Name
Bertie Lawrence
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/07/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23011
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Folly Methodist Chapel Window, Wheathampstead
Pre War
Bertie was born in Wheathampstead in 1897 to James Lawrence, a farm labourer, and Charlotte (nee Catlin). On the 1901 Census his parents and Bertie were living in the Folly, Wheathampstead together with the rest of the family of Emily (born 1883), Walter (born 1885), Charlotte (born 1889), Albert (born 1891), Maud (born 1894) and Horace (born 1899).
On the 1911 Census Bertie was still living with his parents, William (a farm labourer born 1882), Walter (a roadman with Coventry Council), Albert (a farm labourer), Maud (an ironer in a laundry) and Horace at The Folly, Wheathampstead
Wartime Service
Bertie enlisted in the Bedfordshire regiment as Private 23011, probably in late 1914/15. He went to France to join the 2nd Battalion of the regiment.
At some time he was attached to the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Essex Regiment and it is with this Battalion that he went into action during the Battle of Albert (opening part of the Somme Offensive). On 1 Jul 1916 as a reserve unit in 12 (Eastern) Division moved to relieve 8 Division at Ovillers-la-Boisselle and an attack was ordered for the night of 2 Jul 1916. 9th Essex were moving to the Front Line when they were subjected to shelling from the enemy Artillery and suffered heavy casualties. It was in this action that Bertie was reported killed in action.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 12s 8d was paid to his father James.
His record in Soldiers who died in the Great War records his enlistment and birth as at Dovercourt, these facts may have been erroneously transferred from 9th Essex records.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
