102 (Ceylon) Squadron
Tentate et perficite (Attempt and Achieve)
Warrent Officer Lawrence Irving Neill
HR663 DY-T OP: Pilsen - 16th April 1943
S/L Wally I. Lashbrook - Pilot - DFC DFM Evd
F/S D.C. 'Nippy 'Knight - F/E - PoW
F/O Kenneth J. Bolton - Nav - Evd
F/O Alfred (Alfie) Martin - B/A - DFC Evd
Sgt W.Robert Laws - WOp - Evd
W/O Lawrence Irving Neill - AG - PoW
F/O George Williams GM - AG - KIA Aged 22 - (C.W.G.C.)
F/S D.C. Knight initially evaded until captured in Paris on the 18th Sep 1943 and interned in Camps 4B/L3, PoW No.250739.
Sgt L. Neil in Camps L1/L6/L4, PoW No.1192
F/O George Williams is buried at the Maubeuge Cemetery in France.
This past week we have been contacted by W/O Neill's daughter Josie and below is part of the email she sent to us:
"My father told me he was picked up by a local farmer and family but
they were afraid of German soldiers finding out that they had an
English airman in the house.
He told them not to worry and to inform the Germans that he was there.
The soldiers who came for him were very kind and offered him
cigarettes. The Belgian family were left OK.
Don't know exactly when my father joined 102 Ceylon Squadron as
originally he was based Blackpool way as ground crew but after coming
to a nearly sticky end
when a plane left the runway, the ground crew fleeing from its path, my father literally jumping into barbed wire to avoid and was cut up
quite badly he decided it was probably more safer in the air and
applied for flying duties.
My father had to endure the forced marches from the prison camps
which left him with a weak chest and developed chronic bronchitis at
a young age.
He sadly died at the age of 52yrs with related medical problems of
the bronchitis."