Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Richard James Lawrence, a railway foreman, born on the 22nd January 1857 in Tamworth, Staffordshire (son of Edward Lawrence, 1827-1908 and Hannah Stretton, 1828-1915) and his wife Sophia Lawrence (nee Pearman, married in the October quarter of 1882 in the Settle, Yorkshire district), born in the March quarter of 1848 in Walsall, Staffordshire. Francis Edward Pearman, a schoolboy, was born in the January quarter of 1885 in Hellifield, Yorkshire, his siblings were, James Wilfrid, a schoolboy, born on the 16th May 1883 in Hellifield and Harry, born on the 5th September 1887 in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 13, Kings Newton Street, Leicester. In the March quarter of 1892 Francis’s mother died in Leicester, aged 44. In March 1901 Francis was employed as a warehouse boot packer and was residing in the family home at 253, Mere Road, Leicester, together with his father, a railway porter, his stepmother, Sarah Sophia Lawrence (nee Locker, married in the July quarter of 1893 in the Leicester district), born in the April quarter of 1862 in Little Eaton, Derbyshire and his sibling, Harry, a boot trade fitting cutter, and half-blood siblings, Christiana Hannah, born on the 4th April 1894 and baptised on the 4th July 1894 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, Arthur Charles Matthew, born in the October quarter of 1895 and baptised on the 28th November 1895 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, Alfred Locker, born on the 7th November 1898 and Richard Percival, born on the 22nd March 1901, the latter four siblings were all born in Leicester. In April 1911 Francis was employed as a wine merchant’s carter and was residing in the family home at 62, Cedar Road, Leicester, together with his father, a railway porter, his stepmother and half-blood siblings, Christiana, a cardboard box maker, Arthur, a boot trade fitting cutter, Alfred, a schoolboy, Richard, a schoolboy and Ernest Harold, a schoolboy, born on the 3rd June 1903 in Leicester. Francis’s father had previously married Augusta Emily Locker on the 4th August 1880 in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, Augusta was born in the December quarter of 1854 in Clay Cross, Derbyshire and died in the April quarter of 1881 in Settle, Yorkshire, aged 27. Augusta was the elder sister of Francis’s father’s first wife. On the 4th December 1912 Francis married Ann Ellen Cave in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, Ann was born on the 8th November 1882 in Leicester (daughter of Ashby Cave and Ellen Hunt, 1861).
Frank enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 8th February 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number M2/048536. He gave his place of birth as Hellifield, Yorkshire and age as 31. His marital status was given as married and his trade or calling as motor driver. He gave his present address as 18, Bartholomew Street, High Fields, Leicester.
He confirmed that he had previously served for three years with the Royal Field Artillery.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 5th February 1915 and recorded his apparent age as 31 years, that he was 5 feet 9⅛ inches in height, weighed 172 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 36½ and 39 ½ inches and his physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his wife, Ann Ellen Lawrence, 18, Bartholomew Road, High Fields, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. Pte. 8/2/15.
Joined. At Grove Park. 9/2/15.
Embarked. Per Empress Queen, Southampton. 25/2/15.
Disembarked. At Havre. 26/2/15.
Charged. In the Field. 26/9/15. Drunken-ness. Awarded 14 days stoppage of all pay. 28/9/15.
Admitted. No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station. (S.W. Various) In the Field. 15/10/15.
Died from various shot wounds received in action. 15/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 8/2/15 – 24/2/15. 17 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 25/2/15 – 15/10/15. 233 days.
Total Service. 250 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
PROCEEDINGS of a COURT of INQUIRY assembled at Gosnay on the 18th of October 1915, by order of the A.D.M.S., 46th Division, for the purpose of investigating the nature of an accident occurring on Oct. 15, 1915 to 2nd Lieut. G. T. Durward and 048536 Pte. Lawrence, F. both of 46th Div. Field Amb. Workshop Unit.
PRESIDENT. Major T. A. Barron. R.A.M.C. (T.F.)
MEMBERS. Capt. T. Graham. R.A.M.C. (T.F.) Lieut. A. C. Renwick. R.A.M.C. Tempy. Comm.
IN ATTENDANCE. 3173 Pte. H. Smithers. 048829 Pte. H. T. Bailey. 048537 Pte. A. Lister.
The Court having assembled pursuant to order, proceed to take evidence.
1st, Witness. 3173 Pte. H. Smithers states that at breakfast time on Friday October 15th. Pte. Lawrence informed him that Lieut. G. T. Durward had given him a shell nose to take to pieces. About 11 o’clock he saw Pte. Lawrence engaged in taking this shell nose to pieces. From the appearance of the shell nose, he concluded that it was a live one and warned Lawrence of the danger attendant upon such an operation. Pte. Smithers also states that Lawrence informed him that Lieut. Durward had told him (Lawrence) that there was no danger to him in taking this nose to pieces. (Sd) Pte. H. Smithers.
2nd Witness. 048829 Pte. H. J. Bailey states that at noon on Friday Oct.15th, he was engaged at a vice. Lawrence was about 10 yards away engaged in taking to pieces a shell nose. Lieut. Durward was superintending the operation. A violent explosion occurred and witness went up and found Lawrence on the ground very seriously wounded and Lieut. Durward standing by also wounded. (Sd) H. J. Bailey.
3rd Witness. 048537 Pte. A. Lister states that he was on duty as storekeeper on Friday 15th. He crossed the yard close by Lawrence and saw him with the shell nose in his left hand, picking at it with a needle. Lieut. Durward was bending over him watching the operation. In less than 3 seconds from this time the explosion occurred, (Sd) A. Lister.
Signed: -
T. A. Barron, Major. 1/1st North Mid. Fd. Ambce.
Thos. Graham. Capt. 1/2nd North Mid. Fd. Ambce.
A.C. Renwick, Lieut. 1/2nd North Mid. Fd. Ambce.
Frank’s surviving service record is in fair condition and offers a reasonably accurate overall description of some of the events that took place during his period of service.
On the 28th April 1916 Frank’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension of ten shillings, to commence on the 1st May 1916.
On Tuesday, November 2nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – THE ROLL OF HONOUR – Driver FRANK LAWRENCE, whose wife resides at 18, Bartholomew-street, Leicester, was killed in France on October 15th.
On Wednesday, November 3rd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. FALLEN LEICESTERS. – (A photograph accompanied the article) – Driver FRANK LAWRENCE, whose wife resides at 18, Bartholomew-street, was killed on October 15th.