| Date | 15 January 1901 |
|---|---|
| Source | The London Gazette 15 Jan 1901, Num. 27266, p. 308 |
| Reference | BOER-0003 |
| Volume | Boer War |
| Collection | Victoria Cross Recipients |
On the 7th August, 1900, when on patrol duty near Essenbosch Farm, Sergeant Lawrence and a Private Hayman were attacked by 12 or 14 Boers. Private Hayman’s horse was shot, and the man was thrown, dislocating his shoulder. Sergeant Lawrence at once came to his assistance, extricated him from under the horse, put him on his own horse, and sent him on to the picket. Sergeant Lawrence took the soldier’s carbine, and with his own carbine as well, kept the Boers off until Private Hayman was safely out of range. He then retired for some two miles on foot, followed by the Boers, and keeping them off till assistance arrived.
Extract from The London Gazette
| Name: | Brian Turner Thomas Lawrence VC |
| Born: | 9 Nov 1873; Kidderminster, Worcs. |
| Died: | 7 Jun 1949; War Memorial Hospital, Nakuru, Kenya |
| Buried: | Cremated at Nakuru Crematorium, Kenya |
| Unit: | 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers |
| Date of Action: | 7 Aug 1900 |
| Place: | Essenbosch Farm, Orange Free State, South Africa |
| Rank: | Sergeant |
| Gazetted: | The London Gazette 15 Jan 1901, Num. 27266, p. 308 |
| VC No: | 481 |
| Presented: | 12 Aug 1902 by King Edward VII in London. |
| Displayed: | Lord Ashcroft Collection, National Army Museum, Chelsea |
| References: | [71], Derek Hunt |
| Connection: | Lawrence received his VC from King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 12 August 1902. Appointed a Military Knight of Windsor on 12 October 1934. Lived in Windsor Castle. He resigned the appointment in 1938 (reason for resignation not known) and emigrated to Kenya after WWII. |
| Awards: | Victoria Cross Queen’s South Africa Medal ( 1899-1902 ), 5 clasps 1914 Star British War Medal (1914 – 20) Victory Medal (1914 – 19) + MiD Oakleaf King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935) King George VI Coronation Medal (1937) King Feisal’s War Medal (Iraq) King Gustavus V of Sweden Olympic Games Medal 1912 Silver |
| Notes: | He was a skilled horseman and won individual and team prizes at the International Horse Shows, Olympia. He was chosen for the British Equestrian Team, which competed at the Stockholm Olympic Games of 1912. |