Name
Thomas Lawrence
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/03/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
730279
Canadian Infantry
75th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
Thomas was the son of George (senior) and Alice Laurence, born in Hatfield on 25th March 1887.
In the 1891 census Thomas was 4 and had two brothers George (7) and William (1) and they were living in Hatfield. His father working as a bricklayers labourer.
In 1901 Thomas was living with his parents at 3, Primrose Cottages, Hatfield and four new siblings: Herbert (6), Ada (8), Elizabeth (7) and Ethel (1). Both His father was working as labourers.
He had joined the Herts Territorials for a 2-years before emigrating to Canada, probably with his brother George, just before the war.
Wartime Service
In Canada he was working as a mill hand when he enlisted on 27th December 1915 with his brother George, and they have consecutive numbers. He was 5’ 5” and had a light complexion with light coloured hair and blue eyes
Unlike his brother Thomas had married an Englishwoman, Emma
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of April 1917, in its 31st list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Thomas Lawrence, Primrose Cottages, Canadian contingent." and then in July 1917: “We have to chronicle still further losses among our men from Hatfield. Pt T. Lawrence 75 Bat. A.COY Canadian contingent has been missing since March 1st...... We regret to receive the news of the death of Pt. G. Lawrence Canadian contingent who was killed on June 8th while gallantly taking part in a raid on the enemy’s trenches, much sympathy goes out to his family in this additional sorrow.”
Additional Information
Brother of George Lawrence who was also killed.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mr Herbert Lawrence (Brother) of 3 Primrose Cottages, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
George had been recognised by the above committee, but Thomas had not, so their younger brother, Hertbert, wrote:
Hatfield, Herts
Nov 8th 1919
Hatfield Peace Celebration Committee
Dear Sirs,
Re. the proposed souvenir. We fully appreciate your gratitude & thank you but I would like to draw your attention to the fact that my brother Thomas has been overlooked. I’ll admit that he left his native town just prior to the war but was man enough to join the colours in defence of his old home & unfortunately met his death at the hands of the enemy & I feel sure his English wife who is making her home in this country will feel keenly such disappointment. In writing you I’m speaking of the dead with sensitive feelings of honour due to his bereaved. Trusting you don’t believe it’s your desire to overlook anyone especially the honoured dead.
NB. I Might add my brother was born in Hatfield and lived here for most of his life.
Yours faithfully
Herbert Lawrence.
Thomas is also commemorated on the family headstone in St Luke's Churchyard, Bishops Hatfield (no photograph currently available). The inscription reads:
In loving memory
Thomas Lawence who fell in action in France March 1st 1917 aged 30 yrs.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
