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My great uncle Arthur Lawson b.1884, Horsforth, Leeds died in WW1 at France and Flanders in 1918. He married my grandfather's sister, Minnie Annal in 1906. They had 2 daughters: Elsie Lawson 1907 - 1960 and Mabel Lawson b.1914.

I have found very few military records and wonder please if anyone can do better?

However, I am particularly keen to trace records of Mabel Lawson. Mabel had learning disability from birth and, according to records, was sent age 16, to Sandlebridge Boarding School/Mary Dendy Hospital, Cheshire on 11 November 1929 until 27 February 1959 at which point she became an 'informal' patient. I cannot trace a record of her death. If she were still living she would be 100 yrs old so unlikely. I don't believe Mabel had a middle name. Nothing comes up for me in BDM's.

The Mary Dendy Hospital, Cheshire closed in 1989. I believe it may have been replaced by a new mental health unit called Soss Moss, possibly on the same site.

Would appreciate any help offered. Many thanks.
John

Do you have this?

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Residence:Horsforth, Leeds
Death Date:1 Nov 1918
Death Place:France and Flanders
Enlistment Place:Leeds
Rank:Private
Regiment:Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment
Battalion:1st 5th Battalion
Regimental Number:204280

Type of Casualty:
Killed in action

Theatre of War:
Western European Theatre

Possible for Mabel's death:

England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007?
Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries

Name: Mabel Lawson
Birth: 19 Jul 1914
Death: Mar 2000 - North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, England

Mabel's birth was registered in first Qtr 1914

She was not 16 in 1929

Name: Mabel Lawson
Event Type: Birth Registration
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year: 1914
Registration District: Wharfedale
County: Yorkshire
Event Place: Wharfedale, Yorkshire, England
Mother's Maiden Name (not available before 1911 Q3): Annal
Volume: 9A
Page: 202
Line Number: 78

Name: Mabel Lawson
Event Type: Death Registration
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year: 2000
Registration District: North Yorkshire
County: Yorkshire
Event Place: North Yorkshire, Yorkshire, England
Birth Date (available after June quarter 1969): 19 Jul 1914
Volume: 6501I
Page: I2

Many thanks Potty & Ann. Much appreciated.
I have Arthur Lawson details. Hoping for documents if poss but cannot find. I also saw the Mabel death in North Yorks. The birth date relating to this death doesn't match up to 1st qtr of 1914 when she was born. Also I doubt that she would move to North Yorkshire from a closing down psychiatric hospital unless they shipped her there. However it is the closest record I can see and errors occur ...
Thanks again.
John

John



I have to say that I have not yet ever found any service records for a serviceman who died in WW1

I find the death record, but not the service record


Others have found both, I have not


But you do have to remember that only about 30% of the records for WW1 servicemen survived WW2, and most of the surviving records are badly damaged, and incomplete


so it really is a matter of good luck if you find anything.

You know the regiment that Arthur was in ........... from Potty's post above


Regiment:Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment
Battalion:1st 5th Battalion
Regimental Number:204280



Google that regiment, and see if there is anything on the internet



or find a contact address, and write to them

had you found his medal records??


.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Name: Arthur Lawson
Regiment or Corps: Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment
Regimental Number: 204280
Other Records:

from image:-

He was awarded the Victory and the British Medals


This is the information on those 2 medals ..................

Allied Victory Medal (Victory Medal) was awarded for service in any operational theater between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was issued to individuals who received the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars and to most individuals who were issued the British War Medal. The medal was also awarded for service in Russia (1919-1920) and post-war mine clearance in the North Sea (1918-1919).


British War Medal was awarded to both servicemen and civilians that either served in a theater of war, or rendered service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was also awarded for service in Russia, and post-war mine clearance in the Baltic, the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea between 1919 and 1920.

http://www.pwoyorkshire.co.uk/




http://www.pwoyorkshire.co.uk/images/stories/west%20yorkshire%20regiment%201914-1918.pdf

Hi SylviainCanada,
Thank you for the advice and also for the links which I will check out. I am especially thrilled and proud to learn about his medals. Your help is very much appreciated.
John