No.120942, Flight Lieutenant, Lawrence William Hamilton COE
Aged 32
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Lawrence William Hamilton Coe was born in 1912 (Thetford Q1-1912 4B:589), son of Walter Percy and Annie Ortrude COE (née HOYLE).
His father was headmaster at the school in Northwold in 1911 and at Brandon School House at the time of his death in 1935. In the 1939 register, at "Brecklands", Thetford Road, Brandon, was his mother Annie O. [8-3-1879] a school mistress. Also there were Margaret (Lilian) JONES [9-6-1913], later BENNETT, a school teacher; Constance A DRAKES [28-4-1888] retired school teacher and John DRAKES [16-6-1932] scholar (perhaps grandson of Constance). There are two closed records. |
click here to go to the ww2.brandonatwar.co.uk website for more information
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Coastal Command Vickers Wellington MkX, ser. no.HF179 took off at 21:05 on 16th September 1944 from RAF Silloth on the Solway Firth to practice Leigh Light homings. Leigh Lights were very powerful searchlights fitted to aircraft to illuminate targets such as submarines or lifeboats. They were fitted in a "dustbin" turret under the fuselage and could be raised or lowered. The aircraft crashed into the Irish Sea, 5 miles West of St Bees Head. Two survivors were picked up by the SS "Green Isle" and taken to Whitehaven Infirmary. The RAF 1180 Accident Report Form relating to the crash states the following:- "A/c (aircraft) flew into sea during Leigh Light Exercises. Pilot homing on a ship burning full navigational lights was seen to fly into sea. Leigh Light not burning at time.". The subsequent inquiry found that it was_ " E of J (Error of Judgement) when carrying out a training dummy attack. Too low, hit the sea. Instructions given not to fly below 300 feet." The crew was:- F/Lt Lawrence William Hamilton COE 120942 RAFVR (Pilot 1); P/O Harry Chambers WATERS 174902 RAFVR (Pilot 2); F/O Oswald John LANDER 55093 RAF (navigator); F/O George Edward LUMLEY 171707 RAFVR (Wireless Operator); F/O Frederick Charles JORDAN 171365 RAF (Wireless Operator) and one unidentified. There were two survivors, F/O JORDAN and the unidentified (so far) airman. The bodies of F/O LANDER and F/O Lumley were recovered. F/Lt COE and P/O WATERS are commemorated on the RAF Memorial at Runnymede. The above from https://sillothairfield.wordpress.com/category/accidents-and-crashes/ and the son of F/O JORDAN. |
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photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details