Laurence William Greengrass

A Private with the 9th Battalion, Laurence died on 9th of October 1918 aged 19.

Laurence was born at Lowestoft in 1899, a son of Robert and Mary Greengrass. In 1901 his family lived at Whites Cottages, Victoria Road, Carlton Colville. By 1911 Laurence’s father had died and he lived with his mother at Victoria Road, Oulton Broad.

Laurence began working for the Great Eastern Railway Company as an engine cleaner, at Lowestoft, in 1916. 

Laurence enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in June 1917. He joined the Royal Fusiliers, service number G/81732, and was posted to the 13th Battalion in France. Subsequently he was transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment, service number G/19140, and was posted to the 9th Battalion. 

On 9 October 1918 the 72nd Infantry Brigade attacked and captured Awoingt and the railway to the east of the village. The 9th Battalion was the lead battalion and they advanced by way of Rumilly, through Niergnies, to Awoingt. The battalion war diary states that casualties were ‘very slight.’ Laurence was killed during this attack.