Lawrence, William John

Date of birth:: September 7th, 1918 (Pakan/Alberta, Canada)
Date of death:: November 23rd, 1943 (Ter Apel/Groningen, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Ter Apel
Plot: A. Row: 20. Grave: 384.
Service number:: J/20164
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

William was born on September 7 1918 in Pakan Alberta, the son of William Amos and Emily Lawrence nee Wilson of Waskatenau Alberta. His brother was James Gilbert Lawrence and his sisters were Margaret Mary Kuklo and Emily Jean Lawrence.
He was a farmer labourer and member of the United Church.
His hobby was stockbreeding and his sport was softball.

He served as a Private from November 21 1940 till December 20 1940 with The Edmonton Regiment of The Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada. He enlisted on July 3 1941 then the RCAF in Edmonton and he went thereafter on November 22 1942 from New York USA overseas to the UK.

William was killed in action on Tuesday November 23 1943 age 25 due to a crash at the Westerstraat 25 in Ter Apel before or after an attack on Berlin in Germany.

The other fallen RCAF crew members were Fl/Lt Henry K. Lefroy (DFC) age 24 in grave A-20-381, W/O Joseph G.S. Kavanaugh age 25 in grave A-20- 385, P/O James G. Odell age 28 in grave A-20-383 and F/Lt Raymond A. Gardiner age 23 in grave A-20-386.
The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was P/O Peter J.M. Scott age 27 in grave A-20-382.
The other RAF crew member F/Lt C.W. Cole (DFC) survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war.

He served with the 405 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force.

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