Gunner HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE (photo added)

Serviceman Headstone thumbnail image Serviceman thumbnail gravemarker Serviceman thumbnail
Rank Gunner
Forenames HARRY JOHN
Surname LAWRENCE (photo added)
Initials H J
Place of Birth Unknown
Date of Birth Thursday, 21 June 1923
Date of Death Tuesday, 11 July 1944
Age 21
Nationality British
Residence or Entered Service From COLLIERS WOOD, SURREY, UNITED KINGDOM
Service Number 14268506
Force British Army
Service/Corps/Regiment Royal Artillery
Unit / Ship / Battalion / Squadron 94 (The Dorset and Hampshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment
Military Honours and Awards
Place of Burial/Commemoration BROUAY WAR CEMETERY
Roll of honour
Grave/Memorial Location V. B. 9.
Previous Place(s) of Burial Unknown
Epitaph YOURS IS THE SUNSHINE, OURS IS THE SHADOW
Family Details SON OF JOHN CHARLES AND JEAN AINSLIE LAWRENCE, OF COLLIERS WOOD, SURREY.

Additional Information

 

 

HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE was one of two non-identical twins who were both serving in the 94 (The Dorset and Hampshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment of the Royal Artillery. His twin was James Harding Lawrence.
 
HARRY was killed aged 21 on 11th July 1944 when he, the family were told, and 4 other men were in a 'trench on a beach' and a shell landed right on them killing them all outright. His twin brother, James harding Lawrence, was further down the beach and survived.
 
James never recovered from the ordeal, and despite surviving well into his 60's, he was never right again. He initially went AWOL in France for a few weeks, but was forgiven given the extreme circumstance of losing his twin. After the army, he was a bit of a drifter and was, unfortunately, unable to hold down a job for any length of time.

 

The twin brothers also had a younger brother, Arthur Lawrence, who was 9 years younger. He married Beryl Imogen Hopper on the 7th September 1963. They had two children Paul and Katie. Arthur Lawrence passed away in November 2013, aged 81 years, 2 months after celebrating his 50th wedding anniversay.1

 

 

 

 

 

Jean and John Lawrence, parents of Gunner HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE.

 

 

James Harding Lawrence (left) and HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE, undated photograph.

 

 

HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE (left) and his non-identical twin James Harding Lawrence, aged 9 years.

 

 

non-identical twins James Harding Lawrence and HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE, aged 12 years.

 

 

Arthur and James Harding Lawrence, undated.

 

 

Letter, from Gunner HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE
to his mother, undated.

 

 

Letter from Gunner HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE
to his mother, dated 23rd June 1944.

 

 

Last letter from Gunner HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE
to his mother, dated 7th July 1944.
3 days later he was killed by shell fire.

 

 

Notification of Death, dated 20th July 1944.

 

 

Arthur Lawrence, brother of Gunner HARRY JOHN LAWRENCE
on his wedding day with wife Beryl 7th September 1963.

 

 

Arthur Lawrnce and his children Paul and Katie, 1980.

 

 

Arthur Lawrence, wife Beryl, son Paul and daughter Katie,
on his 50th wedding anniversay, September 2013.

 

 

References
1. information,photographs and documents, unless otherwise credited, kindly provided by Katie Fernandes, niece of Gunner HAROLD JOHN LAWRENCE and daughter of Arthur Lawrence.

 

Acknowledgements and Credits
Source of original data: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Headstone photograph: Carl Shilleto
Cross marker photograph: Katie Fernandes, niece of Gunner HAROLD JOHN LAWRENCE and daughter of Arthur Lawrence.
Individual photograph: Katie Fernandes, niece of Gunner HAROLD JOHN LAWRENCE and daughter of Arthur Lawrence.
Additional photographs provided by: Katie Fernandes, niece of Gunner HAROLD JOHN LAWRENCE and daughter of Arthur Lawrence and Carl Shilleto.
Additional information provided by: Katie Fernandes, niece of Gunner HAROLD JOHN LAWRENCE and daughter of Arthur Lawrence.

 

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