Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Lawton, the managing director of a sanitary pipe work company, born in the April quarter of 1863 in Pendleton, Lancashire and baptised on the 29th May 1863 in Manchester, Lancashire (son of Robert Lawton and Charlotte Jones) and his wife Margaret Lucy Lawton (nee Outram, married on the 26th July 1893 in St. Stephen’s Church, Woodville, Derbyshire), born in the January quarter of 1864 in Moira, Leicestershire and baptised on the 17th April 1864 in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Donisthorpe, Leicestershire (daughter of Joseph Outram and Rosa Sophia Brunt). Robert Charles was born in the July quarter of 1894 in Woodville and baptised on the 1st September 1894 in Woodville Parish Church, in March 1901 the family home was at Boothorpe, Blackfordby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Robert was absent from the family home at Boothorpe, Blackfordby, residing there was his father, the managing director of the Albion Clay Works, his wife and sibling, Geoffrey Outram, born on the 12th June 1906 in Boothorpe, meanwhile Robert was a student and was residing as a boarder at Rossall School, Broadway, Fleetwood, Lancashire.
Robert’s Army enlistment documents were not researched, and as such all that is known of his military service is that he was commissioned into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was posted to the 5th Territorial Force Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, and first entered the theatre of war in France on the 15th July 1915 to join his Battalion. Nothing further is known of his service until he was reported to have been wounded in action, he subsequently died from his wounds in hospital on the 17th October 1915 and was buried in Chocques Military Cemetery in France. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
An account of the events of the 12th and 13th October 1915.
On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00 pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00 pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00 pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00 am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty five men killed, one hundred and thirty two wounded and twenty two gassed.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00 am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00 pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50 pm. At 2.00 pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by Machine Gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00 pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine Guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30 pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - No main counter attack, but considerable grenade attacks on point 60 and LITTLE WILLIE. Ground held all along the line. During the day Battalion continued to supply grenadiers and carrying parties for the REDOUBT. Enemy shelled with lacrymatory shells and other high explosive during the afternoon. At 11.30pm Battalion relieved by 139th Brigade and proceeded to LANCASHIRE TRENCH.
The War Diary records: 15 Oct-15 - At 2.00pm half Battalion proceeded by motor lorries to HESDGNEUL. Remainder marched via SAILLY. Casualties during the action were:- Officers killed Captain HASTINGS, Captain LANGDALE, 2nd Lieutenant MOSS, died of wounds Lieutenant LAWTON, wounded 2nd Lieutenant PETCH, 2nd Lieutenant WILLIAMS, 2nd Lieutenant STINCHAM, 2nd Lieutenant WYNNE, 2nd Lieutenant MARRIOTT and 2nd Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Other ranks killed 19, wounded 132, missing 3, died of wounds 3, wounded and missing 10 and gassed 22.
On Wednesday, October 20th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LIEUT. LAWTON WOUNDED. – Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Lawton, of Boothorpe, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, have received an intimation that their son, Lieut. Lawton, of the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, has been wounded, and is in hospital.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times Article - Friday October 22nd, 1915

LIEUT. LAWTON WOUNDED

Mr and Mrs R. W. Lawton, of Boothorpe, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, have received an intimation that their son, Lieut. Lawton, of the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, has been wounded and is in hospital.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 29th, 1915

The Late Lieut. R. C. Lawton - Ashby Guardians sympathy with parents

The chairman (Mr Varnham) at the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Board of Guardians meeting on Saturday, before the board rose, said he had a sad duty to perform. They all knew that their colleague, Mr R. Lawton, had lost his son in the war and he thought it would be the desire of the Guardians to express sympathy with him. He (the chairman) had not the pleasure of knowing Lieut. Lawton himself, but as the son of Mr Lawton, he had no doubt that he was a young man of great ability, and it was very sad to lose such a man just on the threshold of life. They knew that such losses were being experienced all round, but when it was a friend of theirs they felt that it was doubly sad. He was sure the Board would be unanimous in passing a vote of condolence with Mr and Mrs Lawton in the death of their eldest son.

Mr Parker, (vice chairman) said he would like to second that. He could go further than the chairman, because he had known Lieut. Lawton ever since he was a baby. He was born in their midst and had grown up among them. He was a very promising young man and the blow which had fallen on Mr and Mrs Lawton had fallen upon the district and they felt their loss very keenly.

The resolution was carried by the members standing.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 09/09/2017
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“…Meanwhile, three new officers arrived—2nd. Lieut. R.C. Lawton, of "A" Company, who had been prevented by sickness from coming abroad with us, and 2nd Lieuts. E.E. Wynne and N.C. Marriott, both of whom were sent to "B" Company, where they joined Capt. Griffiths at dinner. They were half way through their meal when, without the slightest warning, the ground heaved, pieces of the roof fell on the table, and they heard the ominous whirr of falling clods, which betokens a mine at close quarters.”

…“As he climbed out of our trenches, 2nd Lieut. Lawton was mortally wounded in the stomach.”
Extract from 1/5th battalion diary.. In his will Robert left £413 19s 8d to his father (Will read in London 29/11/ 1915).

Information and photograph of R.C. Lawton submitted by Mr. A. Smith, November 2017.