Lance Corporal William Lawton

William (Bill) Lawton was born in Glazebury Lancashire in 1918. In February 1940 at the age of 21 he enlisted as a regular soldier in the Grenadier Guards in Feb 1940. He volunteered for commando training in the same year. 

He was assigned to No2 Commando and served in L Troop. 

Bill completed his Commando training in Achnacarry in 1940. 

No2 Commando was selected for parachute training at Ringway. I understand that as he was an 'Original' he along with the rest of L Troop qualified as a paratroopers in 1940 or early 1941. Before Course 1 in November 1941. 

No2 Commando became 11th SAS in November 1940 and changed again in September 1941 to become 1st Parachute Battalion.

In 1942, Bill requested to be transferred back to regiment as he heard that  the 6th Battalion Grenadier Guards were being sent overseas and he wanted to join the fight. Bill saw action in North Africa and Italy. Fighting in the Battle of Mareth, Salerno Landings, Monte Camino and Monte Battaglia. 

Bill survived the war and was demobbed 22 July 1946. He returned to his wife Marjory, whom he married in Leigh, Lancashire in December 1941. They were happily married for 63 years, until Marjory passed away in 2004. 

After being demobbed, Bill became a Metropolitan Police Officer and served 25 years in the force. He was active in the local British Legion and regularly attended the annual No2 Commando reunions. 

Bill passed away in Red Hill, Surrey on 7 August 2007. 

This profile is still under construction. Awaiting service records.