RCAF FO Glyn Lawrence Sqd 166 Kirmington, Jly'43

JDarby · Aug 18, 2017

Thank you Harry and Deacs; I found those pictures very moving.

Harry Ree · Aug 18, 2017

First class information Deacs......I wonder if Bill Lawrence has had access to these records.

Seems to clear up what Bill questioned regarding the fate of the crew.

Niece of James Brind · Sep 30, 2019

William Lawrence said: ↑

My brother, Glyn James Lawrence, a Canadian descendant of Pembrokeshire parents, died after a bomber crashed some 8 miles south east of Hamburg, at Fischbecker Heide, on July 30, 1943, about 1:30 a.m. The Wellington, HE810, crashed some 200 yards from the glider school, Segelfliegerschule. Four crew, E.G. Birkbeck (Southport), J.R. Brind (Sibthorpe, Lincoln), A.E. Bransgrove (Grosvenor, Bath), and H.T. Furniss (Hillsbrough, Sheffield), died; their remains with those of my brother, were interred at Ohlsdorf, Hamburg, (5000 there from WWII).

The Lawrence family picture was taken September, 1941, after a year of air training, just before Glyn Lawrence was posted overseas.
It was said that he flew 28 missions in Lancasters during seven months in Britain, it was exceptional he was navigating a Wellington.

The crash site was not discovered by R.A.F. investigators until April, 1949, six years later, the family only notified in yet another year, June, 1950. Engine and parts numbers confirmed it was HE810. Even in 1949, bones, and two or more skulls, clothes and boots, were found scattered in the area of the wreckage, some as far as 300 yards away. F/Lt. John R. Hughes DFM, investigated and spoke with six local citizens who remembered the crash and knew about remains, the report refers to excavation and removal. I would like to know if there were photographs taken of the crash site at the time of this investigation, and any details about excavation, and removal to Ohlsdorf, etc. The lost bomber web site is no longer active but I presume there are more records of this event that could be accessed.

Our cousin, William Roberts (1915-2011), was an RAF officer from Barry, Wales, from 1935, a glider pilot who undertook raids into France. He investigated and reported to us that some survived the crash and were killed by local citizens. I ponder if he found this information from other witnesses such as German glider confreres as the crash occurred only 200 yards from an air glider school. I ask if the nature of the crash, determined by site photographs, might clarify if this was actually the case or did they all die upon impact as suggested by F/Lt J.R. Hughes. If enough detail is known about the site location, I would prepare to visit it even at this late date...

If family members of the above crew (Birbeck, Brind, Bransgrove, Furniss), or Patrician Needham of Chester, have further information they might share it would be greatly appreciated. Others who might help would be investigators, those who sought lost bombers, those associated with Squadron 166 at Kirmington, Lincoln, those who dealt with burials and war records.
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RCAF FO Glyn Lawrence Sqd 166 Kirmington, Jly'43

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Niece of James Brind New Member

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RCAF FO Glyn Lawrence Sqd 166 Kirmington, Jly'43

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Harry Ree Very Senior Member

Niece of James Brind New Member

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