Lawrence Carthage Weathers VC (1890 - 1918)

Born 14 May 1890 in Te Kopuru, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Annie Elizabeth (Watson) Weathers — married 13 Sep 1913 in Unley, South Australia, Australia

Died 29 Sep 1918 at age 28 in St. Germain-en-Laye, France

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Biography

Burial:

Date: ABT 30 SEP 1918

Place: Unicorn Cemetery, Vend'huille, France

Event:

Anecdote

Lawrence Weathers VC Died of Wounds during World War I.

Date: 2008

Note: He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumasly following service in Gallipoli and France.

THEY DARED MIGHTILY

WEATHERS, Temporary Corporal

Lawrence Carthage

43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, A.I.F.

2nd September 1918, North of Peronne, France

Lawrence Weathers VC was awarded the Victoria Cross.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 2nd September, 1918, north of Peronne, when with an advanced bombing party. The party having been held up by a strongly held enemy 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. (London Gazette: 26th December 1918.)

This gallant and successful action occurred during an attack launched by the 43rd Battalion following the capture of Mont St. Quentin by the 2nd Division on lst September. Next day, the 43rd-the only unit of the 3rd Division then remaining in the front line-was allotted the task of clearing a small triangle between the 2nd Division advancing north-east, and the 74th British Division, thrusting east.

The objectives were two trenches-Graz Trench, opposite Allaines, thence northwards to Scutari Trench. As the only barrage was falling in front of the flanking units, the 43rd allowed them to get well ahead before moving off. Then, from its positions in Rollin Trench, the unit went forward at 5.35 a.m. (with a platoon of 41st Battalion attached).

This platoon [records the war diary] moved across the valley and established itself in Scutari Trench . . . . 'D' Coy worked forward up Zimmermann Alley until bombing and MG's held them up. Mortar and Vickers fire was asked for but before this was brought to bear, Company L.G's silenced the enemy M.G. that was causing the trouble, and the company pushed forward driving the enemy into Fiume Trench, and then proceeded to clear Scutari Trench until touch was made with the 41st platoon. 'C,' Company, following behind 'D', after silencing an enemy machine-gun left Zimmermann Alley and proceeded under cover of a sunken road running S.E. to Uslar Trench, thence working along it northward, driving the enemy back with bombs and Lewis gun fire. During these operations 'A' and 'B' Companies were working up the right flank. From their assembly trench 'A' Company attacked in a southerly direction against Graz Trench, turned eastwards and bombed N.E. along the trench, engaging both arms of it. Strong resistance was met about this junction and heavy hand to hand fighting resulted, the enemy gradually falling back. 'B' Company in the meantime, had worked up Boeseler Alley and bombed up Uslar and Fiume Trenches. This then meant that the enemy garrisoning these trenches had been gradually driven back and hemmed in by 'D' and 'C' Companies on the north, and 'A' and 'B' on the south.

It was at this stage, with the enemy concentrated into a fork of the trenches, and the 43rd's two prongs closing in, that the volume of fire coming from the hemmed-in Germans caused a check to the Australian advance. Weathers now rushed in and bombed them, killing the garrison's leader. Then he came back for more bombs and went out again ' with three comrades, including Lance-Corporal H. H. H. Thompson. Thompson had a Lewis gun, and while he kept enemy heads down with this, Weathers made his second attack. At the same time, Lieutenant Colin Butler, who was in command of the platoon of the 41st Battalion, managed to dash across some open ground from his position and leap into the trench-from which, shortly afterwards. 180 prisoners were marched out. Thus, by 7 a.m., the fight was over and the 43rd, in occupation of all its objectives, was consolidating and patrolling forward.

Lawrence Weathers VC migrated from New Zealand to Australia.

Lawrence Weathers was a New Zealander, born at Te Koparu on 14th May 1890, the son of John Joseph and Ellen Frances Johanna. At the age of seven he sailed with his parents to Australia and settled at Adelaide. He attended Snowtown Public School, and when he enlisted on 3rd February 1916 was an undertaker, married and residing at Parkside.

Weathers embarked in June and was taken on strength of 43rd Battalion. After further training in England, he moved to France with the 3rd Division in November, but from January to the end of April 1917 was away from the unit in hospital.

Lawrence Weathers VC was Wounded in Action during an artillery barrage during World War I.

On 10th June 1917, during a night operation in the Battle of Messines, he was severely wounded, and did not rejoin the battalion until early in December. He was appointed lance-corp6ral on 21st March 1918.

Weathers again became a casualty on 26th May 1918 when he was gassed. Rejoining the unit a month later, he was promoted to corporal on 10th September, just before the fighting around Peronne and Mont St. Quentin.

Following its fight on 2nd September, the 43rd had a short respite from the line. It advanced again from the 6th until the 9th. Another period of recuperation and training behind the lines followed, and on the 28th the unit moved up for a further tour of duty, in the attack to confront the Beaurevoir Line. It was in this attack, launched at 5.50 a.m. next morning, that the gallant Weathers received mortal wounds. He died without learning of his V.C. He is buried in Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuille, France, and was survived by his widow, Annie E., and a son. A brother, Trooper T. F. Weathers, 9th Light Horse Regiment, died of wounds on 15th June 1915 on Gallipoli.

World War I Service

Lawrence Carthage WEATHERS’

Regimental number 1153

Date of birth 14 May 1890

Place of birth Wairo, New Zealand

Place of birth Te Koparu, New Zealand

School Snowtown Public School, South Australia

Age on arrival in Australia 7

Religion Roman Catholic

Occupation Undertaker

Address Yatala, South Australia

Marital status Married

Age at embarkation 25

Height 5'7.75'

Weight 144 Ibs

Next of kin Wife, Mrs Annie Elizabeth Weathers, Drumsberg, Kenilworth Road, Parkside, South Australia

Enlistment date 8 February 1916

Rank on enlistment Private

AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/60/1

Embarkation details Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT AI 9 Afric on 9 June 1916.

Rank from Nominal Roll Corporal

Unit from Nominal Roll 43rd Battalion

Fate Died of wounds 29 September 1918

Place of death or wounding France

Age at death 28

Place of burial Unicorn Cemetery (Plot Ill, Row C, Grave 5), France

Panel number, Roll of Honour, 137

Australian War Memorial

Miscellaneous information from Parents: John Joseph and Ellen Frances Johanna WEATHERS; Wife: Annie E. Weathers, Te Kopuru, Main Avenue, Frewville, South Australia

Medals Victoria Cross

AIF connections Brother: Trooper Thomas Frances WEATHERS, 9th Light Horse Regiment, died of wounds, 15 June 1915.

Other details Admitted to Torrens Island Venereal Hospital, Adelaide, 13 March 1916; discharged from hospital, 20 April 1916; total period of treatment for gonorrhoea: 38 days.

War service: Western Front Embarked Adelaide, 9 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 20 July 1916. Proceeded to England (date not recorded).

Proceeded overseas to France, 25 November 1916.

Admitted to 9th Field Ambulance, 18 January 1917; transferred to Divisional Rest Station, 19 January 1917; to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 19 January 1917; to 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 20 January 1917; to Ambulance Train No 24, 23 January 1917, and admitted to No 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 23 January 1917; to 51st General hospital, Etaples, 24 January 1917; discharged to Base Details, 8 February 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 22 days. Rejoined unit, 24 April 1917.

Wounded in action, 10 June 1917 (gun shot wound, left leg), and admitted to 9th Field Ambulance; transferred to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, 11 June 1917; to 2nd Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, 13 June 1917; to England, 20 June 1917, and admitted to Southwark Military Hospital, 21 June 1917 (wound: severe); discharged on furlough, 20 August 1917, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 3 September 1917. Reclassified BIAI, 12 September 1917; A3 8 October 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 23 November 1917; rejoined Bn, 3 December 1917.

Wounded in action (2nd occasion), 26 May 1918 (gas), and admitted to 49th Casualty Clearing Station; discharged to duty, 18 June 1917; rejoined unit, 19 June 1916.

Appointed Temporary Corporal, 10 September 1918.

Wounded in action (3rd occasion), 29 September 1918.

Reported died of wounds, 29 September 1918.

Awarded Victoria Cross.

Medals: Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Sources

• Lawrence Weathers Wikipedia profile.

Southern Cross Newspaper, 10 Jan 1919, page 19 [1] Accessed 17 April 2022

John Ritchie, 'Weathers, Lawrence Carthage (1890–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/weathers-lawrence-carthage-9021/text15867, published first in hardcopy 1990, accessed online 17 April 2022. This article was published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, (Melbourne University Press), 199