Lawn, James Harold
No.6787 – Private James Harold Lawn – 11th Battalion AIF
James Harold Lawn was born in Bolton Lancashire England in 1891 to James and Kate Lawn. A brother, Frederick was born in 1896. James was initially educated in Bolton but when James was 13 in 1903 the family moved to Western Australia. They initially took up residence in Perth where James attended the nearby James Street School.
After leaving school James took up a three apprenticeship in Wool Classing with a Company in Fremantle. He continued with this trade after finishing his apprenticeship. With his father having died his mother moved into the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle.
On the 31st October 1916 James married Amy Clarkson at St Peter’s Church in East Fremantle and they took up residence in Attfield St Fremantle.
After his marriage James enlisted in the AIF at Swan Barracks in Perth. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 8 ½ inches tall; weight of 125 lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; brown complexion; grey eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Wesleyan. On the 4th September 1916 James was assigned to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF.
He trained with this group in Fremantle for the next two months while they waited for their departure orders to come through.
These finally arrived and on the 9th November 1916 James and his group boarded the HMAT Argyllshire in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England. After the long sea voyage they finally arrived at Devonport Harbour on the 10th January 1917. The men were disembarked and sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp. They began their training and they were also given leave to see the sights of England. James took some leave in late January and went to London, though unfortunately while he was there he contracted bronchitis and Pneumonia.
He was admitted to King George’s Hospital in Stamford Street London where his condition was assessed on the 27th January 1917. The examining doctor wrote that;
“While on furlough went sick with pains all over especially in the back of neck and lower spine. Vomiting, no appetite, bowels open, very nervous Heart – normal, urine contained albumen; difficulty in breathing; temp -104; pulse – 140; Resp – 38. 31st January 1917 – Patient looked very ill and weak, breathing laboured. Is Cyanotic, pulse 150 and feeble. Not able to expel mucus from lungs.”
James’s condition continued to worsen and he died at 1130am on the 1st February 1917. He was given a military funeral at Nunhead Cemetery on the 6th February 1917. The official cause of death being pneumonia.
In August 1919, his wife Amy laid a plaque in his memory in Honour Avenue Kings Park. She never remarried.