William Lawrence
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the eldest son of Isaac and Annie Lawrence (née Phillips). is father Isaac was born in Madeley, Shropshire, in about 1861 and his mother was born in Worksop in about 1863. His parents were married in 1885 (reg. Worksop) and had nine children two of whom died in infancy. All the children were born in Worksop: William b. 1886 bap. Eastgate St John 1 July 1886; Ernest Leonard b. 1888 bap St John; Bernard b. 1890 (reg. 1891 J/F/M) bap. St John; Elsie b. 1893 bap. St Mary (Priory); Frank b. 1896 bap. St John 3 June 1896; Edith May b. 1898 bap St John d. 1901 (J/F/M); Harry Phillips b. 1899 bap. St Mary, d. 1900; Nellie Louisa b. 1901 and Albert Edward b. 1907. Isaac. a coal hewer, and Annie with their three sons William, Ernest and Bernard, were living at 8 Court 2, Eastgate, Worksop, in 1891 but in the previous five years had lived at 44 Eastgate and then in Cuckson's Yard. However, by 1901 the family had moved to 30 St Cuthbert Street. Isaac and Annie had had four children since 1891 but two, Edith and Harry, had died in infancy. Their five surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: William a grocer's errand boy, Ernest, Bernard, Elsie and Frank (5). Another daughter, Nellie, was born later that year and a son, Albert, in 1907. Isaac, who was employed as a sawyer's labourer at a woodyard, and Annie were living at 72 Potter Street, Worksop, in 1911. Six of their seven children were still living at home: Ernest a labourer at a gas works, Bernard a colliery pony driver, Elsie, Frank a colliery worker on screens, Nellie and Albert. William had married Mary Ann Walton (b. 1885) in 1907 and they were to have five children: Stanley b. 1909, Hilda Mary b. 1911, Annie Elizabeth b. 1912, William b. 1914 and Kathleen b. 1916. In 1911 William, his wife and their two children, Stanley and Hilda, were living on Portland Street, Worksop, with Mary's parents, John and Elizabeth Dixon (née Walton m. 1888). At the time of William's death in 1917 the family was living at 18 Portland Street, Worksop. William's parents were still living at 72 Potter Street when he was killed. Annie Lawrence died in 1930 and her husband Isaac in 1934.
24th (Tyneside Irish) Bn Northumberland Fusiliers According to a newspaper report of William's death, he had been badly wounded in November 1916 while serving with the BEF France and received treatment at a hospital in Bury St Edmunds. William returned to France, possibly in August 1917, and was killed in action on 22 October 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 19 to 23).
William's brother, Frank Lawrence, 27556 Private 1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was killed in action on 12 October 1917. He is also commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Worksop Guardian, 16 November 1917: 'Pte. William Lawrence. 'Much sympathy is expressed with Mrs. M. Lawrence, 18, Portland Street, Worksop, who received the official notice on Saturday from the War Office, informing her that her husband, Pte. William Lawrence, Northumberland Fusiliers, had been killed in action in France on October 22nd. Pte. Lawrence, who was 31 years of age, leaves besides a widow, five young children, the eldest of whom is only eight years old. In November last year he was badly wounded, and was for some time in hospital at Bury St. Edmunds, subsequently having ten days leave. He was home again on final leave in August, prior to being sent to France a second time, having served altogether eighteen months in the army. Pte. Lawrence, before enlisting was employed at the Prior Well Brewery, where he had worked for nearly fifteen years, and was held in great respect by his employer’s, and fellow workmen alike. In his younger days he was a very keen footballer, playing for Worksop Town, North End Club, and Sutton and Retford Amateurs, and was the possessor of two gold medals and a silver medal. Pte. Lawrence was the eldest son of Mr. Mrs. Isaac Lawrence, 72, Potter Street, who have also lost another son in the war, Pte. Frank Lawrence, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, whose death was reported last week, and in this issue we reproduced his portrait, besides that of his brother. Mr. and Mrs. I. Lawrence have another son serving, Pte. Bernard Lawrence, Sherwood Foresters, who joined at the outbreak of war. The sympathy of the townspeople will be extended to them in their bereavement.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow was his sole legatee. Research by Colin Dannatt
