History Information (Source: CWGC)

The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany.

The village of Hotton was the western limit of the great German counter offensive in the Ardennes in January 1945. A great many of the burials in Hotton War Cemetery date from that time, although there are also some from May 1940.

The cemetery contains 666 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 21 of them unidentified.

Halifax BIII MZ772 – 102 Sqdn

Took off 1741 4 Nov 1944 from RAF Pocklington. Cause of loss unknown.

Crew

Flying Officer Robert Frederick HUDSON (156283) Navigator RAF: V. A. 1.

Sergeant Jack Madeley WILBY (1595172) Air Gunner RAF: V. A. 2.

Sergeant Thomas JONES (3010723) Flight Engineer RAF : V. A. 3.

Flying Officer Anthony Carlyle CAMERON (415923) RAAF: V. A. 4.

Flying Officer Martin Peter FROBISHER (153321) Air Bomber RAF: V. A. 5.

Flying Officer Eric BOLTON (157916) Wireless Operator RAF: V. A. 6.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Peter Lawless enlisted in the 28th County of London Battalion of the London Regiment, and arrived in France on 28 October 1914. In May 1915, he transferred to the 18th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, which was charged with clearing, repairing and building front-line trenches. In July 1916, the battalion was moved from its location near Béthune in order to assist in the attempted Capture of Fricourt. In 1917, Lawless was moved to the 26th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, and was based in Salonika in November 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1919 and left the British Army with the rank of Major.

Peter Lawless worked for The Morning Post until it was acquired by The Daily Telegraph, which he joined in 1937. After the outbreak of the Second World War, he accompanied the Royal Air Force in France, between September 1939 and May 1940, as The Daily Telegraph's correspondent. He joined the Army Intelligence Corps on 4 July 1940, but was released in 1944 in order to return to The Daily Telegraph as a war correspondent with the American First Army after the invasion of Normandy.

He was killed by shell fire in action in Remagen, Germany, whilst covering the taking of one of the last surviving bridges over the River Rhine in March 1945.

Lancaster I PD252 – 218 Sqdn

Took off 2159 12 Aug 1944 from Methwold. Sgt Horrocks died within hours of the crash and was taken for burial at Henri-Chapelle he has been subsequently re-interred in the Hotton War Cemetery.

Crew

Flight Sergeant Alan David CHEW (1575850) Navigator RAF

Sergeant Thomas Bruce Rushworth HORROCKS (1588162) Air Gunner RAF

Pilot Officer Vernon Leicester HUMPHREY (417488) RAAF

Warrant Officer Abraham Thomson LYON (1360209) Lancaster RAF Runnymede Memorial : Panel 214.

Prisoners of War for Lancaster PD252

Sgt George Edward BOWER (2203720) Stalag Luft L7 Bankau near Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia

Warrant Officer Alwyn Terence TILL - 410756 - Royal Australian Air Force

Died 21 August 1944 Age 23

Son of Sydney Norman and Evelyn Victoria Till, of Mitcham, Victoria, Australia.

Personal Inscription: HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN