William Lawrie

18William Lawrie was born on 18 January 1898 in Darwin to John Joseph Lawrie and his wife Edith Matilda (nee Little). Edith had been born at Robe and went to Darwin with her father, Mr J.A.G. Little, who was deputy sheriff, superintendent and senior inspecting officer in the Post and Telegraph Department of the Northern Territory. Edith met John in Darwin and married him at the Stella Maris in 1892. They spent the first nine years of their married life in the Northern Territory. William was one of five children: John Graham born 26 July 1895, who worked for the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company in Singapore; Robert Graham born 9 March 1903, who worked for the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company in Darwin; Mary Blackwell born 1894 and Jean Josephine, who died age 16 days on 25 March 1912. William worked for the E.S. &A. Bank in Darwin alongside his father, prior to enlisting. William was linked to a Melbourne murder enquiry in 1926 but cleared of any involvement. He was also linked to a traffic accident death in 1933 in Hobart. He was registered to vote in Melbourne electorates until 1942. By 1949 William?s registered electoral address was in Launceston and he had married Norah.Lawrie?s parents gave permission for their son to enlist on 24 November 1916. His unit embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A15 ?Port Sydney? on 9 November 1917. He returned to Australia on board ?Prinz Huburtus? on 22 August 1919 and was discharged on 14 September 1919. Lawrie also enlisted in the Second World War, joining the RAAF; 15 Radar Station. He was discharged on 17 April 1945.Bank clerkAustralian Imperial Force8th Field Artillery Brigad