Studio portrait of 1153 Corporal Lawrence Carthage Weathers VC, 43rd Battalion, who died of ...

Studio portrait of 1153 Corporal Lawrence Carthage Weathers VC, 43rd Battalion, who died of wounds on 29 September 1918 in France. Lawrence Weathers was born in New Zealand and came to Australia as a boy. He joined the 43rd Battalion, in 1916 and was wounded in his first major action in June the following year. In May 1918 he was badly gassed. The act for which Weathers received the Victoria Cross took place the day after the capture of Mont St Quentin, 2 September 1918, while his battalion was clearing enemy positions north of Péronne. He showed extraordinary valour and, with his comrades, captured 180 prisoners and three machine-guns. He was mortally wounded in action four weeks later, not knowing of his award. This is the central image in a composite portrait of the three Weathers brothers (P05212.001). The VC has been inked onto the original portrait to record his bravery for the family, as no portrait could have been taken with him wearing the medal.