HANSEN, Lawrence
| Service Number: | 1401 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, 31 December 1886 |
| Home Town: | Caulfield, Glen Eira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 30 September 1917, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
The Huts Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium Plot VIII, Row C, Grave No. 17. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bendigo Myers Employees Roll of Honor |
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Lawrence Hansen was the son of Hans and the late Margarita Hansen of Caulfield, Victoria. He was one of five brothers who enlisted and served in the AIF during the Great War.
His father, Hans Johan Hansen, came to Australia from Denmark during 1863. Hans married in Victoria during 1872 and was operating a market garden there with his sons.
His brother, 4234 Gunner Frank Hansen 102nd Howitzer Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade was killed in action in Belgium 1 August 1917, aged 28.
Lawrence Hansen enlisted during August 1914, one of the very first Australians to enlist, only a few weeks after war was declared. He served in the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade right through the whole Gallipoli campaign, from the day of the Anzac Landing. He was promoted to Sergeant shortly after. He served right through 1916 and in August 1917, just after the death of his brother Frank, he was transferred to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. He didn’t have any leave or sickness up until the time of his death.
According to witnesses, he died when his unit was moving along a road near Westhoek Ridge when a piece of shell shrapnel went through his eye.
Hansen’s other three brothers, Tom, Alf and Fred, all returned to Australia during 1919.
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