Sincere apologies for having gone AWOL
for a little while, but work has (thankfully) been dominating
proceedings. I haven't been totally idle on the research front
though and have plenty of new 'gen' lined up. My web-man
'the boy genius' is planning all manner of updates to the main website
including the addition of many photographs - including cousin Jim's 'Arnold'
pilot cadet class 42G which is getting its own gallery. If you have any
links with 42G please get in touch, similarly let me know if you
recognise any names, faces or postings mentioned in 'Does Life Hold
Any More in Store?'.
Armistice
Day is approaching rapidly – please donate generously for your
poppies and spare a thought during the silences for all our
servicemen, past and present, who have served to keep us all safe.
A
recent contact regarding a gentleman's teenage memories of Frank
Law's 103 Squadron crew not only enhanced Law's story but has opened
up a fresh line of research.
*** *** ***
Mick
was a lad of about fiftee
n years old when he first met Frank Law and
his crew-mates. He recalls that the date was 13th October
1943 when an entire bomber crew turned up at his sister's
twenty-first birthday party – her friend knew one of the crew and
invited them all.
 |
| Frank Law |
'We
were astonished when a full bomber crew came through the door !
Astonished and privileged I might say as we were well aware of the
job they were doing. We would watch the bombers in their hundreds
flying down the Trent valley in the evening.'
It
was evident that the crew enjoyed the family's hospitality as
whenever flying allowed they visited several times over the next few
weeks and got to know Mick and his family pretty well.
'I
think they enjoyed being able to be themselves'.
Mick
remembers that Australian bomb aimer Les Kay seemed to be quieter
than the others but kept an eye on the rest of his crew-mates
although there was nothing more to watch over than high spirits. Ron
Johnstone 'was the life and soul of the lads but Frank played his
part also, being nicknamed "The Count of Elsham Wolds"
because of the elegant cigarette holder he sported ! Happy memories!'
It
says something about the tumultuous events of the time and the people
involved, that those visits to Mick's family home, made over a few
weeks during the winter of 1943/44 are still memorable over seventy
years later.
'I
was a lad of about 15 at the time and pretty impressionable I
suppose. But I will never forget those brave lads.'
 |
|
l-r in flying gear:-
Johnny
Daniel – m/u, Dave
Mackay - nav, Frank
Law - pilot, Ron
Johnstone - w/op, Cyril
Plampton - r/g,
Bert
Stocks – f/eng, Les
Kay - b/a
|
Very
many thanks to Mick for sharing his memories of Frank Law and crew
and for identifying who's who in the crew photo.
I
would urge everyone to search family photograph albums for photos of
relatives who served in the Second World War. That old flying
log-book may contain answers to someone else's research – take a
look at the postings listed on the inside cover and google them
(other search engines are available of course) – they will be of
interest to someone, somewhere.
