John Kelburne Lawson (27 December 1886 – 19 December 1941) was a Canadian military officer who served as commander of the West Brigade during the Battle of Hong Kong. A brigadier, he was the most senior officer to be killed in action during the battle, and the highest-ranking Canadian soldier killed in action in the Second World War.[1][circular reporting?]
Lawson joined the Permanent Active Militia during the interwar years. He held various positions in Calgary, Kingston, Toronto, and Ottawa. He completed staff college in Quetta in 1923–1924, and was posted to the War Office in London, England, in 1930.
When the Second World War broke out, he was Director of Military Training in Ottawa. He was given command of the Royal Rifles of Canada, The Winnipeg Grenadiers,[1] and the other Canadian support units which arrived in Hong Kong on 16 November 1941 to reinforce the British garrison ahead of the Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941).
Battle of Hong Kong
The plaque is dedicated to Lawson and all members of Brigade Headquarters C Force.
After the forces defending Kowloon were withdrawn to the island of Hong Kong on 11 December 1941, General Christopher Maltby organized the defence of the island into two brigades, west and east. Lawson was placed in charge of the west brigade,[1] which included the Winnipeg Grenadiers, the Royal Scots, the Punjab Regiment (India) and the Canadian Signallers. The Japanese landed on Hong Kong Island on 18 December 1941 with the intent to split the defenders in two. After fierce fighting, Japanese forces surrounded Lawson's headquarters at around 10 a.m. on 19 December. Lawson radioed his commanders that he was "going outside to fight his way out" and left his splinter proof shelter with a small group of his officers. He was killed immediately after leaving his shelters by a burst of Japanese machine gun fire.[1][3][4]
When the Japanese arrived and found his body, they gave him a military burial nearby in Wong Nai Chong Gap out of respect for his courage. A chaplain was allowed to remove Lawson's silver identification disc bracelet and held on to it through four years as a Japanese prisoner of war before returning it to Lawson's family in Canada. Meanwhile, Hong Kong was relieved only on 16 September 1945, more than a month after the war ended.[5]
The original headstone erected by the Japanese was removed after the war. Lawson was reburied at the Sai Wan War Cemetery after the war.[1] A memorial plate was erected by the Canadian government at the site in 2005.
Personal life
Lawson was married to Augusta Hawkesworth Wilson in 1930 and had two sons, Arthur John (b. 1934) and Michael Ivan (b. 1936).[6]
^ abcdeSmith, Craig S. (23 December 2016). "A Doomed Battle for Hong Kong, With Only Medals Left 75 Years Later". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
^Wentzell, Tyler (April 2011). "Brigadier J.K. Lawson and Command of 'C' Force at Hong Kong" (PDF). Canadian Military History. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^"The Battle of Hong Kong". Canada at War. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
^Churchill, Winston (1950). The Grand Alliance. London. pp. 633.
^Churchill, Winston (1953). Triumph and Tragedy. London. pp. 646.
^ "Brigadier John Kelburne Lawson". veterans.gc.ca. Veterans Affairs Canada. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John K. Lawson.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry
Canada at War:The Battle of Hong Kong 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
john, lawson, british, american, artist, artist, john, kelburne, lawson, december, 1886, december, 1941, canadian, military, officer, served, commander, west, brigade, during, battle, hong, kong, brigadier, most, senior, officer, killed, action, during, battle. For the British American artist see John K Lawson artist John Kelburne Lawson 27 December 1886 19 December 1941 was a Canadian military officer who served as commander of the West Brigade during the Battle of Hong Kong A brigadier he was the most senior officer to be killed in action during the battle and the highest ranking Canadian soldier killed in action in the Second World War 1 circular reporting John Kelburne LawsonBrigadier John K Lawson right with General Christopher MaltbyBorn27 December 1886Hull EnglandDied19 December 1941 1941 12 19 aged 54 British Hong KongBuriedSai Wan War Cemetery Chai WanAllegianceCanadaService wbr branchCanadian ArmyYears of service1914 1941RankBrigadierCommands heldC ForceBattles warsWorld War I Battle of Passchendaele Battle of the SommeWorld War II Battle of Hong Kong AwardsCroix de GuerreWest Brigade Headquarters north bunker at Wong Nai Chong Gap Hong Kong The headstone of Brigadier J K Lawson at Sai Wan War Cemetery Contents 1 Early career 2 Battle of Hong Kong 3 Personal life 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly career EditLawson was born in Hull East Riding of Yorkshire He emigrated to Edmonton in 1914 where he worked as a clerk for the Hudson s Bay Company He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force CEF upon the outbreak of the First World War He joined the 9th Battalion CEF and variously worked at the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade and at Corps Headquarters Although he is often incorrectly attributed a Military Cross for actions at the Battle of Passchendaele or the Battle of the Somme he was twice mentioned in despatches and received the French Croix de guerre Lawson joined as a private in 1914 and rose to the rank of warrant officer first class before commissioning He held the rank of captain at the end of the war 2 Lawson joined the Permanent Active Militia during the interwar years He held various positions in Calgary Kingston Toronto and Ottawa He completed staff college in Quetta in 1923 1924 and was posted to the War Office in London England in 1930 When the Second World War broke out he was Director of Military Training in Ottawa He was given command of the Royal Rifles of Canada The Winnipeg Grenadiers 1 and the other Canadian support units which arrived in Hong Kong on 16 November 1941 to reinforce the British garrison ahead of the Battle of Hong Kong 8 25 December 1941 Battle of Hong Kong Edit The plaque is dedicated to Lawson and all members of Brigade Headquarters C Force After the forces defending Kowloon were withdrawn to the island of Hong Kong on 11 December 1941 General Christopher Maltby organized the defence of the island into two brigades west and east Lawson was placed in charge of the west brigade 1 which included the Winnipeg Grenadiers the Royal Scots the Punjab Regiment India and the Canadian Signallers The Japanese landed on Hong Kong Island on 18 December 1941 with the intent to split the defenders in two After fierce fighting Japanese forces surrounded Lawson s headquarters at around 10 a m on 19 December Lawson radioed his commanders that he was going outside to fight his way out and left his splinter proof shelter with a small group of his officers He was killed immediately after leaving his shelters by a burst of Japanese machine gun fire 1 3 4 When the Japanese arrived and found his body they gave him a military burial nearby in Wong Nai Chong Gap out of respect for his courage A chaplain was allowed to remove Lawson s silver identification disc bracelet and held on to it through four years as a Japanese prisoner of war before returning it to Lawson s family in Canada Meanwhile Hong Kong was relieved only on 16 September 1945 more than a month after the war ended 5 The original headstone erected by the Japanese was removed after the war Lawson was reburied at the Sai Wan War Cemetery after the war 1 A memorial plate was erected by the Canadian government at the site in 2005 Personal life EditLawson was married to Augusta Hawkesworth Wilson in 1930 and had two sons Arthur John b 1934 and Michael Ivan b 1936 6 His family donated his medals to the Royal Canadian Military Institute See also EditJohn Robert OsbornReferences Edit a b c d e Smith Craig S 23 December 2016 A Doomed Battle for Hong Kong With Only Medals Left 75 Years Later The New York Times Retrieved 3 January 2017 Wentzell Tyler April 2011 Brigadier J K Lawson and Command of C Force at Hong Kong PDF Canadian Military History Retrieved 2 February 2015 The Battle of Hong Kong Canada at War Retrieved 2 February 2015 Churchill Winston 1950 The Grand Alliance London pp 633 Churchill Winston 1953 Triumph and Tragedy London pp 646 Brigadier John Kelburne Lawson veterans gc ca Veterans Affairs Canada 11 September 2019 Retrieved 13 October 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to John K Lawson Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry Canada at War The Battle of Hong Kong Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine Generals of World War II John K Lawson at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John K Lawson amp oldid 1129559882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
