Lawrence Bernard Osborne Wakelam
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Lawrence Bernard Osbourne Wakelam was the son of James Joseph, a cab driver, and Sarah Elizabeth Wakelam née Turner. His parents were born in Whittington Warwickshire, his father in 1853 and his mother in 1848.They were married in 1877 in Stafford and had four children:- Elizabeth Ellen (1878-1884),Harold Griffin Clues Wakelam b.1881, John Roland Vivian Wakelam b.1884 and Lawrence Bernard Osborne Wakelam who were all born in Brewood Staffordshire. His father Joseph died in 1894 aged 41.In 1901 they were living at 39 Midland Avenue Lenton Nottingham with Harold, a domestic coachman, head of family. In 1911 Lawrence was living with his mother at 10 Curtis Grove Wilford Road Meadows Nottingham. His mother emigrated to Canada in 1914 and died there in 1931 aged 85.
Having previously served with the Royal Horse Artillery for four years, Lawrence Bernard Osborne Wakelam enlisted at Toronto on 19th September 1914. Posted to 17th Canadian Infantry Battalion, he died of pneumonia in Nottingham General Hospital on 15th February 1915 and buried Nottingham General Cemetery (Grave Reference: 03628).
Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged) 16 February 1915. 'WAKELAM on February 15th at the General Hospital, Laurence Wakelam of Canadian Autogun (sic) Battery, late of Notts RHA, aged 25 years. Burial General Cemetery.' Nottingham Evening Post 17th February 1915:- 'A CANADIAN SOLDIER. NOTTINGHAM MAN’S DEATH IN HOSPITAL. The death has taken place in the Nottingham General Hospital, where he had been suffering from pneumonia, of Lawrence Wakelam, of the Canadian Auto-Gun Battery. The deceased, who was 25 years of age, was well known in the athletic circles Nottingham before he went out to Canada, being a member of the Britannia Rowing Club, and of the Y.M.C.A. Swimming Club, as well as the Nottingham and Notts. Harriers. He won medals for 100 yards to one mile in swimming and for seven and ten miles in running. As a member of the Notts. Royal Horse Artillery he gained his gunlayer's badge and won his way to the boxing championship at the first camp held there, having to retire through his thumb becoming dislocated. Whilst in West Toronto, Canada, where he was employed in the electric signal department of the Canadian Pacific Railway, he earned the medal of the Royal Humane Society. When on duty he saw a runaway horse drawing a sleigh containing two girls right in front of an on-coming train. He dashed to the horse's head, clutched the bridle, and was just able to turn the sleigh alongside the track over the cattle guard before the train passed. He had some of his ribs broken in effecting the rescue.' Article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
