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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Remembering World War II
Yarmouth Connections
Lawrence Sherman
Rank:
Flying Officer
Service No:
J/10591
Regiment/Service:
Royal Canadian Air Force
162 Squadron (Bomber Reconnaissance)
Awards:
D F C (Distinguished Flying Cross)
Date of Birth:
March 25, 1920
Place of Birth:
Fort William, Ontario
Date of Enlistment:
May 29, 1941
Place of Enlistment:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Address At Enlistment:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Age at Enlistment:
21
Height: 5 feet, 8 inches
Weight: 148 lbs.
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Trade:
Student/Aircraft Construction
Martial Status:
Single [at enlistment]
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Next of Kin:
Jack Thomas Sherman [Brother] Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mary Georgina Sherman [Wife] Yarmouth, NS [September 1943]
Lawrence was the son of John and Florence [Julian] Sherman. While born in Fort William, Ontario, he lived in Vancouver
from the age of six months. His mother died in 1932. One of four children, he had two brothers, John Thomas, and Lewis, and
one sister Loretta [Fontenot]. He attended King George High School, Vancouver, and completed grade XII in 1938. He then took
an accountant’s course between 1939 and 1940. He was employed in 1938/1939 as a Deck Hand and Tug Stormer with Preston
and Mann Towing Co., and in 1939/1940 as a Logger and Boomman with Merrill, Ring, Wilson Logging Company. In 1941 until his
enlistment he was employed with Boeing Aircraft. Lawrence played baseball, basketball and enjoyed swimming. He also boxed,
played tennis, badminton and soccer.
He married Mary Georgina Sweeney, daughter of Francis Sweeney of Yarmouth, on September 13, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario.
Flying Officer Lawrence Sherman trained at No. 4 ITS (Initial Training School) at Edmonton, No.18 EFTS (Elementary Flight
Training School) at Boundary Bay, BC and No.7 SFTS (Service Flying Training School) at MacLeod, Alberta. He was stationed in
Yarmouth with 162 Squadron.
Date of Death:
June 13, 1944
Age at Death:
24
Memorial:
Runnymede Memorial (Surrey, England)
Grave Reference:
Panel 248.
Commemorated on page 442 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance
This page is displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 24
Not on the WWII list of the Yarmouth War Memorial
On June 11, 1944 Flight Officer Sherman flying flying Canso 9842/B, sank U-980. Two days later, June 13, he sighted and
attacked U-480; however, his plane was shot down by return fire. He was killed in action. Flight Sergeant J. E. Roberts was the
only survivor and became a prisoner of war. The Squadron was based at RAF Station Wick, northern Scotland at the time of the
attack.
“... F/O L. Sherman and crew of F/Os G. W. Besley, J. L. Harrison, F. W. Lawrence and R. R. Ward, FSs M. A. Gislason and F. R. Dreger and
Sgt. J. E. Roberts. The victim [U-boat] was first sighted at a distance of some miles and the subsequent attack followed the familiar
pattern.
An exchange of fire on the approach, while the sub endeavoured to keep stern-on to the aircraft; the dropping of depth charges in a
straddle, leaving the U-boat damaged and slowed down; a gun duel (this one lasted about ten minutes) during which the sub gradually sank
lower and finally disappeared. On this occasion the claim of one destroyed did not rest wholly on the sometimes doubtful evidence of a
large patch of oil, but also on the fact that approximately 35 members of the U-boat’s crew, as well as considerable wreckage, were seen
floating on the surface. For this “well executed operation”, Sherman received an immediate D.F.C.“
Sources and Information:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Veterans Affairs Canada
http://www.parl.ns.ca/airforce/RCAF.htm
http://aircrewremembered.com/rcafnotes-surnames-r-z.html
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/RCAF_Overseas_vol2_e.pdf
Lawrence Sherman