The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website confirms that 31923 Private Lawrence Millward of the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, was the: “son of William and Mary Millward, of Sherwood Rd., Tideswell, Buxton.” Lawrence Millward was born in Tideswell, near Buxton, Derbyshire, in 1877. His parents were William Millward (born Litton near Tideswell 1855) and Mary Millward (born Tideswell 1859). 

The 1901 census found the 23-year-old Lawrence and one sibling (his younger brother Frederick), living with their parents on Sherwood Road, Tideswell. At the time, his father, William Millward, was a Limestone Quarryman, and Lawrence himself, an Insurance Agent. Ten years later, the 1911 census located Lawrence on his own at 20 Allan Street, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. Lawrence was now employed as a Fruiterer. His wife, Beatrice Sarah nee Sewell (born Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire 1878) was not with her husband on census night 1911. She was a visitor in the home of George and Annie Johnson next door at 18 Allan Street. 

Lawrence and Beatrice had wed in Middlesbrough on 14 February 1906. As of 1911, Lawrence’s brother, Frederick, a Salesman, was also now living in Middlesbrough, at 43 Bow Street. Their parents continued to live in Tideswell, on Sherwood Road. The death of Beatrice Sarah Millward nee Sewell, Lawrence’s wife, was recorded in the Middlesbrough Registration District only a year later; 1912. She was only 34. Lawrence would have been 35 at the time. (The couple did not have children). 

Pages of Lawrence Millward’s service records have survived. He enlisted with the Durham Light Infantry in Sunderland, County Durham, on 2 December 1915, giving his home address as 18 Murton Street, Sunderland, his age as 38 years 6 months, his occupation as Fruit Merchant, his marital status as Widower, his next of kin as his father William at Sherwood Road, Tideswell, and his religion as Church of England. He was recorded as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a 40 inch chest, having a 2-inch expansion range. 

Lawrence was initially posted to the Army Reserve; therefore, to continue his civilian life the while. He was mobilised nearly four months later, on 18 April 1916, and posted the next day to the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry, with service number 31923. Three months later, on 22 July 1916, Lawrence was discharged from the Army as: “Not likely to become an efficient soldier on medical grounds”. He had served 138 days, all of them on the Home Front. 

The Long, Long Trail website confirms that from September 1915 the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry were posted to “Seaham Harbour (near Sunderland), where it remained for the duration of the war, as part of the Tyne Garrison”. 

Lawrence was ill. He had Pulmonary Tuberculosis. In respect of his later application for an Army pension, notes on Lawrence’s medical condition include that his incapacity was total and probably permanent, that he had been unemployed since his discharge, and that he had returned to live with his parents on Sherwood Road, Tideswell.

The CWGC confirms that Lawrence Millward died on 3 June 1917, aged 39, and that his remains are interred in the churchyard of St John the Baptist, Tideswell.