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.
Gone but not forgotten, this blog is dedicated
to all those who have borne our illustrious
surnames LAWS and LAWES Worldwide
Robert Henry Laws
1828-1891
My paternal great-grandfather
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Reader, we are happy to work on your
LAWS FAMILY TREE
(maybe we already have)
---------------------------------------------------
Our database has
49,009 Folks
16,115 Families
117,074 Events
All in 10,609 Places
Is your LAWS family amongst them?
Did one of your family marry, into one of these LAWS families?
Mail us today with your inquiry. we'd be glad to help you.
-------------------------------
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.' starts Today 7th January 2019
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.
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.
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.
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
EXTRACTS FROM OUR DATABASE FOR TODAY 7th January
Family Events
BIRTHS and BAPTISMS
BIRTHS and BAPTISMS
1749 - Christen: Abraham LAWES-16972, Bethnal Green Middlesex England
1849 - Baptism: Emma Louisa LAWS-12422, Great Yarmouth Norfolk England
1858 - Birth: Sarah J LAWS-44204, (incapacitated)
1861 - Birth: Mary Gertrude Laws-11656,
1867 - Birth: George Mortimer LAWS-12654,
1883 - Birth: Simon Edward LAWS-3865, (Apprenticed Fitter) Port Clarence Durham
England
1883 - Christen: Anna Elizabeth LAWS-2637, Felthorpe Norfolk England
1886 - Birth: Walter Harry LAWS-2706, Felthorpe Norfolk England
1900 - Birth: Winifred J LAWS-47839, (Shipping Office Typist)
1901 - Birth: Harold Edward LAWS-27373, (Coal Dealer on own account) Howden East Yorkshire England
1908 - Birth: John Robert LAWS-28915, (Fish Merchants Clerk) Cleethorpes Lincolnshire England
1909 - Birth: Frederick LAWS-32633, (Metal Erector & Fitter) Fulham Middlesex England
1912 - Birth: Eric Douglas LAWES-46957, (Assistant to Chief Accountant - Reuters)
1913 - Birth: James LAWS-44476, (Motor Lorry Driver - Furniture)
1849 - Baptism: Emma Louisa LAWS-12422, Great Yarmouth Norfolk England
1858 - Birth: Sarah J LAWS-44204, (incapacitated)
1861 - Birth: Mary Gertrude Laws-11656,
1867 - Birth: George Mortimer LAWS-12654,
1883 - Birth: Simon Edward LAWS-3865, (Apprenticed Fitter) Port Clarence Durham
England
1883 - Christen: Anna Elizabeth LAWS-2637, Felthorpe Norfolk England
1886 - Birth: Walter Harry LAWS-2706, Felthorpe Norfolk England
1900 - Birth: Winifred J LAWS-47839, (Shipping Office Typist)
1901 - Birth: Harold Edward LAWS-27373, (Coal Dealer on own account) Howden East Yorkshire England
1908 - Birth: John Robert LAWS-28915, (Fish Merchants Clerk) Cleethorpes Lincolnshire England
1909 - Birth: Frederick LAWS-32633, (Metal Erector & Fitter) Fulham Middlesex England
1912 - Birth: Eric Douglas LAWES-46957, (Assistant to Chief Accountant - Reuters)
1913 - Birth: James LAWS-44476, (Motor Lorry Driver - Furniture)
MARRIAGES
1765 - Marriage: Mathias LAWS-6964 and Ann WALLER-6965, Norwich Norfolk England
1813 - Marriage: William LAWS-11768 (Widower) and Maria POTTER-11767, (Widow) Coslany Norfolk England
1833 - Marriage: Gilbert LAWSE-11774 and Belinda ARCHER-11773, Norwich Norfolk England
1834 - Marriage: Algernon LAWES-732 (Livery Stable Keeper) and Sarah BLOFIELD-733, Norwich Norfolk England
1840 - Marriage: Paul LAWS-13195 (Land Labourer) and Sarah BAXTER-13196, Norwich Norfolk England
1849 - Marriage: Edward LAWS-9531 and Sarah Lacey ALLEN-9208, Dymchurch Kent England
1903 - Marriage: William Thomas ROBERTS-41475 and Virgina Frances LAWS-41474, Orange County North Carolina United States
1912 - Marriage: William LAWS-20855 and Amy Georgina NEWBERY-20856,
Carisbroke Isle of Wight England
1732 - Burial: William LAWS-7543, Saint James Clerkenwell Middlesex England
1780 - Death: William LAWS-41633, Wilkes County North Carolina United States
1861 - Death: Rebecca LAWS-4033, (Widow) Southampton Hampshire England
1877 - Death: Thomas LAWS-25854, (Infant) Quarrington Hill Durham England
1886 - Death: John Howard LAWS-5790, (Upholsterer) Paddington Middlesex England
1913 - Death: Thomas LAWES-1147, (Wholesale Cabinet Maker (British Citizen)
Reigate Surrey England
1877 - Death: Thomas LAWS-25854, (Infant) Quarrington Hill Durham England
1886 - Death: John Howard LAWS-5790, (Upholsterer) Paddington Middlesex England
1913 - Death: Thomas LAWES-1147, (Wholesale Cabinet Maker (British Citizen)
Reigate Surrey England
1938 - Death: Herbert Maurice LAWS-9436, (5th Eng / Seaman) Ilford Essex England
1946 - Death: Aaron Cornelius LAWS-25069,
1948 - Burial: Kate Florence LAWS-12050, Falkner Green Memorial Park, Victoria Australia
1948 - Death: William Clay LAWS-11238, Lockhart, Caldwell, Texas United States
1948 - Death: Caroline LAWS-2972, (Spinster) Stockton-On-Tees Durham England
1951 - Death: Osborne Thomas LAWES-10184, (Engineers Labourer) Norwich Norfolk England
1952 - Death: Charlotte LAWS-46839, Dundee Angus Scotland
1974 - Death: Thomas LAWS-19748,
1974 - Death: Curtis C LAWS-16669, (S1 US Navy)
1981 - Death: Adolph Charles LAWS-13387, Salmon Arm British Columbia CANADA
1989 - Death: Brian LAWS-48101, Hull East Yorkshire England
2003 - Death: James A LAWS-32528,
2004 - Death: Natalie Hope LAWS-13504, Burnsville, Yancy County, North Carolina United States
2003 - Death: James A LAWS-32528,
2004 - Death: Natalie Hope LAWS-13504, Burnsville, Yancy County, North Carolina United States
1888 - Will: Elizabeth LAWS-17571,
OTHER BIRTHS
1838 - Birth: Frederic MILES-24035, (Labourer/Coachman) Abingdon Berkshire England
1842 - Birth: Thomas Laws HOWE-7017, Great Yarmouth Norfolk England
1888 - Birth: Eleanor Wright ROBSON-45699,
1909 - Birth: Robert Ley MOODY-45023, Surbiton Surrey England
1913 - Birth: Violet Evelyn PALMER-46734, Salisbury, Wiltshire England
1888 - Birth: Eleanor Wright ROBSON-45699,
1909 - Birth: Robert Ley MOODY-45023, Surbiton Surrey England
1913 - Birth: Violet Evelyn PALMER-46734, Salisbury, Wiltshire England
OTHER MARRIAGES
1855 - Marriage: George James ELL-11462 (Baker) and Annie Maria ELL-11463, (Baker & Confectioner)
OTHER DEATHS and BURIALS
1849 - Death: Lettice SCOTT-21434,
1921 - Death: Catherine Jane MERRITT-4821, Watford Hertfordshire England
1921 - Death: Catherine Jane MERRITT-4821, Watford Hertfordshire England
1940 - Death: Joseph Bird CLEGG-7113, (Hairdresser) Stalybridge Cheshire England
1979 - Death: Herbert Charles WOOD-11583,
1994 - Death: Ann I DAVISON-44398, Sunderland Durham England
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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
-----------'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
The content provided on this site is not guaranteed to be error free
It is always advised that you consult original records.
Member of The Guild of One-Name Studies
THE GUILD OF ONE-NAME STUDIES
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/
We support
INVICTUS and Help for Heroes
"This organization recognizes:-
The United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024.
We reach out to all regardless of race, colour, creed, orientation or national origin with support for researching family history and documenting cultural inheritance"
Comments
Post a Comment