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Gunner Leonard Edwin Charles Lawrence
Unit : 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery
Army No. : 1639052
The following has been compiled by Adam Taylor, great-grandson of Ted Lawrence.
Pre-6 June 1944
Ted enlisted into the British Army on the 14 November 1940, into the Royal Artillery. He was assigned to the 10th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery Training Regiment at Deepcut Barracks in Camberley, Surrey. Leonard went 'Absent without Leave' (awol) for two days during Christmas. He was collected by Military Police (MP's) on the 30 December 1940, he forfeited 3 days' pay and issued a recorded warning.
On the 10 February 1941, he was posted to the 8th Anti-Aircraft Reserve Regiment, RA in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. Then, he was transferred to the 83rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA on the 18 October 1941 based at Blandford in Dorset. On the 9 March 1942, the 83rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery RA became an independent battery from the regiment and was renamed the 136th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery.
On the 28 May 1943, the battery was converted into the 2nd Airlanding Light Anti-Aircraft Battery RA (TA) at Marlborough Barracks, Bulford (Wiltshire) under the command of Major W.A.H Rowat R.A. The Battery's primary function was to provide anti-aircraft defence to the 6th Airborne Division. The War Establishment of the Battery under I/164/1 was 12 Officers and 283 Other Ranks. The Battery was equipped with 18 x 40mm Bofors AA guns and 48 x 20mm Hispanio Suiza AA guns. Ted volunteered for the 6th Airborne Division, because it was a dramatic increase in his wages.
During the war the family had a single holiday when they were all together in 1943, and they rented a bungalow in Rottingdean Village (East Sussex) for a week.
The Battery completed mobilization under authority 79/MOB/5774/597(AG.5MOB) on 5 January 1944. From then on, the Battery carried out extensive training being allocated seven Horsa gliders to carry 40mm gun detachments and the Battery Headquarters.
In Spring 1944, the exercises began to have code names, such as Bizz II on 25 March and on 4 April, Dreme. Despite a reasonable Met. Forecast on take-off during Exercise Dreme severe weather set in somewhere over Hampshire in low, cloudy, hilly country. The Stirling tug crafts were continuously had a rough time to try and keep aligned. At some points, the 'Angle of Dangle' instrument showed at some points that the gliders were much higher than the Stirling and almost beginning to pull the powered craft's tails upwards.
Of the twenty-three Horsa's from 'D' Squadron that took part in Exercise Dreme, twenty-two had to make a forced landed, with thirty-four fatalities. All the fatalities on Exercise Dreme were in this combination of a tug and glider. Few other exercise's cost so much human life for the simple reason that the 'powers that be' viewed the lives of trained soldiers as too valuable to risk in gliders unless strictly necessary.
Prior to D-Day the Glider Regiment took part in nineteen massed landings with no less than a hundred gliders participating, most of these landings would not include equipment and soldiers. Instead concrete or steel ballast made up the weight.
The battery carried out live firing at the H & L.A.A. practice camp at Clacton-on-Sea with both the 20mm and 40mm AA Guns between 8 – 21 March 1944. On 26 March 1944, the Battery participated in the 6th Airborne Invasion Exercise, Bizz II. It had the task of defending Rocket Bridge and Faringdon in support of Airborne invasion troops. The exercise included the entire division of which were deployed by either parachute or Horsa Glider.
As the date of the operation approached, training became more intensive. Glider units spent hours aloft every day circling over airfields as they practiced the manoeuvers. Once the pilots had practiced this sufficiently during the day, they were then switched to night operations.
On the 17 May 1944, three subalterns were posted to this unit from the 53rd Airlanding Light Regt R.A. and attached for all purposes to the 2nd Airlanding Light Anti-Aircraft Battery's S.S. (Special Service) Detachment. The S.S. detachment, comprising of 4 Officers and 46 Other Ranks, left barracks for the marshalling area. The 2nd Airlanding Anti-Aircraft Battery on D-Day were a S.S. detachment, which were trained in the use of enemy equipment.
H.M. the King accompanied by the Queen and Princess Elizabeth inspected the Battery on a parade of the 6th Airborne Division, on the 19 May 1944.
Ted was transported to RAF Tarrant Rushton near the village of Tarrant Rushton, East of Blandford Forum in Dorset. The RAF Station had 184 Officers and 2,547 Other Ranks of the Royal Air Force. On the 2 June 1944 from 14.00 hours the station was sealed, all personnel and civilians within the station were confined to camp. All postings and leave passes were frozen or cancelled. RAF Tarrant Rushton wasn't re-opened until the 7 June 1944, after the completion of Operation 'Mallard'. The weather had a significant impact on operations:
Tarrant Rushton Operations Book - 1944
1 June 1944 – 'Weather cloudy with drizzle during morning, becoming fair towards dusk.'
2 June 1944 – 'Weather fair visibility'
3 June 1944 – 'Weather mainly fair visibility but cloud generally more'
4 June 1944 – 'Weather fair to cloudy with rain in the evening'
On the 5 June 1944, it was a tense day for all serviceman, with the mechanical task of stripping, cleaning and oiling already pristine weapons, and kit was counted and checked. The weather across the South of England, was a hot sunny afternoon.
The Horsa Gliders (also known as the 'matchbox') had a 88 foot (27 m) wingspan a length of 67 foot (20 m), which weighted when fully loaded 15,250 pounds (6,920 kg). The design was based on a high-wing cantilever monoplane with wooden wings and a wooden semi-monocoque fuselage. The fuselage was built in three sections bolted together. The wing carried large "barn door" flaps which, when lowered, made a steep, high rate-of-descent landing possible - allowing the pilots to land in constricted spaces. The pilot's compartment had two side-by-side seats and dual controls. The hinged door could also be used as a loading ramp. The glider had 5 troops, a jeep, trailer and Light Motorcycle.
The Horsa Gliders were loaded by manoeuvring the jeep, trailer and motorcycle; then manhandling them around ninety degrees through the side door and into the fuselage. The twenty-four-hour postponement, due to the poor weather cross the channel, gave the service personnel an extra evening on British soil. The weather conditions were unsuitable for a landing: high winds and heavy seas made it impossible to launch landing craft, and low clouds would prevent aircraft from finding their targets.
On the 5 June 1944, RAF Tarrant Rushton organised a voluntary service after lunch where ninety percent of the Officers and Other Ranks attended. It was commented by Major Martin E. Gubbins "that everyone enjoyed the service and meant everything they said or sang". Major Gubbins in the same letter to his wife stated that "today everyone fills just so completely ready and confident – there's nothing to do except GO".
On the 5 June 1944, Ted was in Horsa Glider Chalk No. 126 piloted by S/Sgt. J Mackenzie and Sgt. Argyll, allocated to Forward Observation Officer (FOO) 3rd Parachute Brigade. In the early hours of the 6 June 1944, Chalk No. 125 and Chalk No. 126 had significant changes to personnel. Gunner John Russell (No. 907192) 53rd Airlanding Light Regiment was transferred from Chalk No. 126 to 125. This meant that Major Gubbins believed Ted was John Russell and the other personnel were Signalmen instead of Gunners, for the brief period they were together. In both Horsa Gliders one Motorcycle dispatch rider was allocated, from the 2nd Airlanding Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. Ted was allocated to Chalk No. 126 and Gunner Dennis Simmons (No. 1807362) was allocated to Chalk No. 125. Horsa Glider Chalk No. 125 ditched in the sea during Operation Tonga, and all the servicemen on the craft were killed in Action (KIA).
Once arriving at the gliders before take-off, they camouflaged themselves, faces and hands, with black and green grease paint. Operation Tonga involved ninety-eight gliders, and would precede the seaborne landings to carry out the tasks of the 5th and 3rd Parachute Brigade Groups between midnight and 0400 hours on the morning of D-Day. The serviceman code exchange for operation Tonga were password 'Punch' answered by 'Judy'.
Operation TONGA
Horsa Glider Chalk No. 126 was towed by a Mark Halifax Mk.V with call sign 'Y WZP' which left Tarrant Rushton at 01:45 Hours. This glider was part of Wave Three of 298 'D' Squadron. The gliders were under the Command of Major J.P. 'Daddy' Lyne, who was tasked to send thirty Horsa to Landing Zone (LZ) N, which had a flashing beacon (N: dash-dot). However, the pathfinders had been scattered all over the area. In the thirty minutes, available before the first main wave was due to land, small groups desperately tried to reach their allocated positions. RAF Tarrant Rushton was being shared with 'C' Squadron for the operation. The task for 'D' squadron was to deliver the six-pounder anti-tank guns of the 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery and FOO Teams from Divisional HQ and 3rd Parachute Brigade. 'D' Squadron crews and men were under the command of Major Peter Dixon the officer commanding the 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, helping to man the six-pounder, until they were relieved by the original Gunners.
On the channel crossing there was no moon, which meant that the pilots relied on the twin waters of the River Orne and the Caen Canal. However, in order not to alert the German Garrisons across the shoreline, the release points were further away than was normal on a glider operation. During the briefing the glider pilots were told that they would see flak from Le Havre on the port side, the 'twin water ribbons' and that there would be indicator lights in the area. The wind direction had been forecast as blowing from South to North, but in fact blowing in almost the opposite direction.
The lowest rank of a glider pilot held by a trained member of the regiment was sergeant and every first pilot was a Staff Sergeant at the very least. The Glider Pilots belong to the Glider Pilot Regiment which was both unique and special. The Germans and Americans, who both used gliders to carry troops into action, did not have pilots trained to the same degree. After the American glider pilot had landed his charges he left for the rear areas, his job was complete. The British glider pilot was different. Once he had landed he would have discarded his pilot's goggles and picked up a rifle. To become a member of the Glider Pilot Regiment as a 6th Airborne Division soldier.
Major Martin E Gubbins was the Commanding Officer of the 212th Airlanding Light Battery, the whole battery excluding the FOO party arrived by sea. The Commanding Officer of the 53rd (Worcestershire) Airlanding Light Regiment was Lt-Colonel Tony Teacher.
Halifax LL273 8A-Y
Captain Navigator Flight Engineer Wireless Operator Bomb Aimer Tail Gunner |
Ft/Sgt. Owen Keith Smith (AUS – R.A.A.F) Sgt. W. E. Florence Sgt. C. Muskin (RAF Volunteer Reserve) Ft/Sgt. William Morton Christie (AUS – R.A.A.F) Sgt. Alan Laverick (RAF Volunteer Reserve) Sgt. Alan C. Batey |
Killed 10-11/09/1944 Survived Survived Killed 10-11/09/1944 Killed 10-11/09/1944 Survived |
'D' Squadron
1st Pilot 2nd Pilot |
7891752 S/Sgt. J Mackenzie 270936 Sgt. M. Argyll |
2 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment 2 Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment (Navigator) |
Troops:
12046 193291 14270088 14353597 1639052 |
Major M. E. Gubbins Lieutenant J. Walls Gunner W. Thomas Gunner W. Dewey Gunner L. E.C. Lawrence |
RA Brigade HQ – 3rd Parachute Brigade RA 179th Field Regiment 53rd Airldg Light Regiment 53rd Airldg Light Regiment 2nd Airldg Light Regiment |
The report outlining the incident was written on the 16 November 1944, which stated that "no excuses can be given for the non-rendition of the regret mentioned; it was a mistake, which is very much regrettable". This glider FOO Party was allocated to the 3rd Parachute Brigade and formed part of the Brigade Glider element. The glider concerned was due to land on the Divisional Headquarters landing zone, some distance from the 3rd Parachute Brigade. Thereon they would join the brigade.
The glider tow rope broke, 2 miles out to the North of Cabourg. The search for a landing spot, together with navigation, was the task of the second pilot Sgt. Argyll. At 800 feet, they would have broken through the cloud and found that they were directly over the shoreline. A frequent problem with the Horsa that carried troops was that the weight of a 'standard' infantryman was dramatically underestimated. The Germans had flooded the land as a natural defence, which meant no suitable landing site was to be seen, as flak continually struck the frail plywood and canvas of the Horsa. This meant that gliders had an approximate speed of 90 – 100 mph, on landing which would have caused considerable damage.
The beaches were heavily mined with German S-Mines 'Splittermines' known as Bouncing Betty's. Staff Sgt. J Mackenzie would have decided to ditch into the sea approximately 3.40 hours, the craft disappeared at approximately 05.00 hours. The men retrieved all the equipment and kit they could from the slowly sinking Horsa, and climbed onto the wings to spread their weight across the glider. Ted's son (John Lawrence) can recall him saying that he recovered a Sten submachine gun from the Horsa and climbed onto the wing of the craft, in the event of enemy activity.
Prisoner of War – German Forces
Major Martin E. Gubbin's with his FOO Party of 3rd Parachute Brigade managed to get into a dingy, the group was carried with a South-East wind. The dingy approached the rocks at 09.30 hours, once ashore the group was ambushed by German Forces at 10.00 hours. They were forced by German soldiers up the cliff stairs, searched and everything taken. They were subsequently taken prisoner by a patrol of the 4th Kompanie (Kp) 1st Brigade from the 711th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht). The group were marched to the Company HQ in the Town of Auberville where their identity cards were taken.
The group was joined by an additional eighteen Commando's and Paratroopers, they were marched to the Divisional HQ at Vauville (South-West of Trouville), with a one to one escort. The group was marched through lanes and the main road. It was recorded by Major Gubbin's that it was the first time that morning, their uniforms started to dry off from the coldness of the English Channel and felt warmth from the sun. Once they arrived at Divisional Headquarters, they were inspected by the Divisional Commander Generalleutnant Josef Reichert, a professional solider since 1910, who would receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the 9 November 1944.
Five the eighteen Prisoners of War were from Chalk No. 123 who were collected by a patrol of the 2nd Brigade from the 711th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) at Cabourg:
318464 2577382 1433927 407606 2376040 |
Sgt. William 'Bill' A Shannon Lance Corporal A. 'Bert' H. Crittell Signalman Peter Wilsher Signalman T 'Jock' Moir Signalman P. 'Jock' G. Wilson |
2 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment Divisional – Royal Corps of Signals Divisional – Royal Corps of Signals Divisional – Royal Corps of Signals Divisional – Royal Corps of Signals |
After the inspection, they were marched to Trouville, which had a major Railway Station with a main line direct to Paris. Ted would have travelled for 5 days and nights, collecting other Prisoners of War at various stations. The movement of the train, was usually only possible at night and was subject to halts due to RAF air raids. Prisoners were often loaded into cattle truck trains and left for the duration with little water and bread. Each carriage would have had approximately 50 servicemen, which meant they had to rotate who would be standing and sitting due to the lack of space. Three American soldiers were badly injured and subsequently died on the train to Stalag VII A.
After the inspection at Vauville the Officers were taken from the main party. These servicemen were interrogated by the Germans and offered cigarettes and bread in return for information. The Major was joined by:
Captain Maynard Lieutenant Shinner Captain Church Captain Jackson |
Royal Engineers Royal Engineers Royal Army Medical Corps Royal Engineers |
The main reasons for the number of gliders which missed the Landing Zone's (LZ) seem to be a combination of poor visibility, as a direct result of the Lancaster raid on the Merville Battery, a lack of clear marking with 'Eureka' and Holophane lights on both LZ's and navigation problems experienced by the tugs.
The Mark Halifax Mk.V tug continued on its task and flew over the LZ at 03.27 hours when the plane received light flak from Northern and Eastern sides of the LZ. The Halifax reached the Drop Zone (DZ) at 03.29 Hours. 9 containers were released at the DZ (one failed to open its parachute).
Of all the units of the 6th Airborne Division, the 3rd Parachute Brigade were the most seriously tested during the first week of the landings. Their losses incurred on the drop zones on the first night had been severe, and were further worsened by the casualties suffered by the 9th Parachute Battalion when assaulting the Merville Battery. Thereafter the Brigade's position, along the ridge to the east of Ranville, became the focus of enemy attacks. Although weak and spread thinly along a wide front, they stubbornly clung to their positions and bloodily repulsed every attack that was made on its lines. Their magnificent performance during these days was frequently overlooked, but is now seen as one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of the Parachute Regiment.
Ted arrived at Stalag VII-A on the 11 June 1944, it was Germany's largest prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, located just North of the town of Moosburg in Southern Bavaria. The camp covered an area of 35 hectares (86 acres). Dorothy recollects that Ted was placed in solitary confinement and interrogated for two solid weeks. Whilst in confinement, German guards would complete live firing, which would distress Ted. Dorothy also mentions, that everyday Ted thought he would get shot due to him only providing the interrogator with his Name, Rank and Service Number.
Whilst in solitary confinement it would have been mental torture only interrogated because he was part of the 6th Airborne Division and worn the infamous Red 'Devil' Beret. He would pray to Dorothy and the children every day, because he thought he wouldn't survive. Ted was billeted in a forced labour camp 'Zwangsarbeitslager' on the local farms. The camp served as a transit camp through which many prisoners were processed on their way to other camps.
Ted was transferred to Stalag IV-B on the 24 August 1944, through the large gate which overshadowed the camp. The camp was located 8 km (5 miles) of North-East of the town of Mühlberg, in the Prussian Province of Saxony just East of the Elbe River. Mühlberg is about 30 miles (48 km) North of Dresden. The camp covered about 30 hectares (74 acres).
Ted was issued a Prisoner of War (PoW) number (No. 81156) on arrival into Stalag IV-B. The Third Reich used a numerical filing system which would categories servicemen depending on their nationality, Ted's PoW number at Stalag IV-B issued was '281156 IVB'. He was enlisted to a working party at a 'Tischler' (Carpentry workshop) in Dresden. Whilst, outside the camp we would have been the responsibility of the 'Meister' (Workshop Owner).
He was assigned a German Work Command guard called Wolff, who gave him a woollen trench coat to keep him warm during the Winter. Work Command guards were enrolled injured ex-servicemen or veterans from the First World War. Ted used the coat's large pockets to smuggle food and cigarettes into the camp, which he could trade in the barracks. He would occasionally smuggle bread into the camp, that would be cut it into slices and given to everyone within the hut. They would all take it in turns to get the crust. He was once caught and lost his two front teeth, when a German soldier hit him in the face with the rear of his rifle.
The Prisoner guards were from the Sächsische Landesschützen Bataillon (Saxonian Land Guards) who were responsible for all Prisoner of War camps in the Saxony region. The regiment was transferred to the Eastern Front later in the war. Therefore, the camp was later guarded by a Hungarian Regiment.
In August 1944, Dorothy received a telegram, stating that Leonard had been Killed in Action (KIA), but believed that it was incorrect. It wasn't until ten months later, when she received another telegram stating that he was in Stalag IV-B (4-B). The telegram stated, Ted "was captured and a Prisoner of War in Stalag 4-B located in Germany, where he would stay for the duration of the War". Dorothy received a confirmation letter from the British Red Cross.
In October 1944, several thousand Polish personnel arrived, members of the Armia Krajowa ("Home Army") captured after the Warsaw Uprising, including several hundred women soldiers. In November 1944, the Polish women were transferred to other camps, mainly Stalag IV-E (Altenburg) and Oflag IX-C (Molsdorf). At the end of December 1944 about 7,500 Americans arrived from the Battle of the Bulge. At least 3,000 of them were transferred to other camps, mostly to Stalag VIII-A.
In total, approximately 300,000 soldiers, women and even children were confined between 1939 and 1945 in Stalag IV-B. The Soviet Union did not sign the Geneva Convention, consequently the Third Reich did not allow Soviet Prisoners of War to receive Red Cross parcels, in contrast to the treatment of prisoners from other countries. Altogether soldiers from 33 nations passed through the camp.
Liberation
On the 23 April 1945, the Hungarian Regiment abandoned the camp shortly after midnight. During the night, artillery and machine gun fire was heard from outside the camp. Russian cavalry rode into camp at 07.45 hours. The red flag was hoisted on the highest building and flags of all other nationals were also flown. Russian and Serbian Ex-Prisoners of War were marched out at 10.00 hours. When the Soviet Army arrived at the camp, there were about 30,000 crowded into the facilities, of these 7,250 were British. From when the Russia Forces controlled the camp 3,000 personnel would die, mainly from tuberculosis and typhus.
On the 8 May 1945, the German High Command unconditionally surrendered to the Allies, but pockets of resistance continued elsewhere. The British and American POWs were now in Soviet-occupied territory.
For the first few days at Riesa, serviceman were given liberty to walk around the town and loot the deserted houses and warehouses. Then gradually restrictions began to be made. Russian sentries were put on guard at the gates and soldiers were forbidden to leave the camp. After a fortnight, the rations of pea soup and bread without any variation became monotonous. Any man found walking outside the camp with a pack, or heading West, was sent back by Russian patrols.
Ted decided to leave camp as men in ever increasing numbers daily made their own way to American lines West of the River Malder, approximately 45 kms away travelling by foot. Once he arrived to the American Lines he was given a small amount of food on a glass transparent plate, which he kept as a token of remembrance of the ordeal. American transport planes, C- 47s, were awaiting at River Malder to transport Prisoners of War to France. Red Cross personnel were prepared with refreshments and cigarettes. American vehicles transported Prisoners of War to the Reception Centre's across France.
When servicemen arrived at Centre's they were required to signed an identification certificate, any who needed new clothes were given them. They were thoroughly sprayed with delousing powder, and then given a ticket for the hotel where they would stay. On arrival at the hotel, men were given every necessity in the form of meals, hot showers and comfortable beds with clean sheets. The different nationalists would be transported to their countries of origin. British serviceman travelling across the English Channel via Lancaster's under Bomber Command or by Royal Navy vessels. The Lancaster's were not so comfortable as the C-47s as they had not been converted for troop carrying. Ted returned to the United Kingdom on the 18 May 1945 to the 175th Field Regiment RA. Dorothy was sent a telegram by the Ministry of Defence on the 2 June 1945, notifying her that Ted had been freed by Allied Forces and would be returned home.