Sergeant Amah (Amar) Singh

Name:  Amah SINGH (James John LAWRENCE)

Rank: Sergeant

Regimental Number: 2799, 29th Btn

Age: 34 years and 1 month on enlistment

Place of Enlistment: Melbourne, VIC

Place of Birth: Cornwall, United Kingdom

Occupation: Seaman and later stevedore

Marital Status: Widower

Address: 

Son: Mr George LAWRENCE, C/- Mrs MARRETT, Kaniva, Victoria

Later wife: Mrs E C LAWRENCE, 21 Grayford Road, London, United Kingdom

Circa 1944: John James LAWRENCE, 165 Fitzroy Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria

Religion (as stated on enlistment forms): Presbyterian

Service Outline:

  • Served 7 years US Navy. (Not located).

  • Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Kaniva 17th November 1915 as LAWRENCE and went to camp Broadmeadows then Geelong.

  • 14th March 1916 - Embarked at Melbourne for the Middle East with 5th reinforcement group for the 29th Infantry Battalion, 8th Brigade per Transport ‘Anchises’.

  • Records missing but apparently served Egypt then to England.

  • 31st December 1916 - Corporal in England.

  • 1st January 1917 - Sergeant 8th Infantry Training Battalion.

  • 5th March 1917 - to Permanent Cadre 8th Infantry Training Battalion Hurdcott.

  • 21st July 1917 - Embarked per Transport ‘Euripides’ with defective vision.

  • 18th September 1917 - Disembarked Melbourne.

  • 14th November 1917 - Discharged Melbourne Medically Unfit.

Other Information:

  • Awarded British War Medal 1914-1918.

  • Described as 69.25 inches tall, 157 pounds in weight, chest 36.5 to 38.5 inches, fresh (also described as very dark) complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair with tattoo right forearm and scar right cheek affecting eye.

  • Soldier stated in 1944 his true name was Ahmar SINGH.

  • Died 2nd September 1949.

  • Noted Repatriation Department dossier R11841 and C48993.

  • Civil records reveal this man was born in Delamana, India and arrived as seaman on the ‘Alderham’ in Melbourne from London 2nd June 1914. Married Florence HIGGINS born United Kingdom 1889 (died Melbourne, Victoria 1964).

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