John Hamblin's Research: Surnames K-L
Kiddie, Andrew Brown Lieutenant 247061
A Company, 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Killed in action on the 26th of June 1944 aged 26
Andrew Brown Kiddie was born at Falkirk on the 27th of April 1918 the son of John Brown Pearson Kiddie, a grocer and wine merchant, and Jessica Duncan Kiddie of "Craigernie '', Dirleton Avenue, North Berwick, East Lothian. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1931 to 1934 after which he left to join his father's business. He was married at Blanford, Dorset in 1939 to Nancy Sarah (nee Cuff), a confectioner and cake maker, and they lived at 18, High West Street, Dorchester. Following the outbreak of war he enlisted in the London Scottish on the 17th of January 1940 and attended No. 164 Officer Cadet Training Unit at Barmouth, North Wales before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders on the 30th of September 1942. He joined the 2nd Battalion of his Regiment on the 3rd October 1942 and was posted to A Company on the 7th of July 1943.
On the 14th of June 1944, the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders left their base at Findon, Sussex and travelled to the marshalling yards at Haywards Heath. On the evening of the 18th of June the main body of the Battalion embarked to the sound of bagpipes on to two vessels at Newhaven for the journey to Normandy. When they arrived off the French coast at Arromanches the weather was so poor that they were unable to land until the 20th, when they marched six miles inland to Vaux-sur-Seulle. They waited there for their equipment, which was also delayed due to the storm, and didn't land until the 23rd of June.
Late on the 25th of June 1944, the Battalion moved forward to assembly positions for a major attack on the city of Caen the following day. Having breakfasted in the rain on the morning of the 26th, the men moved to their jumping off position for the attack which was just to the north of the village of Cheux. There they found tanks waiting to support their advance and the sound of British artillery in support was reassuring. The drizzle and low cloud had made the visibility so poor that the promised air support had to be called off and their advance began in a hail storm. Their objective was to capture Colleville and the nearby village of Tourville but progress was initially quite slow due to the troops ahead of them meeting stubborn resistance from the German defenders, with several of the supporting tanks being knocked out. When they entered Cheux they came under sniper fire but soon passed through and resumed their advance. A and B Companies were leading the way and as they reached open country they came under heavy fire from enemy machine guns and tanks which were dug in to their front. A Company suffered particularly badly when they were caught in the open in a cornfield under a hail of mortar fire which broke up their advance. Meanwhile B Company managed to gain the village of Colleville but C and D Companies, who were in support of the attack, had only advanced to a position about one mile to the south of Cheux and were forced to dig in there for the night. Andrew Kiddie was killed during the day's fighting.
He was buried at St Manvieu War Cemetery Plot IX Row J Grave 18
Laidlaw, Ian Douglas Lieutenant
Y Troop, No. 40 Royal Marine Commando
Killed in action on the 3rd of June 1944 aged 21
Ian Douglas Laidlaw was born in 1923 the elder son of Douglas Laidlaw, of the Chartered Bank, Bombay, and Edith Dorothy (nee Morgan) Laidlaw of Bombay, later of 61, Spottiswoode Road, Edinburgh and of Knockholt in Kent. He returned from India with his mother and older sister on board the SS Mongolia on the 29th of June 1934. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1934 to 1940 where he was a member of the 1st Rugby XV and was appointed as a School Prefect. He went on to Edinburgh University where he studied Engineering before joining the Royal Marines. He attended Cadet School where he passed out as Top Cadet before volunteering for the Commandos and being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 7th of August 1942. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 7th of February 1943. He took part in the landings in Sicily in July 1943 and was wounded on the 7th of October 1943 and again in April 1944.
In May 1944, it was determined that, in order to reduce the pressure on Tito's partisans in Yugoslavia, there was to be a raid on the island of Brac to draw German reinforcements away from their operations against Yugoslav partisans on the mainland which had cost the partisans some 10,000 casualties. An estimated 1,200 enemy troops were on the island. The Allies assembled an attacking force of 1,300 men made up of men from 40 and 43 Commando, the Special Forces Brigade, a Company of the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry and 3,000 partisans all of which were to be transported on 20 warships and landing craft. The operation was code named Operation Flounced. The force was divided into three columns with the Northern Column landing on the south coast on the night of the 31st of May/1st of June 1944. They were to remain hidden during the day and then to attack German positions around the Vidova hills the following night before blockading Supetar and Nerezisca.
The Western Column was to land with them but would attack the enemy strongholds around Nerezisca. The Eastern Column was detailed to land to the east of Bol and to attack enemy positions in the eastern part of the island.
On the night of the 31st of May/1st of June the advance party of B Company, 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry and 500 partisans landed on the island without incident and moved to their laying up positions. The remainder of the force, some 1,000 Allied troops and 2,500 partisans, set sail from Vis at between 8.30pm and 10pm on the night of the 1st of June 1944.
At 12.30am men from No. 43 Commando and partisan forces landed at Blaca on the island and moved inland without opposition. At 1am the rest of the force landed unopposed and by 10am they had reached Toma where they made contact with the enemy.
At 1.40am the men of the Highland Infantry attacked a German observation post known as Point 778, but had been given misleading information and were spotted by the enemy. In the ensuing battle they ran into a mine field and fell back before reorganising and making a second attack which also failed. They had suffered casualties of one officer, two Sergeants and a Corporal killed with three officers and eleven other ranks wounded. They were withdrawn and were evacuated from the island by landing craft at midday.
No. 40 Commando had embarked on board landing craft at Vis at 11.30pm and set sail at 1.30am. They landed on "Item" beach at 3.45am and began moving inland at 4am where they laid up for the rest of the day.
Throughout the next two days, supported from the air, the Allied troops and partisans killed and captured a large number of the enemy but resistance continued to be strong. At 9pm on the 3rd of June 1944, No. 43 Royal Marine Commando launched an attack on an enemy strongpoint known as Point 622. At the same time the partisans attacked Points 542 and 642 from the south. By 9.30pm the Commandos were at the enemy barbed wire carrying Bangalore torpedoes and at 9.50pm they stormed the enemy position. During the fighting all of the officers and six of the Sergeants from C and D troops had become casualties. The men of No. 40 Royal Marine Commando had moved off to join the attack at 8.35pm and arrived at the start line at 9.30pm, by which time the men of No 43 Commando were already at the enemy wire. They were briefed on a change of plan and joined the attack at 10pm with Y Troop on the left and A Troop on the right. Y Troop soon ran into a minefield and was forced to seek a new route to the top, while A Troop advanced straight up the hill and into the enemy positions. After heavy fighting, and having suffered heavy casualties, they cleared the hill and fired a Verey light as the success signal. Meanwhile, Y Troop also arrived at the top of the hill but not as far forward. Ian Laidlaw was killed in the fighting and four prisoners of war were captured. The Commando Headquarters moved to the top of the hill before the whole area came under very heavy mortar fire which was followed by a strong German counterattack at 10.15pm. At 10.40pm, with darkness adding to an already confused situation, both Commandos were driven back due to lack of men.
The casualties suffered by No. 40 Commando during the attack were Ian Laidlaw killed, with four other officers missing, and one wounded and with five other ranks killed, nine missing and forty wounded.
The Commandos spent the rest of the night locating and evacuating their casualties before they were taken off the island at 11pm on the 4th of June.
He is commemorated on the Greyfriars Parish War Memorial.
He is buried at Belgrade War Cemetery Plot 3 Row E Grave 1
Law, Andrew Allison Pilot Officer 87053
58 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 3rd of September 1941 aged 24
Andrew Allison Law was born at Edinburgh on the 23rd of November 1916 the elder son of Thomas Law and May Marshall Law of 9, St Ronan's Terrace, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1929 to 1934. On leaving school he joined the staff of the National Bank of Scotland and became a member of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland in June 1939.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as a pilot and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 19th of October 1940. He was posted to 58 Squadron.
At 8.41pm on the 18th of April 1941, Andrew Law and his crew took off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Whitley Mk V T4226 GE-O for an operation on Berlin. On the return leg of their mission they were flying over Hamburg when their port engine was hit by anti aircraft fire and badly damaged. At 3.50am, they were over the North Sea when the starboard engine seized and caught fire. Ten minutes later they ditched into the sea, some 80 miles to the east of Flamborough Head, and the crew managed to climb into the life raft.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Andrew Allison Law (Pilot)
Sergeant Alan Whewell (Killed in action 30th November 1941)
Pilot Officer Stanley McNeil
Sergeant R. P. Rose
Sergeant Charles Oliver Steggall (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
His father received the following telegram dated the 19th of April 1941: - "Regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer Andrew Allison Law is reported on 18 April 1941 missing as the result of air operations. Letter follows. Any further information received will be immediately communicated to you. Should news of him reach you from any source please inform this department."
Late in the evening of the 20th of April the crew were spotted floating in their dinghy by a Hudson aircraft and a second Hudson dropped Lindholme rescue gear in their vicinity. At 10.30pm that night they were picked up by an Air Sea Rescue motor launch having spent some 64 hours at sea.
His father received a second telegram dated the 21st of April 1941: - "Please be informed that your son Pilot Officer Andrew Allison Law previously reported missing is now reported safe. Letter follows."
At 10.35pm on the 7th of August 1941 Andrew Law and his crew took off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Whitley Mk V Z 6835 GE-Q for an operation on Frankfurt. Having completed the mission the aircraft was coming into land at 5.57am when the pilot decided to go around again. As the throttles were opened the port engine failed, causing the aircraft to swing and collide with a hangar which tore away the port engine, damaged the fuselage and broke a wing.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Andrew Allison Law (Pilot)
Sergeant Charles Oliver Steggall (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Killed in action 3rd September 1941)
Sergeant P. J. Kemp
Sergeant Eric Kenneth Cartledge (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Killed in action 7th September 1941)
Flying Officer Harris
Andrew Law wrote the following in a report on the accident: - "Returning from Frankfurt I made a circuit of the aerodrome and after receiving permission, made the approach to land at 90 mph as indicated on A.S.I. When about 100 feet over the boundary of the aerodrome I noticed that our speed seemed in excess of the indicated reading of 90 mph. During the return journey from Frankfurt the aircraft encountered severe icing and for a period the A.S.I. was unserviceable. As the aircraft had not touched down from half way down the runway, and the overshoot seemed likely, I decided to go around again. On opening the throttles only the starboard engine responded, so I closed the port throttle and endeavoured to make that engine pick up by light movements with the throttle lever. I knew that the failure was not due to petrol shortage, because I had checked the contents of the wing tanks while circling the aerodrome. There was 50 gall indicated and the balance cock was in the "ON" position. Despite having both full opposite aileron and rudder the starboard engine was pulling the aircraft round in a circle towards the hangar. Port engine failed to respond and with aircraft airborne and heading straight for the hangar I swung the aircraft round so that it hit the supports of hangar door with port wing."
The Commanding Officer of RAF Linton-on-Ouse witnessed the accident and wrote the following: _ "I witnessed this incident. It appeared that pilot approached too fast when half way down flare path at approx. 10 ft. he opened up the engines to go round again. The port engine failed to respond and the aircraft swung to the left with the left well down and finally crashed into the end of a hangar. Error of judgement on part of the pilot by approaching too fast, possibly due to fatigue. He had been flying for 8 hours without a second pilot."
On the 3rd of September 1941, Bomber Command dispatched 85 Wellingtons, 30 Hampdens, 19 Whitleys, 4 Stirlings and 2 Manchesters for an operation against enemy shipping in the port of Brest. The aircraft of Nos. 1, 4 and 5 Groups were recalled due to deteriorating weather conditions at their bases. Four of the aircraft from these groups did not receive the recall and continued on to the target as did the aircraft from No. 3 Group. 53 aircraft bombed the target but did so through a smoke screen and bomb aimers were forced to estimate the position of German warships.
Andrew Law and his crew took off from RAF Linton-on-Ouse at 7.21pm in Whitley Mk V Z6869 GE-T for the operation. At 8.30pm the aircraft received a message recalling it and the crew was ordered to divert to RAF Acklington due to the poor flying conditions at their home base. As the aircraft approached the airfield at just before midnight, still carrying its full bomb load, it lost flying speed and crashed at Turnbull Farm where it burst into flames, killing all but one of the crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Andrew Allison Law (Pilot)
Sergeant Wallace Howard Trewin RCAF (2nd Pilot)
Sergeant Robert Lawrence "Larry" Ward RCAF (Observer)
Sergeant Charles Oliver Steggall (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Pilot Officer Edward Dimitri Comber-Higgs (Air Gunner) (injured) (Killed in action 30th November 1941)
Although no aircraft were lost through enemy action that night theirs was one of three aircraft which crashed while returning to their bases.
His father received the following letter dated the 10th of September 1941: - "Sir, I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their great regret on learning that you son, Pilot Officer Andrew Allison Law, Royal Air Force, lost his life as the result of air operations on 3rd September, 1941. The Air Council desire me to convey to you their profound sympathy with you in your bereavement."
The only survivor, Edward Comber-Higgs, was taken to the sick quarters at RAF Acklington with facial injuries.
The Commanding Officer of 58 Squadron wrote: - "I am not in a position to give any real reason for the accident. The pilot was a most experienced Captain. Weather conditions were good and a number of the aircraft of this Squadron landed safely at Acklington with bombs on at about the same time. It appears that the aircraft struck the ground with wheels down about 600 yards outside the aerodrome when approaching to land."
He is buried at Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh Section J Grave 123
Loftus, John Laurance Corporal NX55394
2/19th Battalion, Australian Infantry
Killed in action on the 19th of January 1942 aged 31
John Laurance Loftus was born at Edinburgh on the 23rd of June 1910 the son of William Laurance Loftus and Ellen Laurance Loftus of 7, Spottiswoode Road, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1919 to 1927 where he served as a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps. On leaving school he went out to Australia with The Big Brother Movement to attend Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Richmond, New South Wales. While working on a dairy farm he worked for long hours of study to qualify as an accountant. On qualifying he joined a subsidiary of Lever Brothers in Sydney and served as Secretary of the Australian Branch of the Watsonian Club.
Following the outbreak of war, he enlisted as Private NX55394 in the army at Martin Place, Paddington, New South Wales on the 28 th of June 1940. He was posted to the 2/19th Battalion, Australian Infantry on the 25 th of July 1940 and was promoted to Acting Lance Corporal on the 22 nd of November 1940. He was granted embarkation leave from the 20 th to the 28 th of December 1940.
The 2/19 th Battalion, Australian Infantry embarked for overseas service in Malaya at Sydney on the 5th of February 1941. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 21 st of March 1941 and to Corporal on the 4th of April 1941. The battalion moved to Singapore on the 1st of August 1941 and from October the battalion was based at Jemaluang, a major road junction, where they prepared defensive positions. On the night of the 6th of December 1941 they were called to arms for a probable Japanese invasion of Malaya, which took place the following day. They did not see action until the 7th of January 1942 when D Company was detached and deployed to delay the Japanese advance on Endau. The company had rejoined the Battalion when, on the 17th of January, it was called upon to rush to the aid of the 2/29 th Battalion which was under attack from the Japanese at Bakri. They arrived near Bakri later that day where they helped to stabilise the situation in the area. On the 19th of January 1942, the battalion attacked along the Maur Road and held a crossroads there throughout the day to enable the 2/29th Battalion and some Indian units to withdraw from the fighting. John Loftus was killed during this engagement. The Battalion had been outflanked during the day and began a withdrawal the next morning. When they arrived at the bridge at Parit Sulong, they found the way blocked and during the subsequent fighting they ran out of ammunition and supplies and were forced to break up into small groups and attempt to make their way back to the British lines. They were forced to leave their wounded behind, some 110 Australian and 40 Indian troops, who were later massacred by the advancing Japanese.
He is buried at Kranji War Cemetery on Special Memorial 19 D 15
Love, John Herbert Lieutenant 149158
2nd Battalion, Royal Scots (Royal Regiment) attached to the 25th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment
Killed on active service on the 21st of September 1942 aged 26
John Herbert Love was born at Edinburgh the son of Herbert William Love, a wholesale tobacconist, and Georgina Love of 187, Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1922 to 1933. On leaving school he joined his father's wholesale and retail tobacco business at 31, Queensferry Street, Edinburgh. He was married to Mary Reay.
Before the war he had enlisted in the Territorial Army and when war broke out he was mobilised and was sent for officer training to the 164st Officer Cadet Training Unit based at Colchester. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots on the 21st of September 1940 and was posted to the 12th Battalion of his Regiment, which later became the 2nd Battalion following the loss of the original 2nd Battalion at the fall of Hong Kong.
The 25th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment was mobilised on the 1st of July 1942 and was placed on active service on the 1st of August 1942. John Love attended the Officers Training School at Mhow before joining the Battalion, with two other officers, on the 11th of September 1942. He was drowned in an accident at Comilla in Bengal.
He was buried Maynamati War Cemetery Plot 3 Row D Grave 17
Lowdon, Charles Stewart Ross Captain 252488
Royal Army Medical Corps attached to 181 Field Battery, Royal Artillery
Killed in action on the 18th of November 1944 aged 24
Charles Stewart Ross Lowdon was born at Greenock on the 5th of March 1920 the son of the Reverend Charles Ross Lowdon, Middle United Free Church, Greenock, and Alison Lowdon of 1, Finnart Terrace, Greenock. He was educated at George Watson's School from 1931 to 1937 where he was Secretary of the Drama Club and a member of the Literary Club. He also played for the 1st Football XI and the 1st Cricket XI. On leaving school, he entered Edinburgh University to read medicine from the 5th of October 1937, from where he graduated MB ChB in 1942. He worked for a time as Resident at the Royal Infirmary where he was Senior President of the Royal Medical Society.
He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 21st of November 1942 and was attached to 181 Field Battery, Royal Artillery.
He moved with his regiment for embarkation for Normandy to Tilbury Docks on the 10th of June 1944. They set sail on board two Liberty ships on the 12th and 13th of June. They arrived off the coast at Arromanches on the 15th of June but due to a heavy storm they were unable to land. 179 and 179 Batteries landed by the 19th of June but Regimental Headquarters and 177 Battery could not land until the 21st of June. The Regiment went into action four days later in Operation Epsom, part of the Battle for Caen.
He is buried at Mierlo War Cemetery Plot VI Row D Grave 10
Lucas, Maurice Barclay 2nd Lieutenant 117564
B Squadron, 44th Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps
Died of wounds on the 17th of July 1941 aged 26
Maurice Barclay "Jock" Lucas was born at Edinburgh on the 16th of July 1915 the son of Hessel Lucas and Minnie (nee Barclay) Lucas of 4, Minto Street, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1922 to 1933. On leaving school he worked in the clothing business at 22, St Swithins Lane, London and later entered the London Stock Exchange.
He enlisted as a Trooper in the Westminster Dragoons in 1936 and was mobilised on the outbreak of war. He attended the 102nd Officer Cadet Training Unit from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Armoured Corps on the 11th of February 1940. In April 1940 he was posted to the 44th Royal Tank Regiment, based at Brighton and embarked with them for overseas service on board the SS Sobieski at Greenock on the 23rd of April 1941. The Regiment docked at Port Suez at 4.30pm on the 13th of June 1941 from where they entrained at 2am the following morning and moved to Sidi Bishr Camp.
On the 3rd of July 1941, the 44th Royal Tank Regiment arrived at Bir Abu Madi from where they were to carry out an extensive training and reconnaissance of the area which continued for much of the rest of that month.
On the 17th of July 1941, Maurice Lucas had been acting as an umpire on a three day exercise which had been undertaken to test the guns and their gunners in the art of desert warfare. He was travelling back to camp in a truck, as it was considered that it used less fuel than a tank; they should be used where possible when on exercise. An error of navigation brought him too far to the west and led his vehicle into a minefield which formed part of the enemy defences at Matruh. He stopped by a wire which ran twelve inches above the ground and marked out the area of the minefield, something he was unaware of. He climbed down from his truck and inspected it, declaring it to be in order before climbing back on board and instructing the driver to continue. After travelling a further six hundred yards the near side front wheel struck a mine which exploded and nearly severed his left arm. His driver and batman were unhurt by the detonation and while one made his way back to get help the other applied a tourniquet to his arm and gave him morphine. He died from shock and loss of blood some two hours later having asked that he be given a Jewish burial. His wish was granted when he was buried the following day.
Major David Ling MC, a brother officer, wrote of him: - "Jock" Lucas’ death was so sudden and unexpected that it was not for some days that we realised the extent of our loss. Jock, in the 15 months he had served with the 44th Bn had, in addition to being a most efficient soldier, been leader of all that was funny in the Officer’s Mess. His ability to draw led to a veritable stream of caricatures from his pencil, of the officers around him and the incidents always taking place. In odd moments he was always to be seen pulling a scribbling pad from his pocket and starting to sketch the various thoughts that entered his head. His sense of humour was most mischievous; his sense of the ridiculous was inbred. He organised and ran all the red letter parties we ever had held – no one considered having one without first saying "Let’s get hold of Jock", for his absence almost meant the party falling flat. It was he who was the genius who invented the sketches "Ze Zeppelin" and "Ze Submarine". His miming of Hitler, his impersonations of senior officers were howling successes. Always in Jock’s mind was the birth of an idea – to pull so and so’s leg, to make a skit on that incident, to ridicule to the utmost heights somebody’s unfortunate folly – and yet never was the humour cruel or vindictive. With Jock’s death such a lid has been clamped down on the laughing life in the Officer’s Mess that we shall be lucky once more to regain the same devil may care hilarity of heretofore."
He is buried at El Alamein War Cemetery Plot XXVIII Row H Grave 24
Lyon, Ernest Russell Flying Officer 131529
A Flight, 234 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 27th of July 1944 aged 21
Ernest Russell "Ben" Lyon was born at Colinton, Edinburgh on the 19th of December 1922 the second son of Ernest Hutcheon Lyon, a civil servant, and his second wife, Elizabeth Wright (nee Pealling) Lyon, of "Cargen", Bonaly Road, Edinburgh, later of Balerno, Midlothian. He was educated at James Gillespie’s School, Edinburgh and at George Heriot’s School Edinburgh from the 23rd of September 1930 to July 1932. He went on to George Watson’s College from the 22nd of September 1932 to 1941 where he was appointed as a Prefect in 1941 and was a member of the 1st Rugby XV.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 1st of March 1941 and was held in the Reserve until being called up on the 7th of July 1941 with the rank of Leading Aircraftman. His family was from a strongly Calvinistic faith, and disowned him when he decided to fight which meant he was unable to go home on leave. He underwent basic training in the UK from July to September 1941 and was posted for pilot training in the United States in October 1941, where he gained his wings on the 20th of May 1942 and was promoted to Sergeant the same month. He served as a flying instructor at various airfields in Canada and in the United States from May 1942 to March 1943. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 7th of September 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 4th of March 1943 and returned to the UK in April 1943 following his request for a transfer to an operational Squadron the previous month. He served as an instructor at an Operational Training Unit from June to October 1943 and was posted to 234 Squadron on the 20th of October 1943. On D-Day, the 6th of June 1944, he and his Squadron provided an escort to Allied gliders as they crossed the Channel to Normandy and provided top cover over Omaha and Gold Beaches.
At 7pm on the evening of the 27th of July 1944, Ben Lyon took off from RAF Prendannack in Spitfire Mk Vb AR343 with seven other aircraft from his Squadron for a mission named "Rhubarb 323". He was flying in Red Section as "Red 3" and was carrying a single 500lb bomb. Their mission was to attack the enemy airfield at Kerlin Bastard and to ascertain the number of enemy aircraft based there. The formation crossed the French coast at Plouescat, under a cloud base of 6,000 feet,. When they arrived over the target Blue Section made the first strafing run across the airfield, damaging the watchtower, barracks and hangars. Following this attack Red Section flew down the coast to Lorient where they came under anti-aircraft fire from an enemy flak battery at Quatre-Chemins to the south of Ploemeur. At around 8pm, Ernest Lyon’s Spitfire was bracketed by fire and was seen to dive away out of control before crashing in flames to the south east of Kerlin Bastard airfield. A local farmer was the first on the scene of the crash site at Kercaves, Larmor Plage and saw the pilot’s body lying dead some twenty feet from the aircraft. The Germans arrived a short time later when the farmer was told to leave. He was buried in the local cemetery on the 29th of July 1944 as an "unknown airman" and grave was correctly marked in 2007.
The crash site was investigated by aviation archaeologists in 2001 when various artefacts were removed.
He is remembered on his parent’s grave at Colinton Cemetery, Edinburgh.
He is buried at Guidel Communal Cemetery Row 6 Gave 33