Pte 31798 Peter Edward Lawler

• Age: 32
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 18th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Mont-noir M C St Jans-cappel
  Panel Ref: II.D.10

Peter Edward Lawler was born on on 13th August 1885 in Liverpool the son of Peter Lawler and his wife Eliza (nee McCauley). His parents married in 1872 in Liverpool; Peter was the youngest of their seven children.  Sadly, their first four children died young: Catherine Ann at 9 months, Elizabeth Ann at age 5, Francis James at 9 months, and Isabella, 2 days. Peter had two surviving older sisters, Mary and Margaret Ann.

His father is found on the 1881 census when the family was living in court housing in Charters Street. His parents were both born in Ireland (his mother in Belfast), and both were aged 28 (his father's age differs from the age stated at burial). Peter snr. is an unemployed seaman, Mary is 6 months old.

Peter was baptised at Our Lady of Reconciliation de La Salette in Liverpool. The Catholic baptism record contains some poor transcription but the details we have gleaned are as follows:

Name Petrus Edwardus Lalor

Birth Date 13 August 1885

Baptism Date 18 August 1885

Baptism Place Our Lady of Reconciliation de La Salette, Liverpool.

Father Ceton Lalor

Mother Elizae Macauley

His father, died aged 28, just a month after he was born. He was buried at Ford Cemetery on 20th September 1885. The family was then living at 53 Eldon Place, Liverpool. 

His mother married James Darragh in 1890 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool.

In 1891 5-year old Peter is found in court housing in Burlington Street with his mother, 40, and stepfather James Darragh, 52, who is a seaman. Stepbrother Charles Darragh, 18, is a dock labourer, Mary is 10 and Margaret 8.

The 1901 census shows the family living at 6 Court, 1 House, Burlington Street, Liverpool. James Darragh (step father)  is a 70 year old Able Seaman, born in Ireland, whilst his mother Elizabeth is aged 50 also born in Ireland. Their children are listed as; Charles Darragh aged 29, and a labourer in oil mill, Mary Lawler aged 20 and assisting at home, Peter Lawler is aged 15, and a labourer in oil mill, David Darragh is aged 9,  and Elizabeth Darragh is aged 6. All children were born in Liverpool.

Peter married Mary Ellen Welsh in 1907. They had a daughter Ann Jane born in the September quarter of 1907 who sadly died at age 22 months, a son Peter born in  the March quarter of 1910, he sadly died aged 20 months in 1911. 

On the 1911 Census, Peter is aged 26,  a married dock labourer living at 5 Burlington Street, Liverpool with his wife Mary Ellen who is 22, and their daughter Ann Jane aged 2. Their son Peter is declared deceased.

They had further children, a son Francis, born on13th December 1911, Elizabeth, born in 1913, died in infancy, Mary, born in 1915, and another son who was named after their first born son Peter, he was born on 07th July 1917.

Prior to enlisting Peter worked as a dock labourer.

He enlisted in Liverpool on 13th September 1915 and initiallty served in the 13th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 31798. At some point after shipping to France he was transferred to the 19th Battlion K.L.R.

He was killed in action on the 18th April 1918, aged 32, during the German Spring Offensive. 

The Battalion diary entry for the day reveals that 10 Other Ranks were killed during heavy shelling of the area.  

18^th April 1918

No aggressive action on either side. The activity being confined to artillery. The French had come up in great force and  assisted our artillery with the famous “75s”. The Battn came under heavy shell fire at one period. 10 O.R. being killed and 3 wounded.

The weather, which up to this time had been quite good, turned and snow, rain and hail fell.

Peter was one of the 10 Other Ranks referred to in the diary entry.

He now rests at Mont-Noir Military Cemetery, St. Jans-Cappel, France.

The hill was captured by the Cavalry Corps on the 13th October 1914, and held throughout the Battles of the Lys, 1918. On the North side of the Berthen-Westoutre road, is the Battle Memorial of the 34th Division, marking the final position of Divisional Headquarters in the Battles of the Lys. The Cemetery was made in April-September 1918, and at the Armistice it contained 91 British graves and 33 French (all of the 26th Dragoons or the 88th Infantry Regiment). It was then enlarged by the concentration of British and French graves (including one of November 1914) from the battlefields immediately South of it and the following cemetery:- WOLFHOEK BRITISH CEMETERY, ST. JANS-CAPPEL, which was by the roadside, nearly 200 metres South-West of the hamlet of Wolfhoek and contained the graves of 23 United Kingdom soldiers. It was made in August-September 1918, mainly by the 36th (Ulster) Division. Also, near the centre of the cemetery, are the graves of two unidentified British soldiers of the 1939-1945 War. There are now 149 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war here, 15 being unidentified. There are 2 unidentified Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here. There are also 84 French burials of the 1914-1918 war here. The cemetery covers an area of 1,315 square metres and is enclosed by a low rubble wall.

He featured in the Du Rivigny's Roll as follows:

LAWLER, PETER - Private No. 31198 The King's Liverpool Regiment; son of M. E. Lawler; born Liverpool 13 August 1885; educated there; was a dock labourer; enlisted 13 September 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders and was killed in action 18 April 1917;  he married at Our Lady's Church, Liverpool 20 May 1907 to Mary Ellen, 111 Burlington Street, Liverpool, and had two sons, Francis born 13th December 1911, and Peter born 7th July 1917.

Mary Ellen suffered another loss when daughter Mary died not long after Peter, in July 1918 aged 3. She has now buried four of her six children.

His son Francis was 6 years old and Peter 9 months old when Peter was killed.

Soldiers Effects including a War Gratuity of £12, and Pension of 25s/5d a week to widow, Mary Ellen, and children Francis and Peter, 111 Burlington St, Liverpool. There is no mention of his daughter Ann Jane in Du Rivigny's nor on the Soldiers effects register.

His widow Mary Ellen remarried 1921 to Joseph Millar. They had three children John born in 1922, James in 1924 and Catherine in 1928.

She appears on 1939 register at Portland Street, Liverpool then aged 50, and working as a bag mender. James and Catherine Millar and son Peter Lawler, aged 22 and a joiner's labourer.  One entry is redacted, possibly Francis.

Mary Ellen died in 1954 aged 65;

His son Francis died in 1971 aged 60, and Peter died at 58 in 1976.

Peter is commemorated on the following memorials -

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 24 Left (erroneously listed as P.P. Lawler)

Our Lady of Reconciliation Church, Liverpool.

We currently have no further information on Peter Edward Lawler. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.