Harry Lawson

Harry was born in 1881 in Radford He married his wife Emily North (born 28th November 1879 Sneinton) in 1905 in Nottingham , they went on to have a son Harry born 18th October 1907 and a daughter Emily born 20th October 1912. they lived at 3 Turner Street, Great Alfred Street, Nottingham. In the 1901 census he is shown as being a Private soldier 20 yrs born Radford, Nottingham, he is the Yorkshire Infantry barracks on Fulford Road, York. In the 1911 census the family are living at 17 Ford Street, Nottingham and are shown as Harry 30 years a lace maker, he is living with his wife Emily 30 yrs a fedora hand and their son Harry 3 yrs Following his death his widow Emily was awarded a pension of 21 shillings a week which commenced on 29th May 1916

He was a career soldier

Private Harry Lawson, enlisted at Walmerdean, Kent and served with the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He landed in France on 12th November 1914 , he was killed in action on 1st October 1915 during the battle of Loos [1], he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

In memoriam published 28th July 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “LAWSON. – Missing October 4th, 1915, now officially reported killed, Private Harry Lawson, Northumberland Fusiliers, late 3, Turner-street, beloved husband of Emily Lawson. He nobly answered duty's call, he gave his life for one and all; the unknown grave is the bitterest blow, none but an aching heart can know. – From sorrowing wife and children, sister-in-law Florrie, and Annie. “LAWSON. – Reported missing October 4th, 1915, now officially reported killed on October 1st, 1915, Private H. Lawson, Northumberland Fusiliers. A bitter blow, a shock severe, to part with one we loved so dear; but the hardest part is yet to come, when the heroes all return, we miss among the cheering crowd the face of my dear son. – From his heart-broken mother. “LAWSON. – Missing since October 4th, 1915, Private H. Lawson, now reported killed in the battle of Loos on October 1st, 1915. Far away on the battlefield, where the trees their branches bend, is the grave of my dear brother, gone to his untimely end. Too far away thy grave to see, but not too far to think of thee. For ever in our thoughts. – His loving sister Emma and niece Mabel at Sheffield, and nephew Jack in the navy.” [1] The dating of the battalion's casualties 1st to 4th October 1915 is not agreed upon by the sources. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission date his death as 1st October 1915. The register of the disposal of his personal effects states his death took place between 1st and 4th October 1915. Above notices and information is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebok pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918