Pte 36193 William Arthur Lawson

• Age: 27
• From: Arbory, IOM
• Regiment: 12 MANCHESTERS
• Died on Friday 4th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C.  

William Arthur Lawson was born on the 07th December 1888 at Ballacubbon, Arbory on the Isle of Man, the son of William Lawson and his wife Jane Isabella (née Kinvig) who were married in 1882 at Arbory. He was baptised on the 18th January 1889 at Arbory Church, Ballabeg. 

On the 1891 Census the family, all of whom were born on the Isle of Man, are living at Ballacubbon, four miles out of Castletown. His father, William, is aged 39, a shoemaker, mother Jane I. is 38 years of age. They have five children declared in the household; Emily I. 7 a scholar, Hilda J. 5, Ethel E. 3, William A. 2, and Henry F. 5mths. They also have a boarder John Duggan, 87. 

On the 1901 Census the family have moved to a shop at 22 Arbory Street in Castletown. His father, William, is aged 48, and is a shoemaker born Castletown, then born  inArbory are; mother Jane Isabella is 48 and a Manx speaker and five children; Emily I. 17 a scholar, Hilda J. 15, Ethel E. 13, William A. 12, and Henry F. 10. Also present is father’s brother Robert, a gardener aged 52.  

By the 1911 Census (William) Arthur is aged 22 and working as a drapers assistant. He is boarding with the Watterson family at 24 Woodbourn Square in Douglas. His family have now moved to 21 Arbory Street where father William is aged 59, a boot and shoe dealer, mother Jane is 58. They have been married for 28 years and had 5 children, all of whom have survived. There are still two children in the household; Hilda J. 25 a milliner, and Ethel E. 23. 

Arthur enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool on the 01st March 1916 with the 21st Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 36193.   

His enlistment was reported in the Isle of Man Examiner on Saturday 04 March 1916: 

MANX WAR ITEMS. 

Mr A. W. Lawson, eldest son of Mr W. Lawson, Castletown, and Mr A. S. Corrin have recently joined the army under Lord Derby’s scheme. The former was in the employ of Mr R. C. Cain, draper, Douglas, and the latter was a grocer with Mylchreest and Co., Castletown. 

After a few months training he was granted leave, which was reported in the Isle of Man Examiner on Saturday 24 June 1916: 

Private Norman Callow, son of the late Mr D. T. Callow, of Castletown, and Pte. Arthur Lawson (King’s Liverpool Regiment), son of Mr and Mrs W. Lawson, Arbory-street, Castletown, have been home on leave this week. 

His younger brother Henry had been home on leave earlier in the month, again reported in the Isle of Man Examiner on Saturday 10 June 1916: 

Sergt. Henry Lawson, who emigrated to Canada about five and a half years ago, and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the early days of 1915, has been home on leave this week. He is a son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Lawson, Boot Stores, Arbory-street, Castletown. 

According to his medal roll he shipped to France with another draft of the 20th KLR around the 10th July 1916, and was soon attached to the 12th Bn. Manchester Regiment with which he died on, or after, the 04th August 1916. 

12th Bn. Manchester War Diary. 

Aug 1st 1916 - The Btn. moved up into Brigade Support in old German second line and occupied trenches LONGUEVILLE-BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT and relieved 16th Btn. Royal Warwicks. Relief complete 7.30 p.m. During the night 1st/2 both our and enemy artillery maintained a vigorous bombardment between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. using gas shells. 

Aug 2nd - Still in Brigade Support. 

Aug 3rd -  Btn. received orders to attack enemy line ORCHARD TRENCH in conjunction with 9th Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers.  

Shortly before the Btn. left the trenches to launch the attack the enemy set up a barrage and seriously interfered with our preparations.  

Order of battle - A and C Coys attack, D Coy in support and B Coy in reserve.  

Aug 4th - The attack was launched that 12.50 a.m. but failed.  

2.30 p.m. were relieved by 10th Btn. Lancs Fusiliers and moved into Brigade Reserve in MONTAUBAN ALLEY.  

Aug 4th - Brigade moved with Divisional Reserve. The Btn. occupied trenches near CARNOY. 

Arthur's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.  

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.  

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.” 

He was reported as wounded in the Isle of Man Examiner on Saturday 26 August 1916 :

PRIVATE W. A. LAWSON MISSING, NOW REPORTED WOUNDED.  

On Thursday week, Mr and Mrs Wm. Lawson, of Arbory-street, Castletown, received word from Private E. Glover, of the Manchester Regiment, stating that their elder son, Private William Arthur Lawson, had been missing since the action fought in France on 1st August. Private Glover stated that at midnight on the 1st they went into action, and during the attack he saw Private Lawson wounded in the head, but not severely. The next day they went out to get him, but found that he had been removed. Private Lawson is 27 years old, and prior to joining the Army was an assistant in the employ of Mr R. C. Cain, draper, Douglas. He was called up in his group on 1st March, when he attached himself to the Liverpool Pals, but later transferred to the Manchester Regiment. He left for France about 10th July. He was well known in musical circles, was a competitor at the Guild, and formerly was a member of Castletown Wesleyan Choir, and afterwards connected with Bucks-road Choir, Douglas. His brother, Sergt. Harry Lawson, is in France with the Canadians. On Wednesday night, Mr and Mrs Lawson were officially notified that their son, Private W. A. Lawson, is wounded. 

His brother Harry was reported as home on leave in the Isle of Man Examiner on Saturday 28 July 1917: 

Regimental Quartermaster-Sergt. Harry Lawson, son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Lawson, Arbory-street, Castletown, is at present home on furlough. He has been in France over twelve months. 

Arthur was remembered by his family in the Isle of Man Examiner on Saturday 04 August 1917, the first anniversary of his loss: 

IN MEMORIAM.  

LAWSON.—In sad but ever loving memory of our dear son Arthur, 21st King’s Liverpool Regiment, who fell in action somewhere in France, August 4th, 1916, in his 28th year.  

With armour bucked on, and flag unfurled, 

The heights of death he trod,  

Translated from the warfare of the world 

Into the Peace of God.  

—Fondly remembered by mother, father, sisters and brother.  

21 Arbory Street, Castletown. 

His father received his Soldiers Effects, £2 9s 11d in outstanding pay and a £3 War Gratuity. His mother received a pension of 7/- p.w. 

Sadly, Arthur's brother, Harry, died of wounds on 23rd August 1918 whilst serving as Q.M.S. 622078 with the 44th Canadian Infantry. His service papers state he was an electrician, born on the 23rd November 1891 and he attested in Winnipeg on the 01st January 1915. 

He now rests at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“TRANSLATED FROM THE WARFARE OF THE WORLD INTO THE PEACE OF GOD.” 

His death was reported in the Isle of Man Examiner, on Saturday, August 31, 1918: 

ROLL OF HONOUR.  

LAWSON.—Died of wounds on 23rd inst., Quartermaster-Sergt. Henry Lawson, Canadian Forces, son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Lawson, 23 Arbory-street, Castletown.  

Their parents both died, aged 86, in 1938. 

Their father's death was reported in the Mona's Herald, on Tuesday, April 19, 1938: 

DEATH OF MR. WM. LAWSON CASTLETOWN. 

52 Years a Local Preacher. 

By the death of Mr Wm. Lawson, at his home, Arbory Street, Castletown , on Wednesday, Methodism in the South of the Island, has lost a veteran leader, and Castletown one of its most respected citizens. 

Mr Lawson was born in Castletown 86 years ago, he was for 52 years a local preacher, and as class leader and Sunday School teacher he gave of his best to the service of the Methodist Church for over half a century. He was a man of exceptional ability, well read, with a gift of expression, whether in the pulpit or in conversation, that compelled attention, and a keen sense of humour that made his company a delight. His saintly character, deep religious convictions and a life devoted to the service of his church, were an inspiration to all privileged to know him. 

Mr Lawson spent his youth in Ballabeg, but returned to his native town and set up in business, about 45 years ago, as a boot, factor. He was not a man of robust health, but in all his work he had the help and support of a devoted wife and the blessings of a beautiful home life. For the last ten years he had not been so actively engaged in church work, nevertheless he retained a keen interest in the life of the church, and of his town and Island. 

He received a severe blow by the deaths of his two sons, Arthur and Harry, who were killed on active service during the war, but he and Mrs Lawson bore their loss with true Christian fortitude. He is survived by his widow and three daughters—Mrs R. H. Kermode. Ballasalla, and Misses Hilda and Ethel Lawson. The funeral, which was held on Good Friday afternoon, was largely attended. A service was held in the Arbory Street Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev T. M. Middleton, M.A., assisted by the Rev H. Maddrell, M.A., Vicar of Castletown. Miss Lily Duke, the church organist, accompanied the singing of some of Mr Lawson's favourite hymns.—The interment took place at the Arbory Churchyard, where a large gathering from the surrounding district had assembled. 

The award of Probate to his widow was reported in the Isle of Man Examiner, on Friday, May 06, 1938: 

Mr. William Lawson, boot and shoemaker, who died at 21. Arbory Street. Castletown, on the 13th April, left £1.000. Probate has been granted to deceased's widow, Mrs. Jane Isabella. 

Their mother's death was reported in the Green Final, on Saturday, October 01, 1938: 

DEATHS. 

LAWSON.—September 30th, at 21, Arbory Street, Castletown. JANE ISABELLA, widow of William Lawson, aged 86 years.—Funeral on Monday, leaving the late residence at 2 p.m. for interment in Arbory Churchyard. 

William and Henry are commemorated on the following Memorials:- 

Douglas Memorial, Isle of Man 

The Manx National Memorial, St John's, Isle of Man 

Grateful thanks are extended to Manx National Heritage for granting permission to use the photograph of W Arthur Lawson now showing on the website.  

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