St. Bartholomew's Churchyard
In Newbiggin (St. Bartholomew) Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
In loving remembrance
of
Joseph Frederic, (sic)
beloved son of
Thomas J. & Mary J. Lawson
of Newbiggin
who died 24th May 1895,
in his 21st Year.Also of their son
Sergt. Rex Lawson, 5th Dorsets
who was killed in action 19th June 1917
in his 25th year.
Interred in Dorset Cemetery, Belgium
dearly loved, and deeply mourned.
The above
Mary J. Lawson
died 4th Feb. 1920, aged 65 years
Also of Thomas J.
husband of the above
who died Augst. 17th 1922
aged 72 years.
Margaret Burgess has submitted the following:-
Sydney Rex, born in 1893, was the son of Thomas James and Mary Jane Lawson of Newbiggin by the Sea. In 1901 the family were living above a shop on Front Street, in 1911 at Cresswell Street and 1919, at 6, Simonside. Thomas James was a carpenter and Rex followed in his father's footsteps.
The Morpeth Herald 15/12/1911 reports a Boys' and Girls' Brigades' Concert at Newbiggin where Rex played the violin. In 1913 Rex was a member of the local Amateur Dramatic Society.
Rex enlisted at Shaftesbury, Dorset and served with the 5th Battalion the Dorset Regiment. He was killed 18th June 1917 and is buried at Torreken Farm Cemetery. His parents added “May his reward be as great as his sacrifice” to his headstone.
He was the recipient of the British War medal and Victory Medal.
Sydney Rex Lawson is remembered in Newbiggin by the Sea on N10.03, N10.06 and N10.14
