Francis James Lawson (Lauzanne) Lance Corporal 3050 18th Battalion, New Zealand Infantry 1911 Halifax, Nova Scotia Whakatāne, New Zealand Taneatua, New Zealand Single Labourer Henrietta Alice Lawson, St. Ruby Balby, Queensland, Australia. June 2, 1941 29 Suda Bay War Cemetery, Greece 6. D. 20. Commemorated on Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War II Hall of Memories (Panel L005) Lance Corporal Francis James Lauzanne served as Francis James ‘Lawson’ during WWII. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was the son of Frederick Gerald Lauzanne and Henrietta (Collins) Lauzanne of Halifax (at the time of his birth). His father was born in St. Helier, Jersey in the Channel Islands; his mother in Jutogh, India. Francis’ father served in both the British and Canadian military, as early as 1910 in Halifax with the Royal Canadian Regiment (when he was a Sergeant at the time), throughout the First World War. Then, the family settled back in England in 1920. Records indicate Francis may have moved to Australia / New Zealand in the mid-1920’s on his own as a teen. His WWII service was with the 18th Battalion in the New Zealand Army. The 18th Battalion was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces which served, initially as an infantry battalion, during the Second World War as part of the 2nd New Zealand Division. The 18th Battalion was formed in New Zealand in September 1939. After a period of training, firstly at Hopuhopu Military Camp (5 km north of the town of Ngāruawāhia, Nez Zealand) and then at Papakura (south of Auckland, New Zealand), it was confirmed that the battalion was on active service. The unit departed New Zealand on the Orient liner RMS Orion for the Middle East on January 5, 1940 as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd New Zealand Division. The 18th Battalion served in Egypt, and moved to Greece to assist in its defence on March 7, 1941. Lauzanne’s Battalion participated in the Battle of Greece and when the Allies abandoned Greece, they moved to the Island of Crete at the end of April of 1941. Francis Lauzanne was killed on June 2, 1941 at the end of the Battle of Crete.

Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission findagrave