Lawrence Herbert Beaumont

Lawrence was born in the Village of Glen Williams on January 11, 1924… the son of William Harpin Beaumont and Mary Louise Sharpe. He attended Glen Williams public school from 1930-1937 and Georgetown High School, from 1937-1941, enlisting from high school at the age of 17. Lawrence had a brother Richard (RCAF WW1), two other half-brothers and three half-sisters (Jack, Jean, Harpin, Edith and Isabel). The family lived at 563 Main St and attended St. Alban’s Church in Glen Williams. Lawrence was first cousin to Clarence Beaumont also of Glen Williams, Killed in Action April 28, 1945.

Lawrence enlisted in the RCAF on January 13, 1942 and identified J. L. Lambert, his high school principal as one of his references. In his military record the interviewing officer reported Lawrence to be “average type, short, medium build, clean and neat. Youthful appearance, quiet, pleasant manner. Would judge industrious, sincere, dependable, capable. Should respond well to RCAF training. Will improve with experience. Considered suitable for commissioned rank with experience and training.” Lawrence completed his training at Trenton, Prince Albert, Rivers, Manitoba where he was “winged”, at Summerside PEI, St. John’s, Quebec and Jarvis, graduating from the latter as a “bomb-aimer” prior to going overseas. His military record noted “he was ranked below average as a navigator but should prove satisfactory with further experience. An average bomb aimer and below average in his work, due to his age. He has worked hard and enthusiastically and should improve rapidly with experience”. His mother is shown as deceased at the time of his enlistment.

His military record shows that he returned home for 14 days leave on November 10, 1943 and he was home again for Christmas that same year…the last time his family would see him alive.

Serving with RCAF 44 Squadron (Rhodesia), Flight Sergeant Beaumont and his fellow crew members took flight in an Avro Lancaster which had been delivered in December of 1945. The date was February 3, 1945 and waiting for the Squadron was Luftwaffe Night Fighter Squadron 6, including two German flying aces. When the Lancaster was hit, 10 miles NE of their target, according to reports, the front section plummeted quickly and the tail section less quickly resulting in all seven crew members perishing. It is heartbreaking to note, that the pilot was 22 years of age and all other crew members were 18, 21, 22 or 23 years of age.

Due to the nature of the crash, the destruction of the aircraft, and the aftermath it appears to have taken years to recover and identify all of the bodies. The use of some American equipment also appears to have added confusion to the identification of the crew members.

Although his heartbroken family was initially informed that Lawrence was missing, his body was eventually identified and buried at Durnbach War Cemetery in Germany.

Flight Sergeant Lawrence Beaumont is commemorated on the Cenotaph at Georgetown Remembrance Park, Georgetown High School and St. Alban’s Church, Glen Williams.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His Story Lives on. Information obtained from Ancestry.ca, International Bomber Command Centre Losses Database, Findagrave.com and Mark Rowe

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