Lawrence Weathers

Lawrence Carthage Weathers

Private Lawrence Weathers c.1916
Born (1890-05-14)14 May 1890
Te Kopuru, New Zealand
Died 29 September 1918(1918-09-29) (aged 28)
Péronne, France
Allegiance Australia
Service/branch Australian Imperial Force
Years of service 1916–1918
Rank Corporal
Unit 43rd Battalion
Battles/wars

World War I

Awards Victoria Cross

Lawrence Carthage Weathers, VC (14 May 1890 – 29 September 1918) was a New Zealand-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His parents returned to their native South Australia, when Weathers was seven, and he completed his schooling then obtained work as an undertaker in Adelaide. He enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in early 1916, and joined the 43rd Battalion. His unit deployed to the Western Front in France and Belgium in late December. After a bout of illness, Weathers returned to his battalion in time to take part in the Battle of Messines in June 1917, during which he was wounded. Evacuated to the United Kingdom, he rejoined his unit in early December.

Promoted to lance corporal in March 1918, he fought with his battalion during the German Spring Offensive, then was gassed in May, and did not return to his unit until the following month. He then participated in the Battle of Hamel in July, the Battle of Amiens in August, and the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin in September. During the latter battle he was recommended for the award of the Victoria Cross. Promoted to temporary corporal, he was mortally wounded in the head by a shell on 29 September during the Battle of St Quentin Canal, and died soon after, never have been aware that he was to receive the Victoria Cross, which was not announced until late December. As of 2007, his Victoria Cross was in private hands.

Early life

Lawrence Carthage Weathers was born in Te Kopuru, near Dargaville, New Zealand, on 14 May 1890, a son of John Joseph Weathers, who was a labourer, and his wife Ellen Frances Johanna née McCormack. Both his parents were from Adelaide, South Australia and the family returned there when he was seven years old. They settled in rural parts of the state and Weathers attended Snowtown Public School. After leaving school, he worked as an undertaker in Adelaide. On 10 September 1913, he married Annie Elizabeth Watson, and the couple lived in the suburb of Parkside, and had two children. His elder brother Thomas enlisted to serve in World War I and died of wounds during the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915.[1][2]

World War I

On 8 February 1916, Weathers enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and was initially allotted as a reinforcement to the 10th Battalion. However, in June he was re-allotted to the 43rd Battalion, part of the 11th Brigade, 3rd Division, with the regimental number 1153.[1][3] The 43rd Battalion embarked on HMAT Afric in June 1916, and after a brief stop in the Middle East and transit through France, spent the rest of the year training in the United Kingdom. The 3rd Division embarked for the Western Front in November, and entered the trenches for the first time in late December. Weathers reported sick in late January 1917, and did not rejoin his unit until late April.[4][5] He returned to the front lines in time to participate in the first major action his battalion saw during the war, the Battle of Messines,[4] during which the 43rd Battalion incurred 122 casualties.[6] One of those casualties was Weathers, who was wounded on 10 June, suffering a gunshot wound to the leg. Evacuated to hospital in the United Kingdom, he did not return to his unit until early December.[7] He was promoted to lance corporal on 21 March 1918,[5] and a week later his battalion helped blunt the German Spring Offensive, taking up defensive positions between the Ancre and the Somme west of Morlancourt.[8] In late May he required medical treatment following a gas attack near Villers-Bretonneux which caused 230 casualties among the 43rd, and Weathers did not return to duty until mid-June.[1][9][10]

The 43rd Battalion's next major action was the highly successful Battle of Hamel on 4 July.[11] During that battle, the battalion suffered 97 casualties.[12] The unit was in a supporting role during the first phase of the Battle of Amiens on 8 August, which marked the beginning of the Hundred Days Offensive which began to drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line of fortifications.[13] This included fighting west of Suzanne on 25–26 August.[14] On 2 September, during the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin, the 43rd Battalion was tasked with clearing some trenches north of the village of Allaines, and succeeded in bottling up about 150 of them. A deadlock ensued, which was broken by Weathers, supported by three other men.[15][16] His actions on that day resulted in a recommendation for the award of the Victoria Cross. The citation read:[17]

For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the 2nd of September 1918, north of Peronne, when with an advanced bombing party. The attack having been held up by a strongly-held trench, Corporal Weathers went forward alone, under heavy fire, and attacked the enemy with bombs. Then, returning to our lines for a further supply of bombs, he again went forward with three comrades and attacked under very heavy fire. Regardless of personal danger, he mounted the enemy parapet and bombed the trench, and, with the support of his comrades, captured 180 prisoners and three machine guns. His valour and determination resulted in the successful capture of the final objective, and saved the lives of many of his comrades.

He was quite a sight when he returned to his comrades, as his uniform was covered in mud, he had blood running down his face, and had five days' stubble on his chin. He was also "festooned" like a Christmas tree with souvenired German binoculars and pistols. Full of nervous tension, he chattered to his mates about how he had "put the wind up" the Germans.[1] During the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin, the 43rd Battalion suffered 67 casualties.[18] In the next week, the 11th Brigade was part of the pursuit of the Germans to the main Hindenburg Line.[19] On 10 September, Weathers was promoted to temporary corporal.[1][20] On 29 September, the 3rd Division was part of the Battle of St Quentin Canal,[21] and the 43rd Battalion was sheltering in a trench when a shell burst among a small group of men, wounding Weathers in the head. He died soon after, without knowing he would receive the Victoria Cross, which was gazetted on 24 December 1918.[16] The same shell killed his uncle, Lance Corporal J. J. Weathers.[4] Lawrence Weathers was buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile.[22] He was survived by his wife and sons.[1] As of 2007, his Victoria Cross was in the hands of a private collector.[16]

Footnotes

References

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