Frederic Laurence
| Frederic Hope Laurence | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1895 or 1896 Marylebone, London, England |
| Died | Unknown |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1945 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Unit | |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | World War I • Western Front World War II |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Group Captain Frederic Hope Laurence MC was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.
Laurence was born in Marylebone, London, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Laurence, later of Letchworth, Hertfordshire.
Laurence was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, being confirmed in his rank on 6 March 1915. He was later seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer on 23 May 1917. He then served as a flight commander in No. 70 Squadron, flying a Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter. He gained his first victory, shared with the rest of his flight, on 28 July 1917 by driving down a German two-seater over Ypres. On 20 October he drove down an Albatros D.V over the Roulers—Menin road, and another west of Roulers the following day. A week later, on 27 October, he scored twice, driving down two more D.Vs over Roulers, one solo and the other shared with Major Nethersole, Lieutenant Goode, and Second Lieutenants Frank Hobson, C. W. Primeau, and Edward Booth. On 26 November he was awarded the Military Cross.
Laurence remained in the Royal Air Force post-war, being granted a short service commission as a flight lieutenant on 24 October 1919, relinquishing his commission in the 6th Worcesters the same day. On 13 January 1922 his short service commission was cancelled, as he was granted a permanent commission, backdated to October 1919.
After serving at the Boys' Wing at RAF Cranwell, he was transferred to the RAF Depot (Inland Area) as a supernumerary officer on 14 November 1922, before being posted to the No. 2 Flying Training School on 23 February 1923. From 1 to 13 September 1923 he was transferred to the half-pay list, pending embarkation overseas, then travelled to India to serve in No. 27 Squadron from 14 September 1923. In February 1924, in Bombay, he married Marjorie Vera ("Daidie") Rawlinson of Graythwaite Old Hall, Ulverston, Lancashire. On 26 January 1926 Laurence was transferred to RAF Headquarters, India, then to the Aircraft Depot on 1 September 1927, before returning to England.
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