George Thomas LAWSON
Year of Birth: 1889
Place of Birth: Cooktown, Queensland, Australia
Date of Enlistment: 6 September 1915
Date and Place of Embarkation: 11 May 1916 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Ship: HMAT Argyllshire A8
Rank: Private
Unit(s): Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery
Regimental Number: 20968
Died: 4 July 1918
George Thomas Lawson was born in Cooktown Queensland in 1889, the elder son of Gustav and Elizabeth Lawson (nee Lansdale). His brother, Ernest was born in 1893.
George was a stockman aged 26 years 2 months, 6 feet 1¾ inches tall and weighed 11 stone 4 pounds. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His religion was Church of England and named his mother as his next of kin as his father was deceased.
He embarked on the HMAT Argyllshire from Sydney on 11 May 1916 and arrived at Devonport England on 10 July that year.
He spent some months in hospital at Larkhill before proceeding to Rouelles France in July 1917. He attended the 1st Anzac Corps School during September 1917 and again spent time ill in hospital and was transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to England. He attended the Training Brigade at Long Deverill before proceeding to Havre France from Southampton on 15 May 1918.
He was killed in action on 4 July 1918 and initially buried at Villers Bretonneux before being moved to Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers Bretonneux.
His mother applied for his war medals, initially believing he had been awarded the Military Medal, then being advised of a mix up and that the medal had actually been awarded to another soldier with a similar name.
Online Resources
NAA: B2455 (LAWSON G T) National Archives of Australia
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages
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