LAWSON, Percy Harold
| Service Number: | 1467 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 July 1915, Under name Tenerg Harold Lawson |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
| Born: | Birkenhead, South Australia, 6 January 1898 |
| Home Town: | Largs Bay, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Le Fever's Peninsula Public School, Semaphore, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Boilermaker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, 26th Casualty Clearing Station, Lapugnoy, 6 January 1918, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, France Plot VIII. Row A. Grave 7. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Australian Harbours Board WW1 Roll of Honour, Adelaide Commissioner of Public Works Roll of Honour, Adelaide National War Memorial, Birkenhead WW1 Harbors Board Employees Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1467, Under name Tenerg Harold Lawson | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 1467, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 1467, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 27 Oct 1917: | Promoted Second Lieutenant, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
Help us honour Percy Harold Lawson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born: Purcell Harrold LAWSON 6 January 1898 in Birkenhead, South Australia
(SA Births 1842 - 1906 Book: 615 Page: 181 District: PtA.)
Father John LAWSON (dec) and Mother Mary Jane Lawson (nee COMMIS),
lived at Fletcher Road, Peterhead (later moved to Swansea, Largs Bay), SA
Previous service:
4 yeras AN Cadets at Largs Bay - still serving on enlisting
Percy was described on enlisting as 18 years 6 months of age; single; 5' 6" tall; 150 lbs;
medium complexion; hazel eyes; dark hair; Methodist
19/07/1915 enlisted into WWI at Keswick, SA
26/07/1915 appointed to Infantry Base Depot, as Private
11/08/1915 transferred to Mitcham Camp as Signaller
27/10/1915 embarked Outher Harbour, SA onboard HMAT A24 Benalla
as a Private with 9th Light Horse Regiment, 11th Reinforcement
28/12/1915 taken on strength Signaller RHQ, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Heliopolis
06/03/1916 transferred to 3rd Light Horse Reserve Regiment
01/04/1916 transferred to 5th Division Artillery
16/06/1916 sick to hospital
03/07/1916 admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, England
14/09/1916 taken on strength 48th Infantry Battalion
15/01/1917 wounded in action - right thigh & arm shot reported Co HQ
was shelled killing Sgt Foster and wounding Lt Davies & 4 men around
Fatique Trench at Gueudecourt near Flers
transferred to AFC Depot Parkhouse, UK
15/06/917 attached to 30th Training Squadron - Australian Flying Corps, Shawbury, UK
11/08/1917 attached to 29th Training Squadron RFC 8-17 rtn 30 Trg Sqn RFC
27/10/1917 promoted to 2nd Lieutenant - after having graduated as a Flying Officer
23/11/1917 proceeded overseas to France, Boulogne
25/11/1917 taken on strength 68th Squadron (2 Squadron) AFC
The Late 2nd Lieutenant Percy Harold Lawson was flying on duty from Baizieux to
Auchel on the 06/01/1918.
The Machine spun into the ground and burst into flames. His body was taken to
the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station at Lozinghem and buried the following day.
His SE 5a B55 crashed on approach to land at Auchel. His machine flat turned into a spin
from 400 feet, caught fire on impact, and he was burnt to death at Lozinghem aerodrome,
the home of No 43 Sqn RFC at the time. He had been with the Squadron for six weeks.
Originally buried in:
Chateau Grounds adjacent to the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station
with a Church of England Chaplain present.
1923 exhumed and reburied in:
Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Lapugnoy, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais, France
Plot VIII. Row A. Grave 7
His name is commemorated on:-
- Panel 187 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
- the South Australian Harbors Board WWI Memorial, Birkenhead, SA
Medals: 1914/15 Star (8740); British War medal (25974); Victory medal (25795);
Memorial Plaque and Scroll (
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 18/04/2017. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.