Private George Philip Lawrence

George was the youngest of six children born to parents James and Mary Anne (nee Wallis). He was born on 14th January 1890 and baptised George Philip Highland Lawrence on 24th July 1890. His sister Emma Highland Lawrence was also baptised on this day at St. Peter in Limehouse. The family address was listed as 57 Knowles Building and his fathers occupation was a Labourer.

Georges siblings at the time of his birth were: James 14, Charles 12, Robert 10, Thomas 4 and Emma aged 2

George's father died in June 1900, and several months later on the 26th October George aged 10 and one of his siblings, Thomas aged 14 was admitted to a workhouse in poplar, Tower Hamlets. They were discharged 3 days later on 29th October to North Hyde RCO, (Roman Catholic Orphanage).

In the Census of 1901, George and Thomas were both listed as inmates at St Mary’s Orphanage.

St. Mary’s Orphanage was set up in 1847, and was one of several institutions set up to remove Catholic children from workhouses, where it was feared they would lose their faith. Children were trained in trades. They were required to have a certificate of health to enter. Inmates as they were referred to remained until they were 16. This would most likely have been the fate for George and Thomas, especially as their mother Mary Anne died on the 9th November 1902 leaving them as orphans.

By 1911 George now aged 21, was listed as a boarder at 18 Galbraith Street, Poplar, and was working as a builder. In fact, he was living with his married sister Emma and her husband George Cox, and Emma's mother-in-law Elizabeth Cox.

The following year on 21st December 1912, George Married Ethel Lilian Hunt at St. Gabriel, Chrisp Street, Tower Hamlets. George’s Occupation was listed as a Labourer. Their first child named Hilda was baptised on 8th May 1913, followed by Florence Ruby in June 1914 when the family were living at 79 Stebondale Street, Cubitt Town.

With the outbreak of war George enlisted with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 9th Battalion and was given the Service number 17872 . No records could be found relating to his military career or when he enlisted.

George and his wife Ethel had a third child, named Emily Louisa who was Baptised on 5th Jan 1918, at this time George's occupation was listed as a labourer.

George died on 30th October 1918. With his death being registered in Epsom it's possible that like many other young men at the time, he died at The Downs Sanitorium from Tuberculosis.

George was buried in Morden Cemetery and his name also appears on a stone cross memorial in the churchyard.