Laura Howarth was born about 1878 at Ballarat East, Victoria, the sixth of eight children to parents Frederick and Mary Howarth née Phear. Laura received her nurse's training of three years at the Ballarat District Hospital. At the time of her enlistment with the Australian Army Medical Corps Reinforcements on 11 April 1917, Laura was already a member of the Australian Army Nursing Services and was working at Caulfield No. 1 Australian Field Hospital when she signed up for service with the British Indian Nursing Services.
Laura embarked at Melbourne aboard Khiva on 29 May 1917, arriving in Bombay, India on 24 June 1917. She was immediately posted for duty to the Victoria War Hospital, Bombay. Less than three months later, Sister Laura Howarth resigned from her position due to her upcoming marriage to Master Mariner, Captain John Murch, a 44 year old widower. From "The Argus" (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 11 May 1918, page 11 late news of this event was published - MURCH—HOWARTH.—At St. Thomas's Cathedral, Bombay, lndia, on the 20th September, 1917, Captain John H. Murch, son of John Murch, Esq., of Holy Head, North Wales, to Sister Laura Howarth, daughter of the late Frederick Howarth and Mary Howarth, of Ballarat.
On 26 March 1920, Captain and Mrs. J H Murch arrived at Liverpool via City of Calcutta. They eventually returned to Australia and by 1931, Laura and John Murch were living in St Kilda, Victoria. Five years later, Laura died on 19 October, 1936 and was cremated at the Springvale Crematorium the following day.