Name
John Lawrence
9 February 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/06/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pioneer
128910
Royal Engineers
L Special Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 9.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
London Colney Village Memorial,
Shenley Village Memorial
Pre War
John Lawrence was born on 9 February 1893 in London Colney, Herts, the son of William and Georgina Lawrence, and baptised on 7 May 1893 at London Colney. He was the youngest of six children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Bell Lane, Shenley, Herts, where his father was working as a horseman on a farm (teamster). They remained there in 1911 at which time John was working as a farm labourer like his father and brother Arthur.
Prior to enlistment he worked at Salisbury Hall Farm,
Wartime Service
He enlisted in St Albans and initially served as Private 237913 with the Bedfordshire Regiment, later being transferred to the Royal Engineers, serving with "L" Spec. Company as a Pioneer. He was sent to France in early 1916.
John was killed in action on 2 June 1917, aged 25, when a shell exploded at his side and killed him and another soldier instantaneously. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £6 10s and pay owing of £4 18s 3d. His mother received a pension of 4 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, shenleyww1.wordpress.com
