Lawrence, Noel

2943 Private Noel George Lawrence - 51st Battalion AIF

Noel George Lawrence was born in Fremantle WA in 1897 to Joseph and Edith Lawrence. He had a sister Edith born in 1899. The family lived in Market Street Fremantle.

Noel was educated at Fremantle Boys School and during those years he also served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. After the cadet service was finished Noel continued into the main 86th Regiment.

After leaving school Noel took up employment as a Shop Assistant in Fremantle.

On the 19th June 1916 Noel enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Noel's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 2 inches tall;

Weight - 125lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-33 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Fair.

Upon his successful enlistment Noel was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.77 Training Depot. Noel spent a month here being taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 1st August 1916 he was then assigned to the 8th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion AIF.

While he was in this group, Noel had a photo taken with several other recruits. Noel is in the middle row (second from left).

Noel spent a month with this group but on the 4th September 1916 he was transferred into the 7th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion AIF. 

He had two more months training with this group in WA while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive.

On the 9th November 1916 Clarrie and his group boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire and set sail for England, arriving at Devonport Harbour on the 10th January 1917. After being disembarked they were sent to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Noel spent nearly three months at this training battalion before being sent to France

On the 28th March 1917 he departed Folkestone and proceeded across the Channel to France. On arrival at Etaples Noel was marched into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot. He spent another few weeks here and on the 19th April 1917 he was taken on strength of the 51st Battalion AIF.

The 51st Battalion were then on the Bullecourt front and in June 1917 moved to Messines in Belgium where they spent the next three months. Noel survived his time at Messines safely.

From September to November 1917 the 51st Battalion served during the Third Battle of Ypres. They saw action at Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Ridge, Zonnebeke and Passchendaele. Casualties were heavy for the 51st Battalion but Noel came through unscathed.

From December to March 1918, the 51st Battalion helped to hold the front line in Belgium between Ypres and Messines. On the 26th February 1918 Noel was given a break as he went on a two week furlough to England. He returned to his unit on the 14th March 1918.

On the 21st March 1918, the Germans had launched a massive assault which had broken through the British lines further south. The Australian Divisions in Belgium where then sent south to the Somme to help stop this German advance. Noel and the 51st Battalion were sent to an area between the French towns of Albert and Dernancourt and they came into contact with the Germans in late March.

The Australians, including Noel's unit, helped stop the Germans at Dernancourt. However in April the Germans launched another large attack which captured Villers-Bretonneux. A counter attack was immediately ordered and the 51st Battalion played a large role in this attack. The 51st Battalion succeeded in capturing their objectives, however casualties were very heavy. Noel came through this attack unscathed.

The 51st Battalion remained around Villers-Bretonneux for the next few months. On August 8th 1918 the advance from Villers-Bretonneux commenced which put the Germans on retreat. The Australians, British and Canadian divisions pushed the Germans back along the front and for the next few months kept advancing.

The 51st Battalion fought their last action on September 18th 1918 and Noel came through safely again. He had led a charmed life for the last two years, getting through some major battles without being wounded.

When the Armistice was signed on the 11th November 1918 the 51st Battalion were still out of the line. The Germans now withdrew to within their own borders and the Australian units went into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. From December 1918 to May 1919 the Australians remained in these areas.

On the 26th January 1919 Noel was sent on leave to England for two weeks, returning to France on the 15th February 1919. He spent another two months in France as on the 15th April Noel departed from the 51st Battalion for the last time and went to the AIF Base Depot at Le Havre. On the 22nd April 1919 Noel returned to England and was marched into No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He would wait here until he was assigned a berth on a troopship home.

On the 21st June 1919 Noel boarded the transport ship Kongin Louise and set sail for Western Australia, arriving at Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919.

Noel was discharged from the AIF on the 2nd August 1919.

In 1926 in Fremantle Noel married Marian Grace Pitthouse and they lived at 159 Duke Street East Fremantle (now 71 Duke Street). During the years after the Great War Noel was working as an Upholsterer. He continued this career through to the 1970's.

Noel Lawrence died in Perth on the 13th November 1982 aged 85. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.