Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Lawrence’s mother, Selina (Lena) Augusta was married to John Sharp, a second generation of Sharps to live in the township of Gawler. There, John was known as a staunch Druid who was a foundation member of the local branch and an officer of the Lodge. He and his brother, William James were business partners of the Number 1 store located in Gawler South. Unfortunately, aged 48, John died on the 13th November ’03, having initially contracted pneumonia which then caused heart failure. He was buried in the Willaston Cemetery. Lina and the family continued to remember John, placing a memorial to him in November ’06. ‘In loving memory of John Sharp, who died at Gawler South, November 12, 1903. Passed away, but not forgotten, Deep within our hearts enshrined Lives the memory of our loved one. Always faithful, good, and kind. — Inserted by his loving wife and family.’
Lawrence (Laurie) Dixon Sharp was born in Gawler the following year, on the 10th August 1907 to Lena. This made him the third generation of Sharps to live in the town where he also attended the local Gawler school.
He married Gawler girl, Edith Lavinia Pearl Giles, the only daughter of the local bootmaker, Walter Giles who died in January ‘27. The young couple welcomed their first son, George Dixon (who also carried his father’s middle name) that year and then in ’35 welcomed their second son, Colin Roy. Two years later, aged 80, Lawrie’s mother Selina died in April ’37 and was buried with her husband, John at the Willaston Cemetery in Gawler.
Lawrie worked as a tinsmith until the outbreak of WWII, when, just two months prior to his 33rd birthday, he enlisted to serve on the 6th July ’40, becoming SX8244. His early training was in the Adelaide Hills at Woodside before he was sent overseas to the Middle East, arriving in March ’41. He was immediately allocated to the 2/48th Battalion as a reinforcement. Soon after he was graded as a Group II Cook, marching out to Kantara Staging Camp. Whilst in the Middle East, Laurie also had time training with the Australian Infantry Trig Battalion before returning to his 2/48th Battalion where he was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
October ’42 saw Lawrie’s battalion involved in one of the fiercest battles following Montgomery’s order for the 9th Battalion to attack northward. This included an all-out attack on the strategically positioned Trig 29. Conditions were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. The 2/48th Battalion prepared for the second battle of El Alamein which began on October 23rd. The evening was described by John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ as ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done, and patrols sent out.’ He later added that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia.
Glenn also explained they were ‘running into particularly stiff opposition to the west of the Trig point. It was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. Gradually the platoon, small in number to start with, was being whittled away and those remaining were being forced to go to ground.’ He included an extract from the diary of Jack Ralla which described SX8096 Hal Laughton’s wounding but also the camaraderie of the Battalion, including Lawrie, in caring for their fellow soldiers. Jack had his leg shattered and Wally Fennell came back holding the side of his head. ‘Sergeant Derrick had been hit, and as he moved away he said he would send the bearers. For hours I waited, watching the night and listening. Then a voice, “Where are you Ralla?” It was Laurie Sharpe (sic). Laurie carried me back on his shoulders until he could carry me no further, then left me to search for a stretcher bearer. At day-break I saw two men nearby. I waved and they came over to me. They were Lieutenant Med Wright and Bert Skinner. They took turns carrying me until we reached the Blockhouse.”
By February Lawrie was able to return to Australia via Melbourne and briefly enjoy welcome leave. Training in Queensland followed before he headed to New Guinea to face a very different enemy in tropical conditions. He arrived via Milne Bay in August ’43 but soon contracted malaria and was hospitalised. At the commencement of ’44 he briefly worked in the Details Depot before returning to Australia via Brisbane. Niggling health issues including conjunctivitis followed until Lawrence was eventually discharged on the 24th February ’44. Sadly, his homecoming was not atypical of a number of those who had served their country and been overseas for several years. By June ’48 Lawrie filed for, and was granted a divorce from Edith who had formed a relationship with 32-year-old Basil Sharp.
By March ’50 Lawrie received his hard-earned medals, the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal.
Aged 76, Laurie died on the 11th May 1984 and is remembered on a simple headstone which also honours his war service at Salisbury Memorial Park.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.