James Atkinson Lawrence

James Lawrence (Service no 13808) was born in Wollongong, NSW in 1896.

At the time of enlistment, James was single, 19 years of age, employed as a tailor, had previously served 3 years with the Cadets and 18 months with 40th Australian Militia Corps.

James embarked on HMAT A61-  Kanowna with the Australian Medical Corps, Special Reinforcments on 29 March 1916.  He served in Egypt before going to France on 15h August 1916 where he joined 12th Field Ambulance on 23 August 1916.

James saw service on the Western Front as a stretcher bearer with 12th Field Ambulance and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 4 March 1918.  In August 1918, James was awarded a Military Medal for 'conspicuous gallentry and devotion to duty'.

James was returned to Australia in June 1919 aand discharged on 26 September 1919.

In 1922 James married Alice Smith.

James died in Wollongong, NSW in 1937.

The recommendation for his Military Medal reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, on 8th August, 1918 about 10 AM South of MOURCOURT and South of VILLERS BRETONNEUX-PERONNE Road while following the RMO of 48th Aust Inf Battn this man, under heavy machine gun fire placed under cover many wounded men, thereby saving them from possible injury from the tanks which were following in rear of 48th Aust Inf Battn and also from shellfire. Later when 48th Aust Inf Battn RAP was established on several occassions at great personal risk he rescued wounded men. The RAP was under heavy shellfire later on in the day and also was heavily bombed at night yet this man continued to set a fine example to the rest of his bearers. I consider him worthy of special recognition. Dated 19th August 1918. Commonwealth Gazette No 61 25th May 1919.