LAWSON, William Henry

Known as: 
Bill
Rank: 
Private
Unit / Base: 
2 Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Sussex Regiment
Service: 
Army
Number: 
6401966
P.O.W. number: 
18576
Born: 
Thursday, May 15, 1919
Birthplace: 
Sheerness, Kent
Died : 
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Place died: 
Kent
Age: 
88
Pte Bill Lawson 2 Commando
Private William Lawson from Sheerness in Kent joined the Army aged 20 at the outbreak of war. He was wounded on 17 June1940 serving with the 6th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk, France. Evacuated back to the UK and after recovery from his wounds he volunteered for Special Service and joined 1 troop of No.2 Commando. On 28 March 1942 Bill embarked on Motor Launch ML 457 for Operation Chariot at St. Nazaire. Reported missing after the raid he was later found to be a prisoner of war.
 
Sources
Casualty Lists / National Archives file WO417/15.
St Nazaire Society.
Casualty Lists  / National Archives file WO417/43.
Prisoners of War 1715-1945 / National Archives file WO392/1.
Report in the Sheerness Times Guardian 18 June 1943.
Image and copies of family papers and photos from Bill's Family and Rose Street Cottage of Curiosities, Sheerness.
 

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