Nicholson, Lawrence Henry
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Lawrence Henry |
Surname | Nicholson |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-08-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Laurence Nicholson and Catherine Ellen Nicholson (née Plant), of Kingston upon Hull. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling I |
Serial Number | R9329 |
Markings | OJ-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hull Northern Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Compt. 219. Grave 41. |
Epitaph | HIS THE SUPREME SACRIFICE, THE GIFT OF HIS UNFINISHED LIFE. DEARLY LOVED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 219 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1353479 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 149 (East India) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Public Footpath, Lutton, Devon |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of a Stirling bomber of 149 Sqn RAF, which crashed here 21st August 1942 |
Location | St. George's Church, Methwold, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour & inscribed window |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour of 149 Sqn RAF and a window remembering the men and women of all Nations who served at RAF Methwold, 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Lawrence was born in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, on 3rd December 1920, the eldest of six children. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 12th July 1940 (Service Number 1353479). He was initially trained as a Ground Gunner, in what was to become The R.A.F. Regiment, and served at RAF bases at Aldergrove, Ballymena and Limavady in Northern Ireland before volunteering for aircrew duties. He started his Air Gunners' training in November 1941 at No. 14 Initial Training Wing based at Bridlington. He then was posted to No. 9 Air Gunnery School, RAF Llandrog in Wales and qualified as an Air Gunner on 19th June 1942. Lawrence was posted to 149 Squadron, based at Lakenheath Suffolk, on 28th June 1942. He flew the first of his twelve operations on 2nd July 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1002/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1002/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-08-1942 |
End Date | 21-08-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Lakenheath |
Day/Night Raid | Night (67% moon) |
Operation | Mining off the French coast |
Reason for Loss | Crashed 19 miles WSW of Torbay, Devon. It is believed the aircraft may have been hit by AA fire while flying over Plymouth on its return |