First World War Memorial, St Margaret’s Church, Oxford

Edward Richard Lawrence ANDREWS (1894–1916)

Edward Richard Lawrence Andrews (known as Lawrence Andrews) was born at 93 Kingston Road, Oxford on 27 September 1894 and baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 11 November.

His father Edward Andrews was born in Oxford on 3 May 1861 and baptised at St Aldate's Church on 16 August. He was the son of the saddler Henry Andrews of North Parade Villa.

His mother Martha Ellen Lawrence was born in Milbourne, Malmesbury, Wiltshire on 25 December 1864 and baptised there on 22 October 1865. She was the daughter of Richard Lawrence, a farmer of 150 acres.

Lawrence’s father was described as being of Ss Philip & James parish in Oxford and his mother as being of South Cerney in Gloucestershire when they were married at South Cerney Church on 15 September 1888. They had four children:

• Marion Ellen Doreen Andrews (born at 145 Cowley Road (now renumbered 200), Oxford on 28 March 1889 and baptised at Cowley St John Church on 25 April 1890)
• Annie Muriel Geraldine Andrews (born at Cowley Road, Oxford on 11 July 1891 and baptised at Cowley St John Church on 14 August)
• Irene May Andrews (born in Oxford on 18 August 1893 and baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 1 October)
• Edward Richard Lawrence Andrews (born at 93 Kingston Road on 27 September 1894 and baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 11 November).

At the time of the 1891 census Lawrence's parents Edward and Martha were living with their first child at the present 200 Cowley Road, Oxford, and had a domestic servant. Edward was working as a saddler.

By the time of Irene’s baptism in 1893 they were living at 93 Kingston Road, where Lawrence was born the next year.

In about 1900 the Andrews family moved to 6 Chalfont Road in St Margaret’s parish, and they can be seen there in the 1901 census, when Edward was a six-year-old schoolboy. He went to Magdalen College School.

At the time of the 1911 census Lawrence (16) was still at school and living at 6 Chalfont Road with his father Edward (49), who was still a saddler, his mother Martha (45), and his sister Marion (21). They had a 17-year-old servant girl.

On leaving school Lawrence entered Barclays Bank in Oxford, but volunteered to serve on 9 December 1915.

In the First World War (Edward Richard) Lawrence Andrews served as a Private in the 20th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (Service No. 9684). On 16 July 1916 he was killed in action in France at the age of 21 between Mametz Wood and Trônes Wood. He was buried by the roadside at Bazenten-le Grand, 1¼ miles from Montauban, but the situation of his grave is no longer known. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 8C, 9A, and 16A), on the Barclays Bank War Memorial, on the memorial at Magdalen College School (below), and on the war memorial outside St Margaret’s Church, Oxford.

The officer in command of his platoon wrote:

On 16 July the platoon was hit by a shell, as they were moving up to the firing line, that was being held preparatory to an attack on a wood which the brigade subsequently took; 21 men were killed and wounded by the explosion of the shell.”

He added that Private Andrews was a good and keen soldier, and his loss was a great one to his comrades and officers.