Those who Served
F/O William Morris Lacey . Royal Canadian Air Force pilot 419 Sqd. (d.13th Jun 1944) |
Lt. Skipper. George Ladley DSC. . Royal Naval Reserve HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940) My Great Great Uncle George Ladley was a Lt. skipper on board the
vessel when it sank. I wondered if anybody had any information regarding
him or if they can advise me where to find the information. I would be
grateful for any help or advice. |
Sub Lt. Thomas Ellis Ladner . Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve HMS Forfar Sub Lt Ladner was amongst the survivors when the Forfar was torpedoed on the 2nd of December 1940 |
Mike Alexander Laffin . Royal Canadian Air Force 434 Sqd. |
Sergeant George LaForme . RCAF 59 Squadron |
P/O Alain Laidlaw . RCAF pilot 50 Sqd |
Seaman William Laird . Royal Navy HMS Penelope I was serving on HMS Penelope when she was torpedoed by a German U Boat and sunk at Anzio on the 18th of Febuary 1944. I was firing a pom pom gun at the time and didint realise that we had been hit. I survived by the Grace of God
I now live in Lanarkshire, Scotland and I will never forget the men who served with me. |
William "Wullie" Laird . Royal Navy HMS Penelope My friend Wullie Laird was on HMS Penelope when she was torpedoed and sunk at Anzio on the 18th of Feb 1944 he was still at the the pom pom gun when she was going down. He only realised what had happened when the ship was hit by the second torpedo and it started to fall over on its side. He jumped and slid down the side of the ship and into the water and found himself swimming for his life. There were hundreds of men clinging to anything that was floating and he managed to cling to a pole with other men. Lots of men were grabbing on to any space that was available and a young sailor who couldn't swim threw himself on top of it.
Wullie was only 21yrs old himself and managed to persuade the young sailor to cling on to the side of the pole so that others could grab a space on it and stay afloat. There was a lot of shouting and swearing and screaming all around and he said at one point he felt himself drowning and managed by some miracle to stay afloat. We were in the water for three hours he said and the oil was killing lots of men.
Wullie joined the navy at the young age of 17yrs and 6 months and his first ship was HMS Penelope, and it was always in the thick of it. He survived the war and is still living in Airdrie in Scotland. He is a friend to be proud of and has a great sense of humour. He is a gentle man from the old school. We all love Wullie he has a heart of gold. We can never repay the people who who gave everything for our future and we should never forget. |
Gunner Charles Alfred "Lakey" Lake . Army 151st Ayrshire Yeomanry Royal Artillery from Skegness, Lincolnshire) My Grandfather was a Gunner in HQ Battery, 151st Ayrshire Yeomanry, 11th Armored Division, British Army. He fought in Normandy and in Holland before pushing into Germany until the War ended when he went to India. I recall a story he told me which I haven't forgotten. He gave me permission to share his story.
He and his outfit were stationed in Caen just after D-Day. The regiment was then given the word to advance to a new posistion. In the process a random shell had fallen and wounded a nearby despatch rider. My Grandfather was ordered to tend to the man, whilst the rest of his outfit moved forward. He stayed with him and used his field dressing to bandage the mans numerous wounds until medical personnel arrived. When they arrived they took over. "I'd done my bit", and he went about finding his unit. "I knew roughly where they were". He followed their tracks and after a couple of hours of walking he found them after crossing through a large field. He reported to his battery office and continued his normal duties.
Overnight the Royal Engineers had been in and cordened off a field in white tape, indicating it was a minefield. When my Grandfather woke he saw the tape and the field, "I nearly had a fit when I saw it". He had realised he had walked across 5 acres of mine field to rejoin his unit.
When I asked him "so after you'd walked through the field you realised it was a minefield" he replied "Yes, after my afternoon stroll through the minefield".
"Thats what serving in the forces is all about, luck".
After hearing this story I shall never again complain about my familys lack of luck. It was used when needed most. |
Capt. H. N. Lake . Royal Navy HMS Forfar Capt Lake was the captain of HMS Forfar in June 1940 when she sailed from the Clyde to join the Northern Patrol. |
Stan Lake . Royal Navy HMS Penelope Stan survived the sinking of HMS Penelope, he served onboard her with my brother Elijah. Stan is mentioned in a letter Elijah sent home after the loss of the ship. |
Fred Lamareau . Royal Canadian Air Force bomb aimer 419 Sqd. |
Arthur William Lamb . Royal Navy HMS Hunter from London) My Dad, Arthur Lamb who served on HMS Hunter for part of his time in WW2. He told us many stories and was proud of the time he served for his country.
He had many photos that he showed us all and never forget his times on Hunter. Sadly he died suddenly aged 82 and we will all miss him dearly.
He leaves his wife Olive of 52 years and 2 sons and daughter and 6 grandchildren. If any one remembers my dad we love to hear from you. |
Christian Lamb . Womens Royal Naval Service Christian Lamb wrote the book "I only joined for the hat" about her experiences as a wren. |
Ldg Stoker F. B. Lamb . Royal Navy HMS Cairo (d.12th Aug 1942) |
SERGEANT Michael George Lamb . RAF 582 Squadron (d.16th September 1944) |
Sgt. Lambert . British Army Reconnaissance Corps Sometime during ww2 a unit of the reconnaissance corps was stationed in Windermere, I don't remember how long they stayed, they were billeted in the local drill hall and their Bren Gun Carriers were parked in the back lane next to our house. The troops were welcomed by the locals and we had 3 NCOs and 5 men who came to our house for a bath. Two of the NCOs were Sgt Lambert and Sgt Johnson, I was only 8 or 9 at the time and my memory is failing but I remember they were a great bunch of lads. My mother died while they were there and the whole unit attended her funeral. |
Ken Lambert . Home Guard Feltwell Btn. |
Dvr. Stanley Lambert . British Army 314 Coy. Royal Army Service Corps My father Stanley Lambert, was at the Normandy landings in June 1944 as a driver with the RASC. I don't know which beach he landed at, think it was Gold. He also drove the ammunition truck to Arnhem. He was reproted missing believed killed in Dec.1944 but was in hiding with an American in the woods near to a German camp. He told me they could hear the Germans talking and took one of their jeeps and were able to get back to their units. I'd like to hear from anyone who knew him, particularly Dixie Dean, Harry Austin, Reg Cluitt, Charlie Saunders, Jack Gudgeon, and Percy Berlose. I am trying to find out exactly what my father did in the war, all I know is he was a driver with the RASC B section 314 company. |
Asst.Cook Albert Edward Lamper . Royal Navy HMS Prunella (d.21st Jun 1940) |
F/Sgt. D. H. Lanclot . Royal Canadian Air Force air gunner. 419 Sqd. |
William Land . Home Guard Feltwell Btn. |
PO. George Reid Lane . United States Navy USS Boise from Johnston Street, Edenton, NC) My uncle, George Reid Lane, was on the USS Boise.(CL-47) at the Battle of Cape Esperance. He was into one of the turrets. A total of 107 crew was killed and his family received word that he was missing in action, then received a gram that he was dead. Several months later he walked into the family home alive. However, he had been unconscious for a long period of time could have been the mix up. He returned home with a steel plate into his head and scars on his back. He has passed away now. I would love to have information to share with my sons about their great uncle. If any one can give roster list to show their names etc. or has an medical information, somewhere to make a connection it would be a wonderful to have.
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Gunner Thomas Joseph Lane . Royal Navy HMS Manchester from Middlesbrough) |
Lt -Col. D. B. Lang DSC. MC.. Army 5th Btn. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders |
James H. Lang . USAAF I have written a book about my experiences over 2 years in Nazi POW camps, Stalag VIIA and Stalag XVIIB. The book is finally complete Kriegies and Goons with original photos. |
Jack Langdon . British Army from Paignton, Devon) My Father Jack Langdon was a Desert Rat in the Army. He never told me anything about it but I do have a picture of him on a camel in Egypt just by the Sphinx and I know he was a driver. Sorry it's not much but would love to know more. |
George Langlands . Royal Navy HMS Collingwood from Glasgow, Scotland) My father, George Langlands passed away in 1989. As a child I remember seeing WW2 medals. Dad never talked about WW2 as it upset him. I recently came across a photo of his when he was in the navy.
 
TA Freeman, F Littlejohn, R Andrews, K O'Toole 204 Gordon Rd Alfred St Nottingham, A Wallis, Jas Cunningham, EW Hayes, RS Lekovitch,D Baahly, Geoffrey Riten, K Hambridge, PW Boothroy, G Hairath (Blesides), J Williams, H Fox, LJ Wright, AJ Green, KG Taylor, K Glach, WT Arnold CPO H.M.S Collingwood Class 5 Hut.1. M.T. DIVISION 4/4/44 TO 19/5/44. Some of the names might be incorrect as the signatures are hard to read. He was born in Glasgow and aised in Canadia by his mother Georgetta Gordon Langlands. That is all the information I can find about my Dad. I never found his medals after he passed away. I think he got rid of them. His childhood and the war had been hard on him so he never told me anything. I am now aged 57 years and this is the beginning of finding information about my Dad. I would appreciate any information or links to sites as I would like to leave the information to my grand daughter. I love my Dad and I miss him terribly. |
Able Seaman. H. Langley . Royal Navy HMS Forfar H Langley survived the sinking of the Forfar. |
Able Seaman. Harry Langley . Royal Navy HMS Electra (d.27th Feb 1942) |
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