Walter Joseph Lawrence was born in Camberwell, London in 1878[i] and Phoebe Elizabeth Thornton[ii] in St Saviour, London in 1881.
The couple married in London in 1906[iii] before immigrating to Wellington, New Zealand. Walter and Phoebe are recorded in the 1908 electoral roll settling in Main Road, Karori with Walter employed as a labourer.[iv]
Walter and Phoebe’s first child Walter John was born in 1908[v], with daughters Isabella Emily[vi], 1910, and Florence Lilian Lawrence in 1912.[vii]
During World War One, Walter was employed on the wharves[viii]and were living in Trelissick Crescent, Ngaio[ix] when their last child Charles Thornton Lawrence was born in 1921.[x] In the mid 1920’s the Lawrence family moved to Kenya Street, Ngaio.
On 9th December 1936 Walter was employed as a labourer working in Courtney Place, Wellington on a new storm water culvert. He had been directing an excavator to remove the last planking associated with the works when the rope holding the jib broke. The 30ft jibm weight about a ton, then crashed to the ground with the planks associated with the culvert when the rope on the excavator broke holding the 30ft excavator jib broke and end ‘crashing into the back of Walter’s head.[xi]
Walter was treated at the site and then moved to Wellington Hospital where he died the following day.
Walter’s funeral notices published in the Dominion on 11th December 1936 included one from the family, one from his Comrades in the NZ Municipal and General Workers’ Union and the third by the Chief Ranger of the Court Loyal Northland, No 8781.[xii]
Walter Joseph Lawrence is interred in Karori Cemetery, Public 1, 705 D.
Phoebe, a widow, remained in Kenya Street, Ngaio with her younger son Charles through to the early 1950’s then moving to Waikowhai Street, Ngaio. Phoebe Elizabeth Lawrence died on 30th May 1961 and is interred with Walter.
By Allan Dodson
Notes
Walter’s son Charles Thornton Lawrence served in WW2 and is interred in the RSA Section, Whenua Tapu Cemetery, Porirua.
References
UK Free BDM
NZ BDM
NZDF Archives: Gunner Charles Thornton Lawrence
Paperspast Online
Photo Lawrence grave, Karori: Find a Grave – Woowoo
[i] UK Free BDM March 1878 1d 843
[ii] UK Free BDM Sept 1881 1d 2
[iii] UK Free BDM June 1906 7d 1571
[iv] Electoral Roll, 1908, Western Suburbs
[v] NZ BDM 1908/14114 Birth
[vi] NZ BDM 1910/4367 Birth
[vii] NZ BDM 1912/26922 Birth
[viii] Reserves 2nd Division
[ix] Electoral Roll, 1922, Wellington Suburbs.
[x] NZ BDM 1921/22052 Birth
[xi] Man struck by falling excavator jib, 10th December 1936 Dominion.
[xii] Funeral Notices, 12th December 1936, Evening Post.
