LAWRENCE, William Joseph
R/702294
Sergeant (Flight Engineer)
William Joseph LAWRENCE
Royal Canadian Air Force, RAF (New Zealand) 75 Squadron
Killed in Action on 16th December 1942
Aged 22
"For ever and ever, be strong"
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Born 4th December 1920 in Toronto, the son of Joseph and Edith Lawrence (née Burdett) of 34 Allen Street, Oakville, Ontario, Canada. His mother was English
by birth. He was employed by his father as a truck driver prior to enlistment. Enlisting on 28th August 1940, he was 5' 8" tall, weighed 135 lbs, fair hair,
blue eyes. Initially trained as an Air Engine Mechanic he arrived in England and on strength at RAF Digby, 402F Squadron on 6th April 1941. Apart from a detachment to 3019 Echelon he remained with 402 squadron until 18 August 1942, when he went to 4 School of Technical Training and thence to 1651 Conversion Unit. He was promoted T/Sergeant Flight Engineer on 7th October 1942. and posted to 75 (NZ) Squadron on 13th October 1942. The medal on the right of his bar is the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp. This was for volunteering for active service and the maple leaf represents the clasp for service outside Canada. We are indebted to the Library and Archives Canada [William Joseph Lawrence R70294 RG24/ box 27957 ] for William's service record above. Short Stirling Mk3 R9245 c/s AA-N was delivered to No.75 (New Zealand) Sqdn 25/10/1942. Airborne 22:11 on 16/12/1942 from Newmarket to lay mines off Bordeaux. As the Stirling cleared the runway, its starboard undercarriage clipped the top of Devil's Dyke. The Dyke was 13' 6" high at that point but the aircraft hit four feet from the top. The oil tank of the starboard inner engine was knocked completely out of the airframe. With no oil it was just a few seconds running on full throttle before this was followed by engine failure. Out of control, the bomber spun in at 22:12, coming down about a mile from the airfield with its mine load exploding on impact. Five other Stirlings waiting to take-off had their missions cancelled. Probable cause was put at wind direction and long grass impeding the take off run, which although long, the initial climb of a fully laden Stirling was not sufficient to clear any obstacle. The aircraft had swung to port 30 degrees soon after starting, but was straightening as it took off. Sgt B.A.Franklin RNZAF KIA; Sgt W.J.Lawrence KIA; Sgt W.H.Whitcombe RNZAF KIA ;Sgt E.Harvey RNZAF KIA; Sgt H.R.Welch RNZAF KIA; Sgt E.J.Burridge KIA; Sgt T. Pascoe KIA 4 of the Commonwealth crewmen were buried in Newmarket, but Sgt E Harvey was buried in Lakenham, Norfolk |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details