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War Memorial
Australia

Lawrence Byrne was born on 3 August 1920 at Carcoar, New South Wales, the son of Thomas Albury Byrne and Nellie Linda Eileen Disney. In certain documents, his Christian name is recorded as Laurence; however, the New South Wales Birth, Death, and Marriage records indicate that he was born Lawrence (Registration number 28407/1920). At the time of his enlistment in the AIF on 30 May 1940 in Paddington, New South Wales, he was a 20-year-old labourer and was assigned service number NX19350. He claimed to have served four years with the 1st Battalion of the AMF, achieving the rank of corporal. His father was listed as his next of kin, residing at 173 George Street, Redfern. He was later incorporated into the 2nd/13th Battalion. While stationed in Ingleburn, he was hospitalized for a stomach hernia in August and remained there until November. Once declared fit for duty, he rejoined his battalion in Wagga Wagga and was later transferred to Sydney after being accepted for service with the Darwin Force, ultimately being discharged on 6 November.

The next day, he was assigned to the Darwin Infantry Battalion, a temporary unit formed from the 19th/20th Battalion, which had been deployed to Darwin to safeguard against possible Japanese assaults. This time, he stated his occupation as a shop boy and received a new service number, NX194020. He reached Darwin on 6 February 1941, and in July, the 19th Battalion was separated from the 20th Battalion. Lawrence was then assigned to the 19th Battalion, and on 16 August, he was appointed an unpaid lance corporal.

On 19 February 1942, Darwin was bombed by Japanese forces, with the 19th Battalion playing a crucial role in the town's defense. This assault marked the most extensive attack ever conducted by a foreign nation on Australian soil. In the initial two raids, 235 individuals lost their lives, while an additional 300 to 400 sustained injuries. The attack destroyed thirty aircraft, including nine of the ten that were defending the area, as well as the sinking of nine ships in the harbour and two outside it. Furthermore, several civil and military installations in Darwin were damaged.

On 9 July, Lawrence volunteered for the RAAF to be trained as an aircrewmen. However, nothing in his service record states what happened with this application. In September, the 19th Battalion was relieved by troops from the 10th/48th Battalion. Along with the rest of the battalion, Lawrence was transferred to Sydney, and he married Mavis Irene Hanson in Burrowa, New South Wales, on 5 October.

On 15 January 1943, he was admitted to the 18th Field Ambulance due to a back injury, although the circumstances surrounding this incident are not documented in his record. The subsequent month, he was hospitalized at the 113th Australian General Hospital for appendicitis, and on 15 March, he moved to the 103rd Convalescent Depot. The following month, he rejoined his battalion, but on 25 May, he was charged with being absent without leave (AWL), resulting in the forfeiture of one day's pay and allowances. He stayed with the battalion in New South Wales, but his behaviour appeared to change, leading to his absence from a parade on 20 October. From 23 January 1944 to 15 March, he was reported absent without leave (AWL) and was subsequently apprehended and detained at the 3rd Australian Detention Barracks. On 16 May, Lawrence faced a court-martial, where he was found guilty and fined £15, resulting in a total forfeiture of 107 days' pay. After this, he was assigned to the battalion in Queensland, and on 13 June, he was admitted to an Australian General Hospital for treatment of an epigastric hernia. He was discharged from hospital in August and left Townsville for New Guinea on 13 September.

After spending four days at sea, he arrived at Lae and joined the battalion which had been in New Guinea since April 1943. In December 1944, the battalion was deployed to New Britain, boarding the transport vessel Francis J. Parkman. Over the following five months, they engaged in a series of harassment operations aimed at destabilizing the significant Japanese forces present in the area. Utilizing barges to move along the coast toward the Gazelle Peninsula, the 19th Battalion took over from the 14th/32nd Battalion. On 28 February 1945, they crossed the Mevelo River and commenced their advance toward the Wulwut River. At this juncture, they encountered the advanced Japanese defensive positions established along the Waitavalo ridge, situated behind the Wulwut and overlooking the Waitavalo and Tol plantations. On 5 March, the 19th Battalion attempted to cross the river but was initially repelled by heavy Japanese mortar and machine-gun fire. A subsequent attempt later that day proved successful. Following this, the 19th Battalion captured several Japanese positions before advancing to Bacon Hill, the ridge's highest point where the primary Japanese defensive stronghold was situated. At this stage, they were relieved by the 14th/32nd Battalion. The Australians then established a defensive line between Wide Bay and Open Bay, transitioning to a defensive strategy to contain the Japanese forces on the Gazelle Peninsula. Consequently, the battalion did not engage in any further significant offensive operations. During the conflict in New Britain, the 19th Battalion incurred 64 battle casualties, comprising seven officers and 57 other ranks. 

Lawrence departed from New Britain on 10 May and arrived in Brisbane four days later. On 7 July, he was admitted to the 128th Australian General Hospital due to a recurring hernia problem and transferred to New South Wales in August. In September, he was hospitalized at the 102nd General Hospital for Malaria and was discharged to the District Accounts Office on 1 October. Ten days later, he was moved to the District Accounts Office, and his service in the AIF was officially concluded on 8 November.

In 1946, records indicate that he and his wife were residing with his parents at 173 George Street, Redfern, Sydney. At that time, he was employed as a dresser, a term that encompasses various job roles. By 1949, the couple had relocated to 73 Knox Street, Belmore, Sydney, where he had transitioned to working as a miner. During the 1950s, they moved to Woy Woy, and by 1954, they were living at 78 Nelson Street, Umina Beach, where his profession was now a telephone technician. They continued to live at this address in 1958.

A noteworthy letter from his mother addressed to the defense department in Albert Park, Victoria, is dated 22 June 1954. In this correspondence, she seeks information regarding his military service and mentions that Lawrence has gone missing, leaving behind his wife and three children. She notes that difficulties began following his return from Darwin and asks to whom he had allocated his pay, as he was single at that time. Additionally, she inquires about the charges against him when he was transported from the showground to Brisbane, which incurred a cost of £50, though she was unaware of the reason. She expresses concern over his ongoing financial issues, stating that he has borrowed money from relatives, accumulated significant debt, and then disappeared. She suspects he may have had a gambling problem. Notably, at the time of writing this letter, his mother resided at Tes Kiosk, 65 Brickwharf Road, Woy Woy.

The defense department stated that the only information indicated that his father was his next of kin, a designation that changed upon his marriage. They also notified her that he had been absent without leave for two months. Aside from this, his service record was deemed satisfactory. Furthermore, he is listed on the electoral rolls for 1954 and 1958 as residing with his wife in Woy Woy. According to the electoral records, if he did indeed leave his wife in 1954, as claimed by his mother, he had returned to his family by 1958.

An additional letter in his service record deepens the enigma. Dated 11 July 1977, it is written by 43178 Sergeant Andrew Edward Cutten. In the letter, he inquires about his wife's uncle, Lawrence Byrne, who was last known to be alive in 1954 before he vanished, leaving behind his wife and three children. It is noted that he was believed to be suffering from schizophrenia, a severe mental health disorder that impacts an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Cutten also mentions that since his disappearance, his father has passed away, his elder son has died in a traffic accident, and his mother, now 81 years old, is in distress and poor health, longing to see her son before her death. However, the defense department responded that they were unable to assist.

Post-1958, Lawrence Byrne did not appear on the electoral roll, and by 1968, his wife was indicated as residing alone at 78 Nelson Street, Umina Beach. She continued to be recorded as living by herself until her death on 1 June 1995. I have found a mention that he passed away at Fairy Meadows, near Wollongong, New South Wales, on 16 March 2013. Nonetheless, I have not confirmed this information, nor have I identified the location of his burial or cremation.

As a side note, 43178 Sergeant Andrew Edward Cutten is recorded as a member of the Royal Australian Signal Corps on the Department of Veterans Affairs website. He was born in Hawker, South Australia, on 26 October 1944 and served as a corporal in Vietnam with the 32nd Small Ship Squadron. He is confirmed as a member of RASIGS, manning ships in Vietnamese waters from 1967 until 1970. He served on AV 1355 Vernon Sturdee, AS 3051 John Monash, and AV 1356 Clive Steele and received a National Medal on 10 February 1978. Following his military career, he was appointed to the New South Wales Housing Commission.

In February 1956, Lawrence's mother applied for her son's medals but was informed that Army instructions require that campaign awards for which a member qualified must be forwarded to the member concerned. It is mostly likely that his campaign medals have never been claimed.

Lawrence Byrne was born on 3 August 1920 at Carcoar, New South Wales, the son of Thomas Albury Byrne and Nellie Linda Eileen Disney. In certain documents, his Christian name is recorded as Laurence; however, the New South Wales Birth, Death, and Marriage records indicate that he was born Lawrence (Registration number 28407/1920). At the time of his enlistment in the AIF on 30 May 1940 in Paddington, New South Wales, he was a 20-year-old labourer and was assigned service number NX19350. He claimed to have served four years with the 1st Battalion of the AMF, achieving the rank of corporal. His father was listed as his next of kin, residing at 173 George Street, Redfern. He was later incorporated into the 2nd/13th Battalion. While stationed in Ingleburn, he was hospitalized for a stomach hernia in August and remained there until November. Once declared fit for duty, he rejoined his battalion in Wagga Wagga and was later transferred to Sydney after being accepted for service with the Darwin Force, ultimately being discharged on 6 November.

The next day, he was assigned to the Darwin Infantry Battalion, a temporary unit formed from the 19th/20th Battalion, which had been deployed to Darwin to safeguard against possible Japanese assaults. This time, he stated his occupation as a shop boy and received a new service number, NX194020. He reached Darwin on 6 February 1941, and in July, the 19th Battalion was separated from the 20th Battalion. Lawrence was then assigned to the 19th Battalion, and on 16 August, he was appointed an unpaid lance corporal.

On 19 February 1942, Darwin was bombed by Japanese forces, with the 19th Battalion playing a crucial role in the town's defense. This assault marked the most extensive attack ever conducted by a foreign nation on Australian soil. In the initial two raids, 235 individuals lost their lives, while an additional 300 to 400 sustained injuries. The attack destroyed thirty aircraft, including nine of the ten that were defending the area, as well as the sinking of nine ships in the harbour and two outside it. Furthermore, several civil and military installations in Darwin were damaged.

On 9 July, Lawrence volunteered for the RAAF to be trained as an aircrewmen. However, nothing in his service record states what happened with this application. In September, the 19th Battalion was relieved by troops from the 10th/48th Battalion. Along with the rest of the battalion, Lawrence was transferred to Sydney, and he married Mavis Irene Hanson in Burrowa, New South Wales, on 5 October.

On 15 January 1943, he was admitted to the 18th Field Ambulance due to a back injury, although the circumstances surrounding this incident are not documented in his record. The subsequent month, he was hospitalized at the 113th Australian General Hospital for appendicitis, and on 15 March, he moved to the 103rd Convalescent Depot. The following month, he rejoined his battalion, but on 25 May, he was charged with being absent without leave (AWL), resulting in the forfeiture of one day's pay and allowances. He stayed with the battalion in New South Wales, but his behaviour appeared to change, leading to his absence from a parade on 20 October. From 23 January 1944 to 15 March, he was reported absent without leave (AWL) and was subsequently apprehended and detained at the 3rd Australian Detention Barracks. On 16 May, Lawrence faced a court-martial, where he was found guilty and fined £15, resulting in a total forfeiture of 107 days' pay. After this, he was assigned to the battalion in Queensland, and on 13 June, he was admitted to an Australian General Hospital for treatment of an epigastric hernia. He was discharged from hospital in August and left Townsville for New Guinea on 13 September.

After spending four days at sea, he arrived at Lae and joined the battalion which had been in New Guinea since April 1943. In December 1944, the battalion was deployed to New Britain, boarding the transport vessel Francis J. Parkman. Over the following five months, they engaged in a series of harassment operations aimed at destabilizing the significant Japanese forces present in the area. Utilizing barges to move along the coast toward the Gazelle Peninsula, the 19th Battalion took over from the 14th/32nd Battalion. On 28 February 1945, they crossed the Mevelo River and commenced their advance toward the Wulwut River. At this juncture, they encountered the advanced Japanese defensive positions established along the Waitavalo ridge, situated behind the Wulwut and overlooking the Waitavalo and Tol plantations. On 5 March, the 19th Battalion attempted to cross the river but was initially repelled by heavy Japanese mortar and machine-gun fire. A subsequent attempt later that day proved successful. Following this, the 19th Battalion captured several Japanese positions before advancing to Bacon Hill, the ridge's highest point where the primary Japanese defensive stronghold was situated. At this stage, they were relieved by the 14th/32nd Battalion. The Australians then established a defensive line between Wide Bay and Open Bay, transitioning to a defensive strategy to contain the Japanese forces on the Gazelle Peninsula. Consequently, the battalion did not engage in any further significant offensive operations. During the conflict in New Britain, the 19th Battalion incurred 64 battle casualties, comprising seven officers and 57 other ranks. 

Lawrence departed from New Britain on 10 May and arrived in Brisbane four days later. On 7 July, he was admitted to the 128th Australian General Hospital due to a recurring hernia problem and transferred to New South Wales in August. In September, he was hospitalized at the 102nd General Hospital for Malaria and was discharged to the District Accounts Office on 1 October. Ten days later, he was moved to the District Accounts Office, and his service in the AIF was officially concluded on 8 November.

In 1946, records indicate that he and his wife were residing with his parents at 173 George Street, Redfern, Sydney. At that time, he was employed as a dresser, a term that encompasses various job roles. By 1949, the couple had relocated to 73 Knox Street, Belmore, Sydney, where he had transitioned to working as a miner. During the 1950s, they moved to Woy Woy, and by 1954, they were living at 78 Nelson Street, Umina Beach, where his profession was now a telephone technician. They continued to live at this address in 1958.

A noteworthy letter from his mother addressed to the defense department in Albert Park, Victoria, is dated 22 June 1954. In this correspondence, she seeks information regarding his military service and mentions that Lawrence has gone missing, leaving behind his wife and three children. She notes that difficulties began following his return from Darwin and asks to whom he had allocated his pay, as he was single at that time. Additionally, she inquires about the charges against him when he was transported from the showground to Brisbane, which incurred a cost of £50, though she was unaware of the reason. She expresses concern over his ongoing financial issues, stating that he has borrowed money from relatives, accumulated significant debt, and then disappeared. She suspects he may have had a gambling problem. Notably, at the time of writing this letter, his mother resided at Tes Kiosk, 65 Brickwharf Road, Woy Woy.

The defense department stated that the only information indicated that his father was his next of kin, a designation that changed upon his marriage. They also notified her that he had been absent without leave for two months. Aside from this, his service record was deemed satisfactory. Furthermore, he is listed on the electoral rolls for 1954 and 1958 as residing with his wife in Woy Woy. According to the electoral records, if he did indeed leave his wife in 1954, as claimed by his mother, he had returned to his family by 1958.

An additional letter in his service record deepens the enigma. Dated 11 July 1977, it is written by 43178 Sergeant Andrew Edward Cutten. In the letter, he inquires about his wife's uncle, Lawrence Byrne, who was last known to be alive in 1954 before he vanished, leaving behind his wife and three children. It is noted that he was believed to be suffering from schizophrenia, a severe mental health disorder that impacts an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Cutten also mentions that since his disappearance, his father has passed away, his elder son has died in a traffic accident, and his mother, now 81 years old, is in distress and poor health, longing to see her son before her death. However, the defense department responded that they were unable to assist.

Post-1958, Lawrence Byrne did not appear on the electoral roll, and by 1968, his wife was indicated as residing alone at 78 Nelson Street, Umina Beach. She continued to be recorded as living by herself until her death on 1 June 1995. I have found a mention that he passed away at Fairy Meadows, near Wollongong, New South Wales, on 16 March 2013. Nonetheless, I have not confirmed this information, nor have I identified the location of his burial or cremation.

As a side note, 43178 Sergeant Andrew Edward Cutten is recorded as a member of the Royal Australian Signal Corps on the Department of Veterans Affairs website. He was born in Hawker, South Australia, on 26 October 1944 and served as a corporal in Vietnam with the 32nd Small Ship Squadron. He is confirmed as a member of RASIGS, manning ships in Vietnamese waters from 1967 until 1970. He served on AV 1355 Vernon Sturdee, AS 3051 John Monash, and AV 1356 Clive Steele and received a National Medal on 10 February 1978. Following his military career, he was appointed to the New South Wales Housing Commission.

In February 1956, Lawrence's mother applied for her son's medals but was informed that Army instructions require that campaign awards for which a member qualified must be forwarded to the member concerned. It is mostly likely that his campaign medals have never been claimed.