Lieutenant Harry Sackville Lawson

Harry was born on 29th October 1876 in Portishead, Somerset, the son of Robert (Vicar of St John's, Peasedown) and Mary Lawson, of Weston-in-Gordano. He had three older siblings, Eve Mary, Robert Neale and John Cuthbert, and three younger, Agnes Lettice, Francis Malcolm and Christopher G.Harry was a boarding pupil at Haileybury College (Lawrence House) where he stayed until 1891.

 

Harry continued his education at Peterhouse, Cambridge (2nd Class Natural Sci Tripos, 1893). He was then appointed House Master, Seafield Park College, Hants in 1899. The 1901 Census finds him visiting the Rectory of St Mary the Virgin, Weston-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, and his occupation is given as "Tutor - School". He was then employed by the Ministry of Education, Cairo, in 1905.

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Harry was appointed Headmaster of Buxton College, Derbyshire, in January 1911 as successor to Dr Little and the 1911 Census shows him living with his wife and elder child at the School, which was Boarding and classed as a minor Public School. 

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Harry finally relinquished his post at the end of the Summer term 1917, presumably to take up service at the Front, and was succeeded by Mr Fynes-Clinton, then Mr Gallagher.

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​Harry was Commissioned into the 4th North Midland (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA (TF) as a 2nd Lieutenant on 19th December 1915. He was initially "engaged in lecturing", but early in 1917 he volunteered for service at the front.
Harry was Killed in Action on 5th February 1918. 

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"The Buxton Advertiser", in reporting his death, stated that he had been "... struck by a shrapnel splinter and passed away a short time afterwards without gaining consciousness." Another mention says: "It seems he had been working night and day preparing a new position for his battery, and had practically finished. He slept in the afternoon and then out with another officer to make a final inspection of the position. They had only just arrived when they were both hit. His colleague was able to crawl away to send help. The last he saw of him was a cheery smile." 

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The above is an extract from More than Just a Name, for which the editor takes no credit. For this and more information on Harry visit: www.buxtonwarmemorials.co.uk/lawson_hs.html

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