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Dear Ancestor
Your tombstone stands amongst the rest, neglected and alone,
The names and dates are chiseled out on polished, marble stone.
It reaches out to all who care, it is too late to mourn.
You did not know that I exist, you died and I was born.
Yet each of us, are cells of you, in flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse not entirely our own.
Dear Ancestor
The place you filled one hundred years ago,
Spreads out amongst the ones you left, who would have loved you so.
I wonder if you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew.
That someday,
I would find this spot and come to visit you.
One Man’s War – A bit about the RAF
by
John Robert Laws
1921-2008
I was seventeen when WWII began, some twenty-one years after WWI had ended. It had been becoming inevitable for some time. A year’s respite had been gained by Neville Chamberlain’s trip to Munich but that didn’t do much good in the long run. At Eleven o’clock on that sunny Sunday morning the third of September he broadcast his declaration of war against Germany. About ten minutes later the air raid sirens sounded – a false alarm but the nervous went scuttling into the newly dug Anderson shelters in their gardens.
The occupation of Poland took the German army only a few weeks and then we were into the ‘phoney war’ when very little appeared to be happening in mainland Europe. The sea war of attrition started and clothing and petrol rationing were introduced. I had been working in the city for a couple of years articled to a small firm of Chartered Accountants. Young men were being called up into the forces and all businesses suffered a degree of disruption. The firm seemed to slow down and I often had time available to go to the Students Room at the Institute to study. From time to time I travelled to provincial towns to work on audits there.
The blackout was even more noticeable in unfamiliar towns than at home but the difficulty caused by the cutting down on vehicle headlights was limited by the small number of vehicles and petrol rationing.
The blackout was even more noticeable in unfamiliar towns than at home but the difficulty caused by the cutting down on vehicle headlights was limited by the small number of vehicles and petrol rationing.
The war burst into action, with the German armoured offensive that outflanked the Maginot line and led to the fall of France and the evacuation from Dunkirk.
I was having a cycling holiday in Devon and Cornwall, mostly in beautiful sunshine with scarcely a motor car to be seen. Tea in the Doone Valley, as much as you could eat for a shilling and bed and breakfast for three shillings and sixpence, a four-poster bed and the loo in the garden.
I was having a cycling holiday in Devon and Cornwall, mostly in beautiful sunshine with scarcely a motor car to be seen. Tea in the Doone Valley, as much as you could eat for a shilling and bed and breakfast for three shillings and sixpence, a four-poster bed and the loo in the garden.
The first I saw of the real war was one sunny weekend afternoon. I was out on my own in the Hertfordshire countryside when the distant rumble of engines made me look up, and there, far above me, were formations of silvery aircraft swinging to the south where they let go their bombs on the London docks with devastating effect. This must have been early September 1940. The Battle of Britain followed and then the night bombing of London. A blackout had been in force from the beginning of the war, but London was a pretty broad target. The bombers were unopposed at first but before long the anti-aircraft were in place and then the noise was intense though somewhat comforting. If one were out at night it often seemed that the showers of shell splinters from the anti-aircraft barrage were a greater hazard than the bombs.
I often used to ride my bike home from my girlfriend’s to the accompaniment of the patter of shrapnel on the rooftops. In late December the warehouse area of the city burned in a fire raid which we could see from North London. When I went to work in the city the next morning the firemen were still hard at it and I saw that the place where my father worked was just debris with the rest.
I often used to ride my bike home from my girlfriend’s to the accompaniment of the patter of shrapnel on the rooftops. In late December the warehouse area of the city burned in a fire raid which we could see from North London. When I went to work in the city the next morning the firemen were still hard at it and I saw that the place where my father worked was just debris with the rest.
Men became liable to call-up for the forces at gradually lower ages and Bill Bush and I decided that it wasn’t worth waiting for call up with little choice what you did, so early in 1941, we went up to the recruiting office at Kings Cross and joined the RAF. We both got accepted as aircrew and it was not long till we had to report for training.
We were separated from the word go as Bill was recommended for a commission and I wasn’t. When it came to the crunch it finally worked out the other way around.
We were separated from the word go as Bill was recommended for a commission and I wasn’t. When it came to the crunch it finally worked out the other way around.
Training facilities were overloaded and so, after some basic training of square-bashing and arms drill, we landed up in other jobs. One started off with the rank of AC2 there was nothing lower, and the pay of pennies a day paid out fortnightly at a pay parade. I did my basic training at Skegness which was certainly bracing but there was nothing difficult about marching up and down and sticking bayonets into bags of straw.
This done I was posted to Mildenhall to work as an armourer. All I remember of it was that we took the bombs from the bomb dump to the aircraft on trolleys and rode on them around the perimeter track pulled by a tractor. The aircraft were Vickers Wellingtons of 149 Squadron and had a gun turret in the tail with four browning which took a long ribbon of ammunition.
I wasn’t trusted to deal with this as I had no training at all as an armourer.
This done I was posted to Mildenhall to work as an armourer. All I remember of it was that we took the bombs from the bomb dump to the aircraft on trolleys and rode on them around the perimeter track pulled by a tractor. The aircraft were Vickers Wellingtons of 149 Squadron and had a gun turret in the tail with four browning which took a long ribbon of ammunition.
I wasn’t trusted to deal with this as I had no training at all as an armourer.
After a little while, I was put on a pre-EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School) course at South Cerney in Gloucestershire, I remember nothing of the course but it must have been May because the horse chestnuts were in full bloom in the park of the big house at Cirencester. Queen Mary was staying there and did some sort of inspection in the town. Being long in the leg I got put in the Guard of Honour and saw the old bird at close quarters. The only other thing of note at South Cerney was that swimming was available in a large water-filled gravel pit for a very small charge; I used to go there with two or three other keen types and swim around in the sunshine in the biggest pool we were ever likely to use. We didn’t ask how deep it was, but it was undoubtedly for confident swimmers only.
To be continued tomorrow
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Dear Reader, we are happy to work on your
LAWS FAMILY TREE
(maybe we already have)
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Hi everyone, our database has
48,868 Folks - an increase of 20 this week
16,054 Families - an increase of 5,
116,594 Events - an increase of over 64,
All in 10,980 Places
Is your LAWS family amongst them?
Did one of your family marry, into one of these,
Mail us today with your inquiry. we'd be glad to help you.
Enquires are still very welcome, so please e-mail us at
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PLEASE NOTE GDPR (2018) PRIVACY TERMS
We have excluded records of living people to protect their Privacy. We only show births before 1920 and marriages before 1940. If you are interested in anyone listed here, email us with the name, dates and reference number, and we will happily do a lookup. We are happy to help you with your, Laws or Lawes research, and in certain instances, we may be willing to undertake private research on your behalf. We will be happy to publish in this blog the stories of your Laws or Lawes research, and also to list members of the Laws or Lawes family you are searching for. (Subject to the rule above.)
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EXTRACTS FROM OUR DATABASE FOR TODAY 1st OCTOBER
(Please note all spelling is British English)
Please also note we have several hundred LAWS & LAWES who were alive 29 September 1939
so mail us with your inquiries registrar@lawsfamilyregister.org.uk
Family Events
BIRTHS and BAPTISMS
Please also note we have several hundred LAWS & LAWES who were alive 29 September 1939
so mail us with your inquiries registrar@lawsfamilyregister.org.uk
Family Events
BIRTHS and BAPTISMS
1769 - Christen: Thomas LAWS-6771, South Shields, Durham, England
1838 - Birth: Anthony Knight LAWS-23580, (Master Mariner - Captain - Dredger Master) Sunderland Durham England
1854 - Birth: John George LAWES-45863, (Fish Fryer) Bath Somerset England
1861 - Birth: Thomas John LAWES-9391, (RN 101738 Navy Writer) Honeyborough Pembrokeshire Wales
1864 - Birth: Francis William LAWS-5746, (Company Director & Freeman ) Islington Middlesex England
1882 - Birth: Edwin Ernest LAWES-78, (House Painter) Southampton Hampshire England
1886 - Birth: Henry LAWS-22635, Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland England
1892 - Birth: Albert Frederick Horatio LAWS-23109, (Locomotive Driver London Tilbury & Southend Railway) West Ham Essex England
1893 - Birth: Arthur James LAWES-23896, (Carter on Farm) Tadley Hampshire England
1903 - Birth: Thomas William LAWS-2667, Carbon Wyoming United States
1910 - Birth: Reginald D LAWS-43926, (Country Despatch Packer)
1917 - Birth: Peter John Douglas LAWS-36165, Lambeth Surrey England
1919 - Birth: Dennis Harry LAWES-47, (Electrical Contractor)Basingstoke Hampshire England
1910 - Birth: Reginald D LAWS-43926, (Country Despatch Packer)
1917 - Birth: Peter John Douglas LAWS-36165, Lambeth Surrey England
1919 - Birth: Dennis Harry LAWES-47, (Electrical Contractor)Basingstoke Hampshire England
MARRIAGES
1721 - Marriage: William HUGGINS-2191 and Mary LAWES-2192, Ketteringham Norfolk England
1722 - Marriage: Issac LAWS-11968 and Jane HAMILTON-11970, Stella Gate Durham England
1803 - Marriage: John MOODY-10550 and Mary LAWES-10549, Shiplake Oxfordshire England
1863 - Marriage: John FRANCIS-20278 and Dinah Frances LAWES-759, Coombe Bissett Wiltshire England
1887 - Marriage: Benjamin Glover LAWS-3491 (Solicitors Clerk) and Kate Gertrude
BARROW-15522, (Music Teacher) Edmonton Middlesex England
1918 - Marriage: George Nixon LAWS-16760 (Army) and Catherine Ethel BROTHERTON-16761, Ashington Northumberland England
1898 - Marriage: James Horatio (Colour Seargent in Royal Glamorgan Militia) LAWS-5190 and Sarah Jane BROWN-16113, West Ham Essex England
1927 - Marriage: Arthur C LAWS-50065 and Gladys Viola Davis HOWARD-50066, Adams New York United States
1927 - Marriage: John RICHARDSON-22503 and Doris LAWS-22502,
DEATHS and BURIALS
1891 - Death: Annie Josephine LAWS-40874,
1918 - Death: Ernest Henry LAWES-22191, (ARMY Private 30249) 1919 - Burial: William James LAWS-34336, (Gardener) Longfleet Dorset England
1920 - Burial: George B LAWS-16706, (PVT D 93 ENG US Army) San Francisco California United States
1921 - Death: James Alfred LAWS-4727, (Excavator Chalk) Plucks Gutter, Stourmouth Kent England
1932 - Death: Charlotte Emily LAWS-8218, Glasgow Lanarkshire England
1940 - Death: George Henry LAWS-22279, (ARMY Private 4463046)
1947 - Death: Burnett LAWS-34524, (Farmer) (DSO) Lloydminster SK CANADA
1950 - Death: Charles Ambrose Edward LAWES-17718, (Stock Exchange Clerk) Edgware Middlesex England
1951 - Death: John Humpish LAWS-38960, Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland England
1961 - Death: George Nixon LAWS-16760, (Army) Brisbane Queensland Australia
1965 - Death: Henry LAWES-40963, Marysville York Co New Brunswick CANADA
1989 - Death: Hubert Christopher Belgium LAWS-14635, Dubbo New South Wales Australia
1996 - Death: Edward Frank LAWS-36120, (Railwayman was known as Frank Edward) Plymouth Devonshire England
2004 - Burial: Staci Michelle LAWS-20458, Fort Smith Arkansas United States
1940 - Death: George Henry LAWS-22279, (ARMY Private 4463046)
1947 - Death: Burnett LAWS-34524, (Farmer) (DSO) Lloydminster SK CANADA
1950 - Death: Charles Ambrose Edward LAWES-17718, (Stock Exchange Clerk) Edgware Middlesex England
1951 - Death: John Humpish LAWS-38960, Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland England
1961 - Death: George Nixon LAWS-16760, (Army) Brisbane Queensland Australia
1965 - Death: Henry LAWES-40963, Marysville York Co New Brunswick CANADA
1989 - Death: Hubert Christopher Belgium LAWS-14635, Dubbo New South Wales Australia
1996 - Death: Edward Frank LAWS-36120, (Railwayman was known as Frank Edward) Plymouth Devonshire England
2004 - Burial: Staci Michelle LAWS-20458, Fort Smith Arkansas United States
MISCELLANEOUS
1913 - Residence: Jessie LAWS-22933, (Nurse, Spinster) The Old House, Mayfield Sussex England
1915 - Residence: Robert LAWS-41676, (Car Repairer / Canadian Army Private 124038 St Thomas Ontario Canada
1915 - Residence: Robert LAWS-41676, (Car Repairer / Canadian Army Private 124038 St Thomas Ontario Canada
1854 - Baptism: Abigail KELLY-9267, Lonan, Isle of Man
1866 - Birth: Sarah MURRAY-5941, North Shields Northumberland England
1881 - Birth: Catherine Anne KENNEDY-41577, Darjeeling India
1888 - Birth: Alice Jane WELHAM-39044, Stratford St Mary, Suffolk England
1909 - Birth: Constance Irene BOWLING-42240,
1912 - Birth: Gladys A JONES-40279, (Theatre Barmaid)
1916 - Baptism: Florence Alice BENT-20058, Malden Road
1866 - Birth: Sarah MURRAY-5941, North Shields Northumberland England
1881 - Birth: Catherine Anne KENNEDY-41577, Darjeeling India
1888 - Birth: Alice Jane WELHAM-39044, Stratford St Mary, Suffolk England
1909 - Birth: Constance Irene BOWLING-42240,
1912 - Birth: Gladys A JONES-40279, (Theatre Barmaid)
1916 - Baptism: Florence Alice BENT-20058, Malden Road
OTHER MARRIAGES
1789 - Death: Mary RICHES-2843, Faituck Norfolk England
1885 - Death: Edward Percival MOONEY-24996, (Policeman 63391) Poplar Middlesex England
1925 - Death: Emily WITT-36050, Launcester, Tasmania Australia
1939 - Death: George CROOK-22521, East Harling Norfolk England
1957 - Death: Ada Margaret CANDLISH-39283, North Shields Northumberland England
1957 - Death: David Winder SMALL-18569, Watford Hertfordshire England
1986 - Death: Mary BELL-43412, Avondale, Maricopa County Arkansas United States
1996 - Death: Dorothy Lorina H THROWER-33052, Great Yarmouth Norfolk England
1939 - Death: George CROOK-22521, East Harling Norfolk England
1957 - Death: Ada Margaret CANDLISH-39283, North Shields Northumberland England
1957 - Death: David Winder SMALL-18569, Watford Hertfordshire England
1986 - Death: Mary BELL-43412, Avondale, Maricopa County Arkansas United States
1996 - Death: Dorothy Lorina H THROWER-33052, Great Yarmouth Norfolk England
Did you find anyone?
whether it's yes or no, we'd still love to hear from you.
Mail us at
whether it's yes or no, we'd still love to hear from you.
Mail us at
Lord, help me dig into the past and sift the sands of time.
That I might find the roots that made this family tree of mine.
Lord, help me trace the ancient roads, on which our fathers trod.
Which led them through so many lands, to find our present sod.
that missing link between some name that ends the same as mine
Lord help me find an ancient book or dusty manuscript,
that's safely hidden now away, in some forgotten crypt.
Lord, let it bridge the gap that haunts my soul when I can't find,
that missing link between some name, that ends the same as mine.
2008 Olympics Cyclist
Environmental adviser for Rio Tinto Zinc
1974-2017
R I P
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www.one-name.org
registrar@lawsfamilyregister.org.uk
With grateful thanks to Simon Knott
for permission to reproduce his photographs on this site see
http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/
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The United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024.
We reach out to all regardless of race, color, creed, orientation or national origin with support for researching family and documenting cultural inheritance
The United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024.
We reach out to all regardless of race, color, creed, orientation or national origin with support for researching family and documenting cultural inheritance
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