A Carpenter & Re-joiner
Warant Officer Class II Arthur Lawson Royal Engineers
1939-45 Star. Africa Star '1st Army'. Italy Star. France & Germany Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial' & bar.
The Man Arthur Lawson was born on 28th November 1911 in the Parish of St. Pauls, Sheffield and his religion was Church of England. No detail is known about his early life except that his occupation was a Carpenter, Joiner and Timber Salesman. On 8th April 1929 aged 17 he enlisted into the Royal Engineers, Territorial Army as a Sapper with service number 2024911. He was described as having a scar on his left cheek, a small mole on his left breast of fair complexion with brown eyes and hair and being 5’.6” tall. His early TA training camps were held at camps were at Ulverston and Morecambe and involved field works, improvised bridge building and zig zag and box trench construction. During the great depression of the early 1930s, and due to financial restraints within the TA, Arthur’s unit had to train more locally on the Earl of Wharncliffe’s land. Arthur became an expert on Bailey Bridge construction subsequently attending many courses to study the modern equipment available capable of carrying the heaviest of tanks. He served for four years and was discharged upon termination of his engagement on 16th June 1933. At about this time Arthur married Ivy, having two children Ronald and Doreen and the family lived at 2 Penrith Close, Shirecliffe in Sheffield. Four years later on 23rd March 1937 he re-enlisted into the TA and was promoted to Corporal on 29th June 1939. On 1st September 1939 he was ‘called out’ and embodied into the 49th Divisional Engineers at Somme Road Barracks in Sheffield. He attended a Field Works Course in November and training in arctic warfare before being sent to Norway between 6th April and 10th June 1940 as part of the Norwegian Campaign. Arthur returned to the UK before being posted to North Africa in the 1st Army between 22nd November 1942 and 7th March 1944, landing at Algiers and seeing service in a number of locations including Banana Ridge and Tunis. He was promoted Lance Sergeant on 20th October 1942 and during this time attended courses in Mine Warfare in March 1943 and Bailey Bridge building in April, at the 1st Army School. He was awarded the Africa Star with 1st Army clasp in December 1943. Arthur then served in Italy between 7th March 1944 and 7th April 1945 getting as far as Bologne and was promoted Sergeant on 5th November 1944 and Staff Sergeant 5th April 1945. He was by now part of the 8th Army under 229 Army Field Company and the 21 Army Group and they joined the 1st Canadian Division before entering Germany and becoming part of the British Army on the Rhine from 7th April 1945 until his discharge on 16th January 1946. During his time in Germany he was involved in building bridges that were designed to last at least another 10 years and ended his service in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony. The last bridge he was involved with was in the town of Meppen and named after one of his Officers who had been killed by an anti personnel mine, H Eadon, named Eadon Bridge. He was asked to remain in occupied Germany by the Mayor of Meppen as Military Foreman of works but declined. On 14th October 1945, just prior to discharge his Commanding Officer wrote of Arthur:
"Lance Sergeant Lawson has been under my command for 3½ years and has been a Lance Sergeant for nearly four years. (although this is different to his service record book) He has always been most reliable, sober and hardworking. He has been very capable of taking charge of the men particularly on general building works in which he has had considerable Army experience. His personal (?) has been excellent in every way”
Following the war Arthur was awarded, the 1939-45, Italy, France & Germany Stars and the Defence and War Medal 1939-45. He was also awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ but the date is unknown. Arthur was transferred to the Army Reserve on 17th January 1946 but found it difficult to re-adjust to civilian life and said of his wife Ivy, “I think she was a brick to put up with me”. He missed it so much that 16 months later on 13th May 1947 at 1900h he re-attested back into the Royal Engineers Territorial Army with the same service number, and discharged from the reserve the day before with his substantive rank of Corporal. He was still building bridges and helped build one in Saville Street, Sheffield spanning the River Don. Arthur was finally discharged from the Territorial Army on 12th May 1954 aged 43 at the rank of Warrant officer Class II having served a further seven years. |
He was also awarded the first clasp to his Efficiency Medal. Following his Army service Arthur became in involved with an organisation called The Fellowship (FOS) Limited, seemingly an organisation of former military companions who met in Messes. Arthur was a founder member of The Shiny Sheff Mess No 382 branch and was Mess Almoner. Arthur died unexpectedly in late 1978 aged only 67.
The Story The medals awarded to Arthur Lawson were acquired from E-Bay in December 2012. They were of interest because of the Efficiency Medal and first clasp, plus the all important archive of paperwork, allowing the above biography to be completed. It is always a bonus when a retired soldier or their family retain the various certificates and documentation relating to a disinguished and unique career. However they often forget, as in this case, to add a photograph for posterity.
The Story The medals awarded to Arthur Lawson were acquired from E-Bay in December 2012. They were of interest because of the Efficiency Medal and first clasp, plus the all important archive of paperwork, allowing the above biography to be completed. It is always a bonus when a retired soldier or their family retain the various certificates and documentation relating to a disinguished and unique career. However they often forget, as in this case, to add a photograph for posterity.
A Carpenter & Re-Joiner is dedicated to the memory of Joyce Hazel Lemons who died on 9th November 2012 aged 87.
Requiescat in Pace.
Requiescat in Pace.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as issued.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as issued.
- France & Germany Star: Unnamed as issued.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as issued.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as issued.
- Efficiency Medal: 2024911. CPL.A.LAWSON. R.E.
This page last updated 15 Dec 12