He was born in the Corps of Royal Engineers barracks at Chatham, England; and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

[1] Lawrence entered the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve as a midshipman in 1939, and was promoted to Sub-lieutenant while serving aboard the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Alaunia.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for leading HMCS Oakville's boarding party onto the sinking U-94 during the battle of convoy TAW-15.

He was transferred from the volunteer reserve to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1945 and became executive officer of HMCS Sioux.

The University of Victoria maintains the Hal Lawrence fonds of 120 taped interviews with historical photographs and maps.