Private William Edward Frank Lawrence
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
William Edward Frank Lawrence was born at Salisbury, England, on 3 April 1892. A railway yardman living at 219 Eadie Street, Ville Emard, Quebec, he was drafted under the Military Service Act and joined the 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment at Montreal on 23 April 1918 as Private 3083706. He arrived in England in June 1918 and transferred to Canadian Railway Troops. On 29 August 1918 he married Emily. He proceeded to France in September and served with the 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops. He returned to Canada for demobilization and was discharged at Montreal on 15 March 1919.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
3083706
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Battalion:
1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
26 years
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
26 years 11 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
England
Trade or Calling:
Railway yardman
Next of Kin:
Robert John Lawrence (father), 219 Eadie Street, Ville Emard, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
219 Eadie Street, Ville Emard, Quebec
Religion:
Church of England
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
Height:
5 ft 0.0 in / 152 cm
Weight:
105 lbs / 48 kg
Chest:
36.0 in / 91 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Married
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
326 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment |
|
|
|
| Initial service in Canada. |
| WW1 |
Sapper |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops |
|
|
|
| France service; later medical/dental forms use Sapper. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
Canadian Railway Troops Depot |
|
|
|
| Transferred from Quebec Regimental Depot to CRT on 18 Jul 1918. |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Army |
23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion |
|
|
|
| Overseas reserve battalion. |
Service Chronology
1892-04-03 — Born
1917-10-24 — Examined under Military Service Act; Category B
1918-04-23 — Joined/attested as Private 3083706
1918-06-05 — Arrived in England aboard S.S. City of Vienna
1918-06-10 — Taken on strength from Canada
1918-07-08 — Posted to 1st Quebec Regimental Depot
1918-07-18 — Transferred to Canadian Railway Troops; taken on strength at CRT Depot
1918-08-29 — Married Emily
1918-09-03 — Struck off strength from CRT Depot proceeding overseas to 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops
1918-09-05 — Taken on strength with 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops
1918-09-08 — Left for unit
1918-09-14 — Joined unit
1919-01 — Returned to England for demobilization processing
1919-01-31 — Struck off strength for return to Canada / demobilization
1919-01-31 — Embarked for Canada aboard Empress of Britain
1919-03-15 — Discharged on demobilization, Category A
Notes
At his 1917 medical examination he was 5 ft tall, 105 lb, with chest 33–36 in, medium complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Vision was 20/20 in both eyes and hearing was recorded as normal. Later discharge documents note tattoos on both arms. His health on leaving service was assessed as good.
Additional Service Notes
Drafted under the Military Service Act and joined the 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment at Montreal on 23 April 1918 as Private 3083706. He arrived in England on 5 June 1918, served with the 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion and 1st Quebec Regimental Depot, and transferred to Canadian Railway Troops on 18 July 1918. He proceeded to France in September 1918 and served with the 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops. He returned through England for demobilization in early 1919, sailed for Canada aboard Empress of Britain, and was discharged at Montreal on 15 March 1919.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
At call-up Lawrence was single and named his father, Robert John Lawrence, as next of kin at 219 Eadie Street, Ville Emard, Quebec. The Separation and Assigned Pay Branch record explicitly notes 'married 29/8/18' and identifies Mrs. Emily Lawrence at 219 Eadie Street as the recipient of his assigned pay. Accordingly, he married Emily during his service on 29 August 1918.
Version: 4 Last modified: 2026-09-20 02:33:14
by: marc
