Friday 11th January 2019 - Number 3365

Welcome to the Laws Family Blog  We reach out to all, regardless of Race, Colour, Creed, Gender & Orientation, or National Origin, with support for researching family history and documenting cultural inheritance.

Sarah Ann Laws nee' Fuller

1846-1924

My paternal Great Grandmother

Gone but not forgotten, this blog is dedicated 

to all those who have borne our illustrious

surnames LAWS and LAWES Worldwide

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LAWS FAMILY TREE

(maybe we already have)

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117,074 Events

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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.  

 'One Man's War.' 

One Mans War - A bit about the RAF – Part 5

In daylight the squadron flew as a ‘gaggle’ led by a Vic formation of three crews with some experience. In the air squadrons were led by flight lieutenants and on the ground by squadron leaders. The leading Vic formed an aiming point for the flak of course and it was while leading the squadron in daylight we suffered our only hit from flak.  This put one engine out of action and forced us hand over to number two and to creep back at a lower level on the remaining three engines which brought us safely home a little behind the rest. When you land on three engines everyone turns out to see the fun and we were greeted with ‘we didn’t expect to see you back’.

Our operational flying continued through February, March and April, the last trip being to Wangarooge on 25^th April, and the last op the squadron did just before the German surrender. After that it was a quick change, we did trips bomb dumping and some navigational practice including a trip over Hamburg and Kiel with one or two ground based colleagues from the squadron as passengers to see that it was all for real. Then we started taking aircraft over to Ireland for storage or disposal, so my last trip in a ‘Halifax’ was one hour to High Ercall on 22 June 1945.

 Now the squadron was to go on Transport and by 2^nd July I had done a course at Bramcote on using radio beacons for navigation, with just ten hours flying in Oxfords. 

On 3^rd July the crew and I had two and a half hours instruction on converting to the Short Stirling; we then had another four hours on our own getting used to them and doing circuits and bumps including three engine landings and flapless landings. 

Next day we had an hour and a half night flying, again landing on three engines. Presumably, we were now reckoned to be competent on Stirlings as our next flight a few days later was to Brackla where we picked up twenty-three passengers and brought them back to base. 

The Stirling V was an odd beast, sitting on a tall under-carriage, it had been lengthened by about five feet to give more load space. This had not improved the stability on take-off and landing and at touch down the pilot’s line of vision was fifteen feet or more above the ground making a good three-point landing more difficult. 

We no longer carried parachutes on transport work, which felt a bit strange at first. However, I got an unexpected bonus as I had been using an experimental backpack parachute in the Halifax. No one realised that this moved you forward about three inches in the seat thus impending the final three-point landing movement and resulting in too many poor landings. Now I was able to get the column right back and land a few that you didn’t feel touch-down. We had not yet moved into the era of tricycle under-carriages so keeping off the deck until the point of the stall was essential.

The squadron was being used to fly freight and troops out to India and back. Our normal Route was via Castel Benito Libya, in North Africa; Lydda (Palestine) and Shaiba at the top of the Persian Gulf to Mauripur (Karachi).

We had to do a freight run before we could be trusted with passengers, this was a bit more leisurely than the passenger trips and we found time to visit Jerusalem and see the sights. We engaged a guide who was standing by looking for tourists even in those days, and he took us around all the bits you are supposed to see. 

It was all very ancient but the tales and myths are strictly for believers and the guide finished up by taking us into a souvenir shop. Here they offered us little cups of sweet tea, locked the door behind us and showed us their wares. Cliff bought a little bible bound in olive wood to send to Louis in the States but we were not very good customers and went on our way.

In Karachi, we had a day mostly to do a bit of shopping for a few things that were unobtainable in the UK. This, of course, included carpets.

The exotic world of India was a revelation to us. Sacred cows wandered in the streets and lay down in the middle of the road if so inclined. They scarcely impeded the traffic, the few carts were drawn by oxen and there were very few motor vehicles. 

On a building site, women in colourful saris were carrying blocks on their heads to the bricklayers. 

One time we had to land at Cairo West instead of Lydda and visited the Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, though Cairo was out of bounds. Dave our flight engineer, climbed about half way up the great pyramid, but Cliff and I were content to stay at the bottom and watch. We entered into the spirit of the thing enough to have our photos taken sitting on a camel but that was our lot.

On the hot airfields in the Middle East, the longitudinal instability of the lengthened Stirling came into its own and it was said that you could find your way to India by following the trail of burnt out Stirlings. I knew one pilot who’d crashed two and got away with it. 

The heat also reduced their engine power and take-offs from Shaiba had to be done before dawn, even then power was reduced. I remember getting to the end of the flare path on the oiled and sanded runway with barely enough speed to pull the undercarriage up and hold off the deck, let alone climb until the reduced drag let us lift a little.

We got away with all these hazards except a little contretemps’ when we were diverted to Brussels on our way home, here the marshaller guiding us to a hard standing led us into an unlit barrel of tar which bent our tail wheel doors. There was no one here to repair this but there was a derelict Stirling standing at the edge of the airfield so we set to and acquired its tail wheel doors and replaced our damaged ones with them. 

This must have impressed the local CO as a congratulatory message was received back at the squadron. We managed to find time for a quick look at Brussels and the most impressive thing was the magnificent fruit on sale in the shops. It was less pleasing to see the profusion of harlots on display everywhere even four playing cards at a little table in a shop window.

Our trips to the east came to an end when the squadron came down from Stradishall and converted to Avro Yorks. We brought the old Stirlings down, loaded up to the eyebrows with furniture and other squadron equipment and of course our old kite decided to lose an engine as soon as we got off the deck, We crawled around the circuit and everyone turned out to watch us come in on three engines with our load of junk. All the practice we had done on three engines paid off however, and I got her down gently in one piece.

Only those who were prepared to sign on again when their turn for demobilisation came up were allowed to convert onto Yorks and this was really only for those who hoped to make flying their career. It seemed to me to have too many snags and I opted to get out as soon as possible. 

Till then I became a sort of officers mess treasurer, based on my alleged accounting know-how. It was quite nice at Stradishall and it was within cycling distance of Southgate so I got home frequently.

In due course, I collected my demob suit at Wembley and was back in Civvy Street.

The End  

 If you are interested in anyone listed in extracts from our database, 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.)

(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

The Registrar

               EXTRACTS FROM OUR DATABASE FOR TODAY 11th January 

    

Family Events

BIRTHS and BAPTISMS 

1601 - Baptism: John LAWES-28232, North Elham Norfolk England

1801 - Christen: William LAWS-7395, (Innkeeper) Folkestone Kent England

1840 - Birth: Thomas LAWS-3087, Chatteris Cambridgeshire England

1846 - Baptism: Robert  LAWS-3520, (Farmer) Stratton Strawless Norfolk England

1851 - Birth: George (Twin) LAWES-29523, & Elizabeth (Twin) LAWES-29524, Stockbridge Hampshire                   England


1870 - Birth: Percy Charles Willoughby LAWS-4546, (Pathologist)  Highgate Middlesex England

1874 - Birth: John LAWS-15457, (Farmer) Ramsey Huntingdonshire England

1874 - Birth: Martha Lavinia LAWS-6413, Acton Middlesex England

1886 - Birth: Edwin LAWS-25268, Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana United States

1889 - Birth: Grace Miriam LAWS-26432, (Hospital Nurse & Midwife) Dover Kent England

1894 - Birth: William LAWES-50409, (General Labourer) 

1894 - Birth: Frederick J LAWES-49017, (Builders Labourer)  

1894 - Birth: Edith LAWS-35798, 

1895 - Birth: Joseph William LAWS-19831, West Weber, Weber, Utah United States

1895 - Birth: Phillip Umfreville LAWS-3011, (ARMY Captain 27194) Basford Nottinghamshire England

1901 - Birth: James P LAWS-44811, (Patternmaker, Wood Engineering) 

1905 - Birth: Reginald Cyril LAWS-34057, (Taxi Driver)  Camberwell Surrey England

1907 - Birth: Eric John LAWS-8684, (Art Director Nottingham Castle)  Hickling, Melton Mowbray,                           Nottinghamshire England

1909 - Birth: Eleanor Althea LAWS-38531, Ponteland Northumberland England

1909 - Birth: George James Ernest LAWS-34487, Strood Kent England

1914 - Birth: George Arthur LAWES-12672, (Ag Lab) Chillhampton Wiltshire England

1917 - Birth: Joy Doris LAWS-47723, (Machinist) 

1918 - Birth: Charles Edgar LAWS-12894, (Australian Army) Erskineville New South Wales Australia

MARRIAGES

1837 - Marriage: John  ELKINGTON-26552 (A Widower) and Rebecca Ladson LAWS-26553, (A Widow)                 Oxford Oxfordshire England

1867 - Marriage: George LAWS-35379 and Louise PULLEN-35380, 

1880 - Marriage: Pierre Philippe-49467 and Victorine Louise LAWS-49466, Paris FRANCE

1889 - Marriage: Charles Edward NEWCOMBE-36148 and Mabel Grace LAWS-35593,  
           Bathurst New South Wales Australia

1907 - Marriage: James Ernest LAWS-33874 (Cement Worker)  and Ada Eliza AYRES-33875, Strood Kent               England

1908 - Marriage: Albert Victor LAWS-41083 (Sgt 1st 5th Fusiliers) and Julia DAVIS-41084, 
           Karachi Pakistan

1935 - Marriage: Thomas Richard TREWIN-3321 and Lillian Jane LAWS-3266, 

DEATHS and BURIALS

1817 - Burial: Mary LAWES-12676, Clifton Gloucestershire England

1863 - Death: Edward (Marine Stores-Dealer / Snr) LAWS-6009, Beccles Suffolk England

1886 - Burial: Robert LAWS-36425, Poole Dorset England

1893 - Burial: Louisa LAWS-3645, Parkstone Dorset England

1895 - Death: Catherine Florentia LAWS-18568, Saint Mosman Bay, New South Wales Australia

1902 - Death: John Philip LAWS-37304, Dubbo, Burial at Spicers Creek New South Wales Australia

1912 - Death: John F LAWS-24868, (Miner)  Purcell, Jasper County, Missouri United States

1922 - Death: Isabella LAWS-7803, (Elementary Teacher)  South Shields Durham England

1935 - Burial: Emily Jane LAWS-7940, (Spinster) Bath Somerset England

1939 - Death: Robert LAWS-3520, (Farmer) Hopton Norfolk, burial: Stratton Strawless Norfolk England

1940 - Death: Ernest Edward LAWS-3436, (Chauffeur)  Horstead Norfolk England

1941 - Death: George William LAWS-17756, (Electrical Apprentice) Whitby North Yorkshire England

1944 - Death: Henry Capel LAWS-6285, (Road Sweeper) Reading Berkshire, but Resident at 

           Caversham Berkshire England

1948 - Death: Horace Colville LAWS-22923, (Sugar Sales Director) Southampton Hampshire England

1952 - Death: Anthony LAWS-4657, Blaydon Durham England

1976 - Death: Jeffery Lyn LAWS-22781, Monticello, San Juan, Utah United States

1998 - Death: Bert N LAWS-16650, (PFC US Army)  

2000 - Death: David LAWS-16675, (S1C US Navy) 

2006 - Death: Talitha Nannie Frances LAWS-21399, Lexington North Carolina United States

2012 - Death: Joan Margaret LAWS-42826, Albury New South Wales Australia

MISCELLANEOUS

1915 - Enlistment: Robert LAWS-28870, 

1915 - Residence: Thomas LAWS-28869, (ARMY Private 16891) Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland                     England

1915 - Military: Malcolm William LAWS-26564, (Woolcomber - ARMY Private 17/1158) West Yorkshire                   Regiment (Prince of Wales Own)

1963 - Admon: William Joseph LAWS-26793, (Clerk in Cash Office)  

OTHER BIRTHS

1838 - Birth: Mary Ann CLEGG-25816, Ashton under Lyme Lancashire England

1847 - Birth: Mary Ann SMITH-17224, Wollombi, New South Wales Australia

1865 - Birth: Elizabeth BULMAN-15704, 

1898 - Birth: Cecil SEELEY-21915, Brumby Lincolnshire England

1909 - Birth: Kathleen Violet BROWN-46728

OTHER MARRIAGES 

1843 - Marriage: William LANG-17831 and Frances Catherine STARK-2828, Calcutta Bengal India

OTHER DEATHS and BURIALS

1672 - Death: Katherine BOZMAN-12408, Northampton Virginia United States

1925 - Death: Hannah JACKSON-8615, Mackay Queensland Australia

1981 - Death: Grace Myrtle PARRIS-27334, Harlow Essex England

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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. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you find anyone?

whether it's yes or no, we'd still love to hear from you.

 Mail us at

Registrar

  -----------'Welches Dam, Cambridgeshire England ---------

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.

Sharon Nicola LAWS

2008 Olympics Cyclist

Environmental adviser for Rio Tinto Zinc 

1974-2017

R I P

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registrar@lawsfamilyregister.org.uk

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