TROUNSON, Lawrence John
| Service Number: | 790 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Homebush, Victoria, Australia, 22 August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | School teacher |
| Died: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 February 1964, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne |
| Memorials: | Corindhap Avenue of Honour Monument |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, 790, 31st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement 790, 31st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked 790, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Helen Harmer
Lawrence John Trounson service number 790
Born near Maryborough, Victoria, Lawrence enlisted on the 14 July 1915. At the time he was a schoolteacher, aged 22 years and 11 months and he had previously served in the Citizen Forces, the Victorian Rangers. He spent 1 year as a Junior Cadet, 2 years as a senior Cadet and 1 ½ years as a second Lieutenant A company, 73rd Infantry.
In the AIF, he was appointed to 31st Australian Infantry Battalion as 2nd Lieutenant. He is described as being 5 feet 5 ¼ inches tall, with dark complexion, dark blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was a Methodist.
He embarked from Australia on the 9.11.15 on HMAT Wandilla to join R.E.F. Alexandria and arrived in Suez in December 1915. From 7.12.15 to 18.3.16 he was on operations in Egypt, then from 19.3.16 to 16.6.16 with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, followed by Operations in France and Belgium, from 23.6.16 to 3.9.18. The troop disembarked in Marseille on 23.6.16.
He was promoted to Lieutenant on 20.7.16 in France and Awarded the Military Cross there. The citation reads ”For conspicuous gallantry in action. He kept up continuous fire with his machine gun all night, having established himself with one man on top of the enemy’s parapet. He and his gun were on one occasion literally blown out of the position.” Lightly wounded on 21.11.16, he remained on duty, then he proceeded to England on 27.11.16 for leave. On the 13.12.16 he rejoined his unit from leave. On 7.6.17 he proceeded on leave to Paris, and rejoined his unit on 11.6.17.
On 10.6.17 he was promoted to Captain, then on 27.9.17 proceeded on leave to UK. On 31.8.17 appointed to Lewis Gun Officer. He was on leave from 1.12.17 to 21.12 17 in the UK.
On 6.6.18 he reported for duty at 5th Australian Divisional HQ, and rejoined his unit on 2.8.18. On the 3.9.18 proceeded to 3 Lng Bde Codford, for duty.
27.7.18: duty with 5th AD HQ as Liaison Officer., rejoined unit on 3.8.18. left on 7.9.18 to UK on leave, as Captain, seconded for duty with 14th Training Battalion in England. On 12.11.18 adjutant at Sedworth and on 17.11.18 to Parkhouse.
On 28.1.19 ceased to be seconded to 14th Training Battalion and resumed regular duty. On 22.2.19, detached as Acting Bde Major, 8th Bde HQ in France, then reverting to Captain . On 5.5.19 he returned to 31st Battalion. On 12.5.19 from Le Havre to England for R.T.A., disembarking in Southampton on the 13.5.19. Returned to Australia July 5 1919 on the Port Melbourne, arriving in Melbourne on the 15.8.1919. He was discharged on the 17.10.19 and returned to Ararat, Victoria.
Summary of his War Service Record, accessed from Australian National Archives April 2025
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