Lawrie, A W E (Anthony, Wyndham, Evans)
Lawrie, A W E (Anthony, Wyndham, Evans)
Lieutenant Anthony, Wyndham, Evans Lawrie was the son of Edward McConnel Wyndham Lawrie and Ethel Winifred Lawrie, husband of Joan Lawrie.
On 28th of June 1944, three naval officers of 836 squadron, boarded a Fairey Swordfish,[1] LS182 at HMS Shrike/RNAS Maydown.[2] Onboard was Lieutenant Lawrie, RNVR, Lieutenant H D Hodkinson, RNVR and the pilot Lieutenant Commander R W Slater (OBE, DSC), Royal Navy, was also the commanding officer of the squadron.
Just after taking off the plane struck powerlines, crashed, and burst into flames, killing all three men.
The bodies of the airmen where later recovered, and they received full military funerals when laid to rest. Lieutenant Lawrie was laid to rest in Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Lieutenant H D Hodkinson[3] in Northumberland, Ovingham Burial Ground, Grave 793. and Commander R W Slater (OBE, DSC)[4] is remembered on the Lee-On-Solvent Memorial.
Date of Death: Died 28/06/1944 (Aged 27)
Service: Lieutenant, 836 Squadron, H.M.S. Shrike, Royal Navy
Service Number: NK
Burial Location: Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard, Grave 17.
[1] The Fairey Swordfish was a medium-sized biplane torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that made its flight during April 1934 and later retired during May 1945.
[2] Originally called RAF Maydown, this was a satellite station to nearby RAF Eglinton and was opened in 1942 and then transferred the navy air arm during May 1943. It would provide protection to merchant ships travelling across the northern Atlantic routes.
[3] Lieutenant Harold Denis Hodkinson (DSC) (Aged 27) was the son of Davies Ramsbottom Hodkinson and Julia Ethel Hodkinson; husband of Cecilia Margot Hodkinson, of Monkseaton.
[4] Lieutenant Commander Ransford Ward Slater (OBE, DSC) (Aged 30) was the youngest son of the late Sir Ransford Slater, (GCMG, CBE), and Lady Slater, husband of Katharine Mason Slater (King), of Alderley Edge, Cheshire.
