Tribute to Capt Lawton
Volume 11, No. 53, October 05, 2006
By Cpl Mike McSweeney

WHILE the Army celebrated the arrival of the first Abrams, it was also a day to recognise the service of Capt Paul Lawton.

Capt Lawton was escorting the Abrams from the US to Melbourne aboard a cargo ship when he fell ill and died.

During the arrival ceremony, CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy offered his condolences to Capt Lawton’s family.

“In memory of his service to the Army, his work on this project and particularly his devotion to engineering, I’d like to announce the naming of an instructional facility at the Army Logistic Training Centre,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.

“It will be called the Paul Lawton Memorial Tank Instructional Facility. All of our soldiers who work on this tank will go through the Paul Lawton instructional tank facility.

“They will understand about dedication and service. I’m very proud to offer to the family that Paul will be remembered for his work by soldiers in the future.”

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson welcomed Lt-Gen Leahy’s announcement of the commemoration.

“[Capt Lawton] gave 16 years to the Australian Army,” Dr Nelson said.

“He represented the finest elements of it in the sense of he was a professional. He was very much focused not only on being a signaller and then an engineer, but he made sure that everything he did was done the best he could.”

Capt Lawton was laid to rest with full military honours at a funeral in Melbourne.

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