The other 9 children were Benjamin Dain Lawson, born 24th January 1872, died July 1951, Arthur Lawson, born 1881, Margaret Ann, born 1884, Gertrude, born 1886, Eleanor, born 1888, Alfred Lawson was born on the 5th December 1891?, at 57 Winchester Street, South Shields, Isabelle, born 14th December 1874, Sarah, born 26th February 1874, baptised 22nd March 1873 at St Stephens Church, who married an Isaac Reay, [born 23rd May 1868], in 1939 were residing at 2 Armstrong Avenue, Sarah was an Air Raid Warden in WW2 and George born 1877.
John Robert Lawson was a Hewer at Harton Colliery, and was married on the 16th April 1900, at the Parish church, South Shields, to a Elizabeth Jane [nee Arthur] Lawson, born 23rd August 1878, South Shields. They resided at 60 Frost Street, Tyne Dock, South Shields in 1911, prior to this they were residing at 29 Napier Street in South Shields.
They had 5 children, however one child died, Ann, born 26th July 1902, Elizabeth born 21st May 1906, Albert Armstrong 19th August 1912, Margaret Ellen Lee born 1901 and George 20th January 1909.
John was employed by the Harton Coal Company and was a member of the Manchester Order of Oddfellows approved Society. John Arthur Lawson enlisted at Seaton Delaval on the 1st May 1913 into the Tynemouth Royal Garrison Artillery, Territorial Army, service number 627. John had also been in the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers regiment before being time expired.
When the Volunteers were subsumed into the new Territorial Force (TF) under the Haldane Reforms of 1908, the Tynemouth Royal Garrison Artillery was intended to combine with the 1st Durham Royal Garrison Artillery to form a Northumberland and Durham Royal Garrison Artillery (and spin off a battery and ammunition column for the local Royal Field Artillery brigade). These plans were radically changed, so that by 1910 the Tynemouth and 1st Durham elements had formed their own units. The Tynemouth Royal Garrison Artillery (TF) was designated as a Defended Ports unit with the following organisation. HQ was at the Military Road, North Shields, No 1 Company at North Shields, No 2 Company at North Shields, No 3 Company at Prospect Avenue, Seaton Delaval and No 4 Company at Plessey Road/Quayside, Blyth.
The unit formed part of North Eastern Coast Defences, which also included the Regulars of Nos 12 and 47 Companies Royal Garrison Artillery at Tynemouth.
On the 5th August 1915, John is embodied into the 3rd Company at Seaton Delaval as a Gunner now with the service number 376207, 5 feet 8 inches, 161lbs, dark complexion, brown eyes with dark brown hair.
From the 29th June 1918, John is posted to the 47th Company Royal Garrison Artillery, and is paid a bounty of £15.00 on the 25th May 1918. 1st September 1918 John is now in No 1 Company as a Gunner. On the 2nd October 1918, John is required to return to his Civil Employment as a miner at Harton Colliery. His character was described as Very Good.
John remained at Tynemouth throughout the war and on the 26th May 1917 was posted into the 1st Company, stall as a Gunner until the 1st March 1918, when his is promoted to Lance Corporal Bombardier still with the 1st Company.
On the 27th September 1918, John had a Medical Report prior to his discharge at Ripon. The report stated no Disability.
His pension was awarded at a 20% rate at 8s 8d for 49 weeks only.
