Lawrence Carthage Weathers
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Carthage Weathers VC
(14 May 1890 – 29 September 1918) was a New Zealand born, Australian serviceman recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
Born in Te Kopuru
, New Zealand
, his family moved to Australia when he was seven years old and settled in rural South Australia
. Weathers was educated at Snowtown Public School.
He was 28 years old, and a Temporary Corporal
in the 43rd Battalion, (S.A.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when as part of a group equipped with Mills bomb
the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
He was killed in action, north-east of Peronne
, France
, on 29 September 1918, and is buried at the Unicorn Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Cemetery, Vendhuile
. His elder brother had previously been killed during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Because he was born in New Zealand, Weathers is sometimes listed as a New Zealand recipient of the VC.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(14 May 1890 – 29 September 1918) was a New Zealand born, Australian serviceman recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Born in Te Kopuru
Te Kopuru
Te Kopuru is the largest community on the Pouto Peninsula in Northland, New Zealand. The Wairoa River separates the peninsula at this point from the main North Auckland Peninsula to the east...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, his family moved to Australia when he was seven years old and settled in rural South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Weathers was educated at Snowtown Public School.
He was 28 years old, and a Temporary Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the 43rd Battalion, (S.A.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when as part of a group equipped with Mills bomb
Mills bomb
Mills bomb is the popular name for a series of prominent British hand grenades. They were the first modern fragmentation grenades in the world.-Overview:...
the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
He was killed in action, north-east of Peronne
Péronne, Somme
Péronne is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.It is close to where the Battles of the Somme took place during World War I...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on 29 September 1918, and is buried at the Unicorn Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...
Cemetery, Vendhuile
Vendhuile
Vendhuile is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
. His elder brother had previously been killed during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Because he was born in New Zealand, Weathers is sometimes listed as a New Zealand recipient of the VC.