Name
Lawrence Brunton (MC)
9 July 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/07/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Australian Field Artillery
10th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY
XIX. F. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
I HAVE LOVED THEE WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE
UK & Other Memorials
Digswell House Australian Hospital Memorial, St John's Church, Digswell
Pre War
Lawrence Brunton was born on 9 July 1892 in Nelson, Lancashire, England, the son of Albert and Elizabeth Brunton.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living at Forest Inn, Old Laund, Burnley, Lancashire, where his father was a Publican. He was educated at the Technical School in Colne, Lancs. He arrived in Australia aged 17 and worked as a Station Overseer, living at with his mother at Battery Street, Randwick, New South Wales.
He married Mary Alma Jackson in 1915 and they lived at Murtaburn, Walgett, New South Wales. They had a son Lawrence Jackson Brunton born in 1916.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 4 November 1915 as a Lieutenant in the 7th Light Horse Regiment, 6th Reinforcement. His unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A66 Uganda on 15 June 1915. He served in Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front. He joined the 2nd Light Horse Reserve Regiment in Maadi, Egypt on 1 March 1916, then then the 18th Field Artillery Bde at Tel el Kebir on 26 March 1916 and was posted to the 38th Battery. He embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force on 5 June and disembarked at Marseilles on 12 June.
He was was sick whilst on leave in England on 14 October 1916 and admitted to No. 1 Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford and treated for venereal disease for 43 days. He returned to France on 3 February 1917 and served with several artillery units, until eventually joining the 10th Field Artillery Bde on 29 July 1917. He was wounded in action by mustard gas on 20 September 1917 and sent to England for treatment, being eventually discharged on 7 December 1917. He returned to France on 9 February 1918 and rejoined 10th Field Artillery Bde on 19 February 1918.
He was killed in action on 4 July 1918, age 25.
He was awarded the Military Cross 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He succeeded, with another officer, in extinguishing a serious fire which had broken out on an ammunition train near a battery position. The work was carried out at considerable risk from exploding ammunition, and he set a fine example of coolness and devotion to duty.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 110, Date: 25 July 1918.
Additional Information
His wife, Mrs M A Brunton of Murtabun, Walgett, New South Wales, Australia, ordered his headstone inscription: "I HAVE LOVED THEE WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE"
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
aif.adfa.edu.au
