In 1901 the Lawson family were living at Union Bank House, Dunning, Perthshire: Father, Matthew Henry ((Bank Agent) (47); Mother, Jessie Watson (39); Son, Matthew (14); and Son, John Wilson (12).Also living at this address was Janet Donaldson Crovat (General Servant, Domestic) (23).

John Lawson was educated at Dunning School and Perth Academy. He was a student of law at Edinburgh University, 1908-10. John was a Solicitor in Edinburgh and married Katherine Noel (nee Wilson) on the 11th January 1917 and stayed at 16, Craiglockhart Terrace, Edinburgh.

 John served in the Officer Training Corps from May - November 1915, as a Cadet. He enlisted with the Scott Maxim Cycle Corps as a private in November 1914, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 11th Royal Highlanders (Black Watch), in May 1915. John joined the Machine Gun Corps, 41st Divisional Brigade as a Lieutenant, and was promoted to Captain in 1916.

John was awarded the Military Cross in January 1918 in France, and was killed in action near Sapignies on 24th March 1918.

Perthshire Advertiser, 30th January 1918

“DUNNING - LOCAL OFFICER’S DECORATION"

“Captain John Wilson Lawson, Machine Gun Corps, youngest son of Mr M. H. Lawson, Union Bank, Dunning, has been awarded the Military Cross. He joined the Army in 1914 as a member of the Scott Maxim Corps, and in 1915 received a commission in the Black Watch. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on its formation, and has been at the front for two years.”

John Lawson is also commemorated on the Dunning Parish War Memorial; the Mortonhall Golf Club War Memorial, Edinburgh; and the Edinburgh University War Memorial.