World War I Commemorative Website

War Memorial Hall  c1929

Memorial Hall circa 1929
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Lorimer ‘Laurie’ James VIAL

VIAL

Laurie Vial was born on 3 April 1892 in Flemington, Victoria. His parents were Frank and Emily Mary (née Wright) Vial. He attended Scotch from 1904 to 1907.

Laurie’s job was described variously as ‘company manager’, ‘merchant’ and ‘leather belt manufacturer’ before he enlisted on 23 July 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria. He served in the 8th Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant. His Regimental Number was 4328.

Laurie died on 9 August 1918 at Harbonnieres, France. He was 26 years of age.

Service record

On enlistment, Laurie Vial was 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall. He was initially allotted to the 21st Depot Battalion at Warrnambool and in November 1915 joined the 13th Reinforcements to the 8th Battalion. They sailed on 29 December 1915. In March 1916 Laurie joined the 8th Battalion in Egypt. Nine days later he was with the unit as it sailed for Marseille, France. He was appointed Lance Corporal in France on 30 July 1916 and was involved in the terrible battle of Pozieres. His performance there contributed to his promotion on 15 September 1916 to 2nd Lieutenant.

Almost exactly a year later, on 13 September 1917, he was promoted to full Lieutenant, this time on the eve of going into the 3rd Battle of Ypres. He reportedly performed well there, and might have had a Military Cross had his officer not been gassed and thus unable to recommend him. The same month he was sent to England – reportedly against his preference to stay with his men. At Tidworth he attended a course on the tactical handling of Lewis Guns at the School of Musketry. He qualified from this course with 1st Class marks. In November 1917, he returned to duty at the 2nd Australian Training Battalion.

On 1 May 1918 Laurie sailed from Southampton for France, rejoining his battalion on 16 May. He wrote home soon afterwards that he had been engaged in very severe fighting, and had not even had a chance to change his clothes for 15 days. The next news his father received of Laurie told of his death in action on 9 August 1918. His mother received a cable containing birthday greetings from Laurie dated 29 August, and several letters passed in an attempt to investigate. Sadly for the family, his death was confirmed. Laurie’s father died the following year.

Laurie’s obituary in The Scotch Collegian contains extracts from a letter from fellow Old Collegian and fellow 8th Battalion member, Lieutenant Ivon Murdoch, M.C. They read: ‘His death happened during the attack of our brigade on a ridge one mile north-east of the village of Rozieres. We attacked in daylight a very strong position studded with woods, and had been held up by heavy machine gun and point blank artillery fire. Laurie was in the leading company, and had done most courageous work by outflanking with a small party two enemy machine guns. There is no doubt amongst us that his prompt action enabled the advance to continue, and saved many lives. Unfortunately, but unavoidably, a few enemy snipers could not be located for some time, and it was one of these men who sniped Laurie, after he had reached his objective. The bullet passed through his head, and he lost consciousness at once, and died in a few minutes. We buried his body about half a mile due north of Rozieres, together with other officers we lost in the same action.’ He concluded that ‘Laurie was a fine friend’ whose strong character was admired by all. ‘His life is an example to us’, Murdoch asserted, ‘and his death has been keenly felt by officers and men of the battalion. We all feel that we could not give our lives, if called upon, in a better or nobler way.’

Laurie’s battalion commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, wrote that Laurie had been killed during the storming of Rosieres and Lihons. He had, Mitchell, reported, been ‘shot through the head, and died almost immediately, just at the final stage of the attack, after a fight lasting all day over a distance of two miles.’ Mitchell called Vial ‘a most gallant officer, and a leader of great ability, and one of the whitest men it has ever been my good fortune to have with me, fearless to a degree, a man all through, loved by his men at all times. We deeply regret his death, but are glad, as he would have been, that he has gone as he has, fighting.’

A slightly different interpretation of his death came in a letter from Corporal Oliver Armstrong, a member of Laurie’s 16 Platoon. He claimed that he was ‘right alongside’ Laurie at his death, which came as they sheltered in a crater (see below). He said he saw Laurie hit in the side of the head by machine gun fire just 100 yards from their objective. ‘He was at the time looking ahead over the top’, said Armstrong, ‘seeking for an opportunity to lead the rest over and onward when a bullet got him in the side of the head.’ Contrary to accounts that he had died instantly, Armstrong claimed that ‘he seemed a little dazed, lingering a few minutes, and was conscious. I went to him and bandaged his head, but he knew he was done for and said, “Oh, no! leave me and push on.” He died before I had finished bandaging his head.’ Armstrong reported that Vial was known as ‘Laurie’ throughout the battalion, ‘and was one of the finest fellows the battalion ever had.’

Laurie Vial is buried in the Heath Cemetery (Plot VII, Row J, Grave No. 11), Harbonnieres, France.

Photographs and Documents:

VialLJ01

Corporal Armstrong’s account of Laurie Vial’s death and burial. From his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file

Sources:

  1. Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour and Red Cross Wounded and Missing file
  2. Mishura Scotch Database
  3. National Archives of Australia – B2455, VIAL LORIMER JAMES
  4. Scotch Collegian 1918, 1919
  5. The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=308811

Page last updated: 11 November 2015