Lance Sergeant Lawrence Norville McCarthy, 24th Battalion
Australian War MemorialLawrence McCarthy was born in Perth on 10 April 1921, the only son of Lawrence Dominic McCarthy, a famous First World War Victoria Cross recipient, and his wife Florence.
In 1927 the family moved to Victoria, where Lawrence’s father was employed as a commercial traveller with Sunshine Harvester Works.
Laurence attended Wesley College, and then worked as a warehouse salesman in Melbourne. Soon after turning 18, on 2 May 1939, he joined the 24th Battalion of the Citizens Military Force. Months later, the battalion amalgamated with the 39th Battalion.
When the Second World War broke out, McCarthy began regular training camps in country Victoria. In late October 1941 the battalion was called up for full-time duty for the duration of the war. It was at this point that the 24th and 39th Battalions de-linked and were brought up to strength, with men called up for duty.
McCarthy was granted a week’s leave in November and travelled home to visit his family. He was promoted to corporal the following month.
In May 1942 the 24th Battalion moved to Queensland, where the battalion trained for war against the Japanese. In late August, McCarthy returned to Victoria to attend No. 3 Small Arms School at Bonegilla.
On 23 February 1943, the 24th Battalion sailed from Brisbane aboard the troopship Duntroon, bound for Port Moresby.
From here, the men were flown to Wau in April and over the following months they took part in the fighting for Bobdubi Ridge and Mount Tambu, before going on to patrol the Wampit Valley as part of the Salamaua–Lae campaign. The 24th Battalion then took part in clearing the Ramu Valley in early 1944.
McCarthy was hospitalised in February, suffering from malaria. He returned to his unit but was hospitalised again in mid-April with a sprained ankle. He was then sent on a month-long medium machine-gun course in May.
The battalion returned to Australia in August and after disembarking at Townsville, the men were sent home on extended leave.
After returning to the battalion in early October, McCarthy was involved in the reorganisation of the unit and training replacement soldiers. The battalion also took part in training exercises in the Atherton Tablelands.
McCarthy was promoted to lance sergeant before the end of the year, and sailed with the battalion from Cairns for Torokina. The battalion constructed a new camp and organised training courses. McCarthy attended an instruction course on booby traps, mines and demolitions.
In April 1945, the 24th Battalion took part in the advance to Buin on Bougainville, and fought a number of actions. On 20 May the battalion took part in an attack on Japanese positions along the Buin Road. As A Company consolidated its objective, the men came under heavy and accurate Japanese artillery fire. Four men, including Lawrence McCarthy, were killed; another five men were wounded and eight evacuated with shell shock.
McCarthy was initially buried near where he fell, and after being reinterred in Torokina, he was finally laid to rest in Bomana War Cemetery at Port Moresby. The epitaph on his headstone reads:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
He was 24 years old.
- AWM Roll of Honour https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1684239
