He spent some time in Britain, and took some photographs of his biking exploits to The Motor Cycle magazine.

That publication on June 28, 1917 devoted a full page to him, focusing on the types of machines he rode and the conditions of road in Australia.

Three of the four photographs had been taken on Cambewarra Mountain, with one at the crossroads on the peak.

Anderson was photographed with his 6-hp MAG-engined Rover bike, of which very few had been made at that stage.

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Another bike in the photo was an older Bradbury, that had been sold for what was considered a good price of £45 shortly after the photograph had been taken.

For security reasons, the magazine did not reveal Lawrie's surname, but it described another photo of him, taking a steep corner during his mountain ascent on the Rover.

"This is the point at which most cars drop into their bottom gears, for, although the surface is like a billiard table, the gradient is severe, while the bend is one of the 'never ending' variety," the article stated.

"The background of open country and undulating forest land looks very inviting."

Riding conditions were important to the columnist, who observed:

"So far as the road surfaces go, the views savour little of the common state of things in pioneer lands, where man makes the forest trails into roads and Nature converts the roads into river beds, yet if the top photograph (taken near Parkes), be closely examined, it will be seen that the hand of Nature has been at work."

Lawrie Anderson was born in Ashfield, but grew up in Nowra and attended the local public school.

His father John Howard Anderson had a store in Junction Street - one of the first in Australia styled as "cash and carry", forerunner of the self-service shops that are commonplace these days.

Lawrie gave his occupation as store assistant when he enlisted on June 6, 1916, aged 22 years,

He embarked from Sydney on the troop ship Ceramic on October 7 that year, and six weeks later disembarked at Plymouth.

In late 1916 he was posted to France, attached to the machine gun section of the 17th Australian Infantry Battalion.

Anderson (aged 23) lost his life during heavy fighting on September 20, 1917.

Word reached his father by a "private source", and when it became generally known, Nowra Superior Public School headmaster John Culey ran the school flag up at half mast.

Information thanks to Shoalhaven Historical Society and Peter Walsh.