Biography:
Arthur Bertram Lawson was born 18 December 1882, the son of Sir Arthur Tredgold Lawson, Bart., J.P., and Louisa, daughter of John Stacpoole O'Brien, of Weetwood Grange, Leeds. His elder brother was Sir Digby Lawson, 2nd Baronet, JP, TD, BA (E 1895-1898), whose son Lieutenant James Alexander Bertram Lawson (E 1937-1941) of HMS Glory, was killed in an air accident in 1946.
Arthur came to Winchester College from Lockers' Park, Hemel Hempstead, in September 1896 and was in E House, Morshead's.
He left school in the summer of 1900 and passed through Sandhurst and was gazetted in 1901 to the 11th Hussars. The following year he was promoted to Lieutenant and by 1909 was a Captain. After some months on the Brigade and Divisional Staff he was appointed in May 1918 to command a battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Brigadier General Pagan wrote of him that he was absolutely fearless, very able and devoted to the welfare of his men.
Arthur fell in action between Calonne-sur-Lys and Robecq on 24 June 1918. His Brigadier wrote: 'He was walking in front of his line on the south side of the Noc stream, he had gone out alone to satisfy himself personally as to certain enemy dispositions. He was seen a few yards from a German post and then disappeared behind a hedge. The sound of rifle shots and bombs was heard and he was not seen again. His body was found some days later and buried close to the Noc (Robecq)... To the 2/5th Glosters it was like a personal bereavement'. He had been awarded the D.S.O in April 1918 and a posthumous Bar in September 1918. He had been three times mentioned in Despatches and had received the Russian Order of St Stanislas.