| Surname: | Lawton |
| Initials: | H |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 1163 |
| Notes: | MFP. Awarded the 1914 Star. First served abroad (1) France 9/8/1914. Later Sgt. Statement given at the Court Martial of 10710 Pte. William Hunter. 1 Loyal North Lancashire Regt who was Shot at Dawn at Les Boisis at 6.58 hrs 21/2/1915. 1163 Sgt H Lawton. MFP. duly sworn states: At Lilliers on Dec 1 1915, about 8 am the accused was handed on to me as a prisoner. I locked the accused in the guardroom. About 3.30 pm I found the door of the guardroom had been forced and the accused missing. On 4 Dec 1915 the accused was again handed on to me as a prisoner about 12 noon. Later in the same day I handed the accused on to an escort of Police. On the 8 Jan 1916 acting on information received I went to Burbure and searched the woods west of Burbure. In the woods I found the accused. I conducted the accused to Lillers and detained him. When I searched the woods at Burbure the accused attempted to run away. National Archive ref no. WO 71/445. Pte Hunter is buried in Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, in grave 1. B. 38, he was age 20. |