I have found this airman was an observer in an R.E.8 shot down in 1918. I have the info. from CWGC and have read a book about 53 Squadron. Anyone got any other info. that might be of interest to me about this young airman? Thanks for any help, Paul.

Hi Paul.

1 Oct 1918, Lt G C Brown & 2Lt L F Raby, Counter-Attack Patrol on RE8 C2549 53Sqn. Shot up and forced to land,8-20am.

9 Oct 1918 Lt G C Brown DoW 10-10-18 & 2Lt L F Raby KiA, Night Flight in combat with hostile aircraft. On RE8 D6804 53Sqn.

Tim.

Thanks Tim. Thats a bit more detail to what I have. I guess Counter Attack patrol was looking out for German ground forces making a counter attack? Thanks for your help, Paul.

Hi Paul,

I'm researching the Old Boys of Southend High School for Boys and Laurence Raby was an ex-pupil, please see below what I have.

RABY, 2/Lieut. Lawrence Frederick, 53 Squadron, RAF. 2nd Lieutenant Raby was the only son of Frederick and Ada Elizabeth Raby of 2, Rochford Avenue, Prittlewell. He was educated at the Southend High School, his father being employed as a guard on the Great Eastern Railway. He matriculated and entered the service of the British Aluminium Co., Queen Victoria Street, London E.C. He enlisted in July 1917 and after training at Hastings was commissioned at Winchester in April 1918, going to France in the following June. In September 1918 he was home on leave, and had only been back three weeks when he was killed in action in France on 9th October 1918 aged 19. His Captain wrote: 'It is with the deepest regret that I write this letter to tell you your son was killed this morning while flying over the lines. He and his pilot Lieut. Brown were attacked by six enemy scouts, and your son put up an extraordinary fight against far superior numbers. He fired three drums into the attacking machines before he was hit fatally and his pilot seriously wounded. They were forced to land amongst the infantry right away and he was then dead, so that death must have come to him instantly and without pain. His loss to the squadron, both personally and as an observer will be very great. His keenness and cheerfulness under all circumstances were marked, and his trust in his pilot made the two of them an ideal pair. They had together been recommended to go to a special flight of pilots and observers picked from the wing - a few out of a considerable number - so you can gauge how well he was thought of. To me, as senior observer in my flight, he will be very hard to replace, and from a personal point of view I can never hope to get a better fellow in any way.' His father received the following letter from the British Aluminum Company: 'I am indeed grieved to hear your sad news. Your boy, in my opinion was a splendid young fellow whom I had great hopes of seeing holding important positions in this company. He will be a great loss to us all, as he was most popular with all he came in contact with. The loss to you I know will be terrible but it may be some little comfort to you to feel that his mass of friends also feel the sad blow and are thinking of you in your great sorrow. I feel I have lost a friend and I am certain he did his duty as the fine little gentleman he was. Please accept my sincerest and deepest sympathy in your sorrow.' He is commemorated on the Prittlewell War Memorial and on his parent's grave in Sutton Road Cemetery. The inscription reads as follows:” …ALSO OF LAURENCE FREDERICK RABY 2ND LIEUT. RAF. KILLED IN FLANDERS 9TH OCTOBER 1918 AGED 19 YEARS BURIED AT POPERINGHE…”

Cheers,

John Baker.