records of Jack wrestling in Australian, a man well known to British fans, Martin Bucht, being one of his opponents. The first four years of the 1930s were mostly restricted to wrestling in British Columbia with occasional forages into America’s Washington State
Jack McLauchlan returned to Britain in 1934. We have been unable to find any matches recorded but know he was here because he left the country on board the Carnarvon Castle on 30th November, 1934, destination Cape Town, stated occupation “wrestler.”
The South African newspaper, The Province, reported that Jack had left South Africa and arrived in England after almost a year of wrestling on the continent, travelling onwards to Portuguese East Africa, Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo. He made his British debut on 28th November, 1935, wrestling Harry Brooks at Blackfriars in London. This time we do have records of matches with opponents that included Jack Pye, Stan Roberts, Louis Pergantes and Maurice Letchford. He was reported as a skillful wrestler and his win over Letchford at Liverpool Stadium was reported as one of the finest matches at the Stadium.
Although booked to return to South Africa on 15th May, 1936 McLauchlan postponed his sailing and left Southampton on the Athlone Castle one week later, accompanied by his wife Mary.
He was back in England in February, 1938, departing on the Letitia, again accompanied by his wife, on 24th June, 1938, destination Quebec. On 22nd October, 1938 he beat Pete Tripodes in Calgary to win the Canadian Junior heavyweight title.
By January, 1939 Jack McLauchlan was back in Britain. On 14th July, 1939 he drew with a masked wrestler known as The Black Mask. Although he had not been beaten the masked man removed the hood to reveal the face of Ben Sherman. This cleared the way for McLauchlan to challenge Sherman for his world light heavyweight title. The match was arranged at Liverpool Stadium for just two weeks later, 28th July. It took ten rounds until McLauchlan took the deciding fall and the world light heavyweight championship. He made successful defences of the title and retained it until he left the country.
Despite the outbreak of war McLauchlan remained in Britain until he departed for the last time in July 1940. He continued wrestling in Canada until 1950.
Jack McLauchlan died on 17th July, 1956.
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Page added 09/03/2025
Page revised 18/08/2025
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