230869 Rflmn. William Lawrence British Army 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Btn. London Regiment from:Gold Street, Mile End William Lawrence was born on 5th November 1896 in Mile End Old Town, the son of Matilda and Frederick Lawrence.
At the start of the Great War in August 1914 he enlisted as a Rifleman in the 17th London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles). Then on mobilisation the 17th moved to St Albans, Hertfordshire. While in training he met a local St Albans girl called Violet Clark who he later returned to and married at St Albans Abbey on 2nd July 1917.
In 1915 his unit proceeded overseas landing at Le Havre on 10th March 1915. During his service on the Western Front he fought in many engagements, and was wounded in action at the Somme.
On recovery he returned to the firing line and took part in the fighting at Ypres, and was again wounded at Arras in 1917.
He was invalided back to England and, after receiving hospital treatment for a gun shot wound to the arm, he was discharged as medically unfit for further service in December 1917.
He won the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory medals.
Violet and William started married life at 7 Queen Street St Albans. They went on to have five children.
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