Eric Burton John LAWRENCE

Regimental number12/952
Date of birth26 August 1894
Place of birthWaitara
ReligionMethodist
OccupationFarmer
AddressMahoenui
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 7.5"
Weight146 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs N.D. Jones, Awakino
Previous military serviceServed in 16th Waikato Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date20 August 1914
Place of enlistmentAuckland
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Auckland Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 16 October 1914
The Auckland Infantry Battalion in the Main Body left New Zealand on board two ships, HMNZT 8 ('Star of India') and HMNZT 12 ('Waimana'). It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankPrivate
Final unitAuckland Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 25 April 1915
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel No 72), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Mr & Mrs B.C. Lawrence, Waitara, New Plymouth
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 12 April 1915.

Wounded in action, 25 April 1915.

Now, 20 July 1915, reported wounded and missing.

Board of Enquiry, held at Moascar Camp, Ismailia, 16 January 1916, concluded: Believed Dead at Dardanelles on 25th April 1915'.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Auckland Infantry Batln/Main Body
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 1880, File 10920758

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