John William Lawton
He was a lace hand.
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- Military history
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Son of John and Elizabeth Lawton and the brother of Herbert and Elizabeth Lawton of 24, Beckford Road, Sneinton, Nottingham. He was the husband of Mary Ellen Lawton of 29, Dryden Street, Nottingham.
HMS Halstead
Commissioned into service in the Royal Navy as HMS Halsted (K556) on 3 November 1943 simultaneously with her transfer, the ship served on patrol and escort duty. On 11 June 1944, she was operating in the English Channel off Cherbourg, France, when German S-boats – known to the Allies as "E-boats" – and the torpedo boats Jaguar and Möwe of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine's 5th Torpedo Flotilla attacked her at about 0200. One torpedo struck her forward of her bridge, blowing off most of her bow and damaging her beyond economical repair. 34 members of Halsted's crew, including Able Seaman John Lawton, were killed during this attack.
Halsted was declared a constructive total loss and, instead of being returned to the U.S. Navy, was retained by the Royal Navy for spare parts
Unknown
John William Lawton
Nottingham Evening Post 22/6/1944