Pte 28317 Lawrence Edwin Sorby

Lawrence Edwin Sorby was born on the 29th March 1886 at 42 Summerfield Street, Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield as one of 14 children born to Sheffield born house painter Henry Sorby and his Sheffield born wife Emily (nee Fawcett) who married in Sheffield on the 15th February 1886. Lawrence was baptised on the 08th May 1888, aged 2 at St George's Church in Ecclesall Bierlow on the same day with his newborn brother Clifford who was born the previous month.

 

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 39 Leicester Street, Sheffield. His father, Henry, is aged 27 and a packing case maker, born in Sheffield, his mother, Emily is 25 years of age and was also born in Sheffield. They have three children declared in the household; Lawrence E. aged 5 and a scholar, Clifford aged 2 and newborn Henry aged 4 months. Also present is his grandmother, Mary A. Sorby aged 66 and a widow living on her own means, she was born in Woodhead, Yorkshire.     

 

The family appears to have moved to Toxteth Park, Liverpool around 1900 as their fifth child was born in Liverpool. His father, Henry, became a dock labourer. 

 

The 1901 Census finds the family are living at 8 Fernie Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His father is now recorded as aged 35 and a railway goods porter, his mother is 34 years of age. They have six children in the household; Lawrence is 15 and a pawnbrokers boy, Clifford is 12 and a scholar, Bernard is 9 and a scholar, Herbert is 6 and is also a scholar, Florence M. is 2 and Annie is 7 months old.   

 

Lawrence appears to have enlisted into the Army probably when he reached age 18 in 1904, and served  for two years in the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

 

On the 1911 Census it shows him as a boarder in Birkenhead at 17 Prices Street living with the family of Peter Cropper. He was aged 25, and his occupation was recorded as a railway porter.  

 

In 1914 his mother, Emily, died.

 

On the 25th May 1915 he enlisted into the 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment in Liverpool, aged 28, as Private 26658 Lawrence Edward Sorby. 

 

His burnt attestation form which has survived shows his address was his father's at 118 High Park Street, Toxteth and he declares his occupation as a porter.  

 

His three younger brothers also enlisted into The King's Liverpool Regiment.:

 

Bernard as Private 3037 into 1/9th King's.

Clifford as Private 3038 also into 1/9th King's 

Herbert as Private 78189 into the King's. 

 

On the 29th February 1916 Lawrence married Maria Elizabeth Roberts at St Michael's Church, Toxteth. Lawrence's address was 118 High Park Street, his father, Henry occupation porter, Maria was from 54 Alwyn Street, Aigburth, father, Owen, occupation packer. On his marriage certificate he declares his full name as Lawrence Edwin Sorby.

 

On the 05th May 1916 he was transferred to the 6th South Lancashire Regiment and became Private 28317.

 

On the 21st May 1916 he was sent as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to Mesopotamia. 

 

Three years later returning home from Mesopotamia he died on the 15th August 1919 of Influenza and Pneumonia, aged 33, onboard the Ship " H T Malwara". His last place of abode was recorded as Deolali. Lawrence was buried at sea, on the route to home. 

 

Lawrence is also commemorated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq at Panel 23. 

The Basra Memorial commemorates more than 40,500 members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the operations in Mesopotamia from the Autumn of 1914 to the end of August 1921 and whose graves are not known. The memorial was designed by Edward Warren and unveiled by Sir Gilbert Clayton on the 27th March 1929.

His dependents pension was paid to his widow Maria E. at her parents address at 54 Alwyn Street, Aigburth, Liverpool.  

 

His Soldiers Effects pay arrears of £47:5s was paid to Maria Elizabeth on the 21st April 1920 and included £24:10s War Gratuity for his service.  

 

His brother Bernard was killed in action on the 29th April 1915, aged 22 serving with the 1/9th Battalion K.L.R. He now rests at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery at Grave I.D.555. 

 

His brother Herbert, survived the war but died in 1922, aged 26.

 

His brother Clifford, survived the war and died in 1955, aged 67.

 

Both Lawrence and Bernard are commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall. Lawrence at Panel 42 and Bernard at Panel 39.

 

Bernard and Lawrence are also commemorated on the Memorial at Toxteth Congregational Church.