John Lawrence

Story:
John Lawrence was born in 1895 in Sedgehill, Wiltshire, and baptised there on 19th January 1896. He was the son of William Lawrence, a Groom, and Bessie Lawrence (née Lampard). John's mother died in 1905 and was buried at East Knoyle on 10th February 1905. By the 1911 Census, John was working as a Labourer and boarding at Pauelines Farm at South Cheriton, Somerset, whilst his father lived at 'Warthogs', Semley, Wiltshire. At the time of his enlistment at Shaftesbury on the 13th January 1915, he was single and was living at Upton Cottage, Berwick St. John, Wiltshire. He joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service No. 12795). He served in France & Flanders from 18th June, 1915 and moved from one Company to another within the Regiment but ended up with the 6th Battalion - where he had started. He was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 8th July 1916 and was buried at Dantzig Alley British War Cemetery, Mametz in France (grave id. IX.L.7). He is remembered on the Berwick St. John War Memorial.  His half brother, Frederick Harold Lampard (who later changed his surname to Lawrence) also served in the conflict and survived (For story of Frederick see under Frederick Harold Lawrence.)