The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War

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249570 Pte. John W. Lawrenson British Army 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry from:South Shields (d.27th August 1918) John Lawrenson served with 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry. I found paperwork addressed to John Lawrenson's sister Mrs Greenwell, that he had died of wounds on 27th of August 1918 in the 29th Casualty Clearing Station. There is also a letter from Sister Former that says "Dear Mrs Greenwell, In answer to your letter your brother was brought to us wounded in the buttock and extremely ill. We did all we could for him but he died soon after he came to us on 27th of August 1918 quite peacefully. Try(?) this is any comfort to you he suffered no pain, he was too ill to talk to us. He is buried in the British Cemetery in Grezaincourt, near Poullens. With much sympathy Sister Former(?)'. There is also another letter from Rev. Hoff dated 15th of Novemeber 1918 that says "Dear Mrs Greenwell, Your letter reached me about three weeks ago as I had changed my address several times in the meanwhile. I have been so busy till now that I have been unable to answer it before now. I saw your brother 81605 J W Lawrenson immediately on his admission to 29 CCS. I heard his confession and gave him the last sacraments. He was --- to God's will when I told him that he was in danger of death and was in the last dispositions. I saw him once again before he died and I am glad to say he was in no pain. You make take comfort in thoughts that he died fighting in a just cause and that his reward will be --- to his sacrifice. I pray that god may --- you and his mother that consolation in your sorrow which only he can --- Yours sincerely, J G Hoff C7" There's also a small slip from Buckingham Palace stating there's a small memorial sent, this was probably the death penny I am yet to have come across this. Pam Add to this record.    Additional Information: Johns mother May went over 2 France in the early 1920s with the YMCA and of course other mothers, she was unable to read or write . On arrival to the cemetery there was a Sargent near the top of the cemetery near some of the then wooden crosses. Not being able to read she couldn’t find Johns marked grave. Very embarrassed she asked the Sargent if he could help in which he replied. “ Madam you are Standing right next to your sons grave. She always said that Johns Spirit led her to his resting place. My mothers mother was Johns sister she always spoke of him as Poor John Jeff Harkness Reply Related Content: 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? If so please let us know. Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?" We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages. The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers. This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Hosted by: The Wartime Memories Project Website is archived for preservation by the British Library Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV - All Rights Reserved - We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.