Millennium Project
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Lawrence was born on 13 March 1917 to Ronald and Freyda Pyman. He never knew his father who was a Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment because he was killed in action on 3 May 1917. Freyda subsequently married Major Reginald Roberts and came to live in Deddington Manor. They had another son, Adrian, who served with distinction in the Navy in WWII being awarded the DSC and a daughter Primrose.
Lawrence joined the RAF at the beginning of WWII. He was killed in action during the Battle of Britain. He is one of the 86 Deddington men whose deaths are recorded in the localy published book A Parish at War. His entry can be read HERE.
Following a chance meeting in Westminster Abbey in 2008 between Lawrence's half-sister, Primrose Buckle, and Simon Muggleton (a Battle of Britain researcher), Simon wrote to Primrose with information about her brother's participation in this action, his death and subsequent burial with a German Honour Guard in France; none of which had previously been known to his family. The following is the text of his letter (courtesy of Michael Allbrook and Mrs Heywood)
"I have managed to find out a little more on your brother and his time with the RAF. As you know, he was a member of the University Air Squadron at Cambridge and was commissioned in the RAF in January 1939. He was called up in September at the outbreak of WW2 and he then went to the Flying Training School at RAF Cranwell. From there he went to No 6 Operational Training Unit at Sutton Bridge on June 22nd 1940 where he learnt how to fly the Spitfire. He was posted to No 65 Squadron at Hornchurch on July 20th.
On Wednesday 14th August 1940 around noon, the Luftwaffe sent over the Channel about 160 aircraft, consisting of Ju 87 Stuka Dive-Bombers and 109E Messerschmitt fighters to protect them. Their orders were to attack RAF airfields in Kent (as they had done the day previously, known as Eagle Day (AdlerTag).
Air-Vice Marshal Keith Park ordered forty two Hurricanes and Spitires (from 32, 65, 610, and 615 Squadrons) to take off at 11.50 hrs to engage them. The ensuing 'dog-fight' over Dover involved two hundred aircraft at one stage and must have reseembled the classic picture you have of the Battle of Britain.
During this dog-fight, at around 1220hrs, your brother shot down a 109E Messerschmitt from Jagdgeschwader 52 (Fighter Squadron) based at Coquelles France Your brother was flying Spitfire number R6602 which suffered some damage, forcing him to land at Manston airfield which was under attack.
He was up flying the next day which was the Luftwaffe worst day of the Battle when the RAF shot down 75 of their aircraft.
Friday 16th August saw similar attacks being mounted by the Luftwaffe on airfields in the South-East especially Manston again along with Tangmere and Westhampnett. At one stage over 300 enemy aircraft were plotted to be heading up the Thames Estuary. Thirty Spitfires and twenty one Hurricanes were ordered up by Park to engage them. Your brother was sadly killed during this engagement over the Channel, flying Spitfire K9915.
His body was recovered by the Germans and buried alongside that of another pilot Sub-Lieutenant Henry La Fone Greenshields (from the Fleet Air Arm). It was reported by French residents in Calais at the time, that the Luftwaffe paraded a Guard of Honour as they brought both pilots to the cemetery." (signed by Simon Muggleton. 22 September 2008)