Watts, Laurence Roy
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Laurence Roy |
Surname | Watts |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-08-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Herbert Mark Watts, and of Florence Watts, of Fawler, Oxfordshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | LM658 |
Markings | HW-W |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hardenberg Protestant Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row B. Grave 1. |
Epitaph | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS (Bible - John 15:13) |
Ribbon Stone | 0257 (Block 4, Column 1, Row 1) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 112 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1316752 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 100 |
Trade | Wireless Operator |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed stone tablet |
Memorial Text | L.R. Watts Flt Sgt LM658 100 Sqn W/Op |
Location | Off the A16, Holton le Clay, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Information Boards |
Memorial Text | Do not attack the Hornets nest, 100 Squadron Royal Air Force Waltham Grimsby, December 1942 April 1945, Honour the brave |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/797/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/797/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-08-1944 |
End Date | 13-08-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Grimsby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (30% moon) |
Operation | Braunschweig |
Reason for Loss | Lost navigation aids outbound but continued. Hit by flak three times during and after the bombing run and eventually set on fire. Then attacked twice by a night fighter before the pilot ordered the crew to bale out |