| Regimental number | 5648 |
| Place of birth | Sale, Victoria |
| School | St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | 37 Victoria Street, Coburg, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 32 |
| Height | 5' 10.75" |
| Weight | 168 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Margaret Lawler, 37 Victoria Street, Coburg, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Sapper |
| Unit name | 2nd Field Company Engineers, Reinforcement 14 |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 14/21/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A54 Runic on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sapper |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 15th Field Company Engineers |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | In his career as a bowler his average was never over 5 runs per wicket. A good bowler played with various clubs his averages for several seasons has been as follows 2, 3, 4-4 1/2, 5 runs per wicket and ground bowling for Melb. South Melb. and Carlton. (details from mother) |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 34 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 33 |
| Place of burial | Ration Farm Military Cemetery (Plot VI, Row H, Grave No. 50), La Chapelle d'Armentieres, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 24 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Christopher and Margaret LAWLER |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 15021 Gunner John Joseph LAWLER, 6th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 29 May 1919. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Sydney, 20 January 1916; disembarked Alexandria, 27 February 1916. Taken on strength, 15th Field Company Engineers, Tel el Kebir, 18 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 21 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 6 September 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Statement, Red Cross File No 1560604, 5636 Sapper A.J. DAY, 15th Field Company Engineers (patient, Southall Hospital, England), 7 November 1916: 'In advancing on July 19th at Armentieres across No Man's Land, Informant lay down for a breather, and as he did so, looked back, and saw Lawler pitch forward head first to the ground and lie there motionless. He was about 40 yards away.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, LAWLER Francis Michael
Red Cross File No 1560604 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
