Virtual
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Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 21st February…… Peter Lawrance was born at Blackwood, Victoria in 1878.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 1st December, 1915 as a 36 year old, single, Miner from 184 Charles Street, Perth, Western Australia.

Sapper Peter Lawrance, Service number 1231, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 20th February, 1916 with the No. 1 Mining Corps, No. 3 Company.

Sapper Peter Lawrance died on 21st February, 1916 while at Sea on board HMAT Ulysses (A38).

A Court of Inquiry was held on 21st February, 1916 on HMA Troopship A38 at Sea by order of Officer Commanding Troopship A38 for the purpose of inquiring into the cause and the circumstances surrounding the death of No. 1231 Sapper Peter Lawrance.

The Court having assembled pursuant to order, proceeded to visit the cells and call evidence. In the cell the Court found a pipe running across one cell to which a piece of 1 ½ “ rope was tied, the coarse end being frayed. Also a piece of rope with a loop at one end and the other end frayed. Placing the frayed ends together a man of average height with a noose around his neck would be suspended in the air.

Several witnesses gave evidence - some I have summarised (see Service Record file for more witness reports):
Background information provided by Sapper Herbert Charles Woolcock:
Sapper Lawrance “sometimes drank a little more than ordinary and when he did so he grew a little noisy”. Sapper Lawrance had a fall from train about a month prior to his death & fell on the side of his face when he was coming into Camp in Sydney, NSW. Sapper Woolcock suggested he visit the doctor but he didn’t want to as he would have to tell his mother that he had been drunk. He had complained of a pain in the back of his neck after the fall & he had been “given him some stuff at Casula while in the Reinforcements to rub on the back of his neck.”

From Lieutenant Harry Edward Trousselot:
Sapper Lawrance came to see Lieutenant Trousselot at 11 am on 20th February, 1916 asking to be placed somewhere safe as some men had threated to “dump him over the side”. Lieutenant Trousselot made enquiries & believed that Sapper Lawrance was imagining it all. He later saw Sapper Lawrance talking to Lieutenant Colonel Fewtrell & Lieutenant Trousselot explained Sapper Lawrance’s fears to Lieutenant Colonel Fewtrell. They decided to place him in the care of a guard & later at his own request he was placed in a Cell.

Sapper Lawrance was taken to see the Doctor – Captain Heggarton who examined him. ”He said the men threatened to throw him overboard. He was very frightened, trembling, and was apparently suffering from the effects of drink.”…..“He said he had been drinking spirits. An injection was made in the man’s arm. The doctor said he could not keep him there and that he had better go to the Guard room.”

Report by 2nd Lieutenant John Orson Oldfield McArdell:

“I am Subaltern of the Guard on duty today, and went into the cells with the Officer of the day Lt Reid at 4.30 pm. The cells were to be cleaned out by order of the O.C. Troopship and my visit was a special one to see that order carried out, I found deceased hanging from the ceiling of the cells. I cut him down immediately. I and Lt Granger carried him out of the cells and started artificial respiration which was proceeded with until the arrival of the doctor, Capt Keggarton. I then returned to my own duties.”

The Court found that Sapper Peter Lawrance came by his death at his own hands by asphyxiation by hanging by the neck in a cell, where he was confined at his own request and that his action was due to a mental depression caused by excessive drinking.

A telegram was sent on 21st February, 1916 from “Ulysses” to Navy Office advising that “Sapper LAWRANCE died carrying body on arrange burial on arrival five a.m. Tuesday.” The telegram was forwarded to The Secretary, Department of Defence by George L. Macandie, Naval Secretary.

A Secret Telegram was sent from Navy Office on 22nd February, 1916 via radio to Transport “Ulysses”: “You are to commit body of Lawrence to deep before entering port and berth at Railway Pier, Port Melbourne, at 7.30.”

Sapper Peter Lawrance is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Sapper Peter Lawrance was not eligible for any War Medals on account of his suicide.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/k---l.html