Portrait of Robert Lawrence who served as 5044 Private Robert Lawrence (also spelt Laurence) ...

Portrait of Robert Lawrence who served as 5044 Private Robert Lawrence (also spelt Laurence) during the First World War. He was born in London, England on 14 December 1901 but emigrated to Australia soon after. Claiming to be an 18 year old station hand, he enlisted for service in the AIF on 14 March 1917, joining the 30th Battalion and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Marathon on 11 May 1917. After arriving in Devonport, England, on 20 July 1917, Lawrence was allocated to the 8th Training Battalion. He was subsequently transferred to the 14th Training Battalion on 5 November 1917. He was sent back to Australia aboard HMAT Suevic on 21 April 1918 when it was discovered that he had lied about his age on his attestation papers and was actually only 16 when he enlisted. Lawrence also enlisted for service during the Second World War on 23 May 1940 and was assigned the service number NX16806. He served as a sapper with 2/5 Field Company and was discharged on 16 April 1943.