Nickname:
John
Date of birth:
Saturday, 17 November 1900
Marital status:
single
Ethnicity/Nationality:
Scottish
Profession:
sailor; union organizer
Hometown(s):
Vancouver, British Columbia; Victoria, British Columbia
Date of Immigration to Canada:
1920
Political affiliation:
Communist Party of Canada, 1933
Involvement in On-to-Ottawa Trek:
Likely participated in the On-to-Ottawa Trek: He was involved in the Relief Camp Workers' strike of 1935 and jailed for 72 days for 'inciting to riot.'
Prior military experience:
British Army during World War I, Tank Corps 2 years
Approximate date arrived in Spain:
1937-04-24 sailed
1937-05-12 arrived
Unit:
British Battalion; Artillery; Anti-tank unit from June 8 to June 30, 1937; 24 Brigade of 15 Division; 15 Brigade; Cadres service, transferred October 12 1937; Served at Brunete, Quinto and Belchite; Irv Weissman said that the last time he saw Lawson, Lawson was in Barcelona for special guerilla training; In his memoir, Ronald Liversedge said he and Lawson were in the Candian Cadres service, and in late January 1938 Jack was transferred to be the Canadian representative in Paris.
Final status:
Survived; Permission given to go home in December 1937; Returned to Canada 19 April 1938
Sources:
RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 557, ll. 20-24; NAC, M-P Collection, Cecil-Smith, V. 1, F. 16, Memoirs and Accounts of Service in Spain, Lawson, Jack, 3 pages, no date; Liversedge; Momryk; Petrou
