Lawrence Matthew Gasperino

Lawrence Matthew Gasperino was born on December 17, 1897 in Portland, Victoria, Australia to parents Anthony Gasperino (1867-1935) and Ellen Josephine (Nell) Mahoney (1869-1942). He had siblings Harold Gasperino (1895-1935), Eileen Alice "Eily" Gasperino (1896-1982), Anthony John "Jack" Gasperino (1900-1974), Catherine Mary "Kit" Gasperino (1903-1983), and Leo Gasperino (1907-1961). He lived in Flemington, Victoria, Australia and worked for the Victorian Railways and was also an apprentice boilermaker for the Rolling Stock branch. Lawrence's time in the military began in 1914 when he enlisted in the Australian military in Melbourne, Victoria. He served for six years, from 1914-1920 in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a Private. On November 12, 1916, Gasperino left Folkestone, Kent, England and proceeded overseas to France. He was transferred to the 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery (LTMB) on May 10, 1917. On Sept 30, 1918, he was wounded in action and returned to Australia and arrived in Melbourne on Aug 5, 1919. After his return to Australia, Laurence Gasperino was discharged from the AIF on September 19, 1919. He returned to civilian life and worked as a Boilermaker. In 1928, he married Annie Amelia Dugdell (1900-1934) and lived in Essendon, Victoria, Australia and Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia.