Noel john cecil lawson. M.b.e.

[Christopher MJ]

I am looking for biographical details of this gentleman please. I believe that he spent most of his career at sea laying cables. He had a rank as Temporary Commander in the RNR and he spent some of the war years involved in the Pluto project to lay pipeline to France.

[Marian Gray]

Hi Christopher,

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8047728

31936_1831109333_0079-00224.jpg

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imaus1787_081297-0486.jpg

The 1939 Census states that he was ''Manager Cable and Wishers Ltd Master Mawer Retired''

[Christopher MJ]

The Census probably means Cable and Wireless and Master Mariner. One of his daughters recently passed away. Her name was Sarah Lawson and she was an actress married to the actor Patrick Allen. There was a brother who was lost on active service in 1943.
Is there any way of finding out more about the early years at sea of this gentleman?

[j.sabourn]

Have you applied to the Chancellory for details of his past . All records are kept on file, holders especially the death of members of the Grand Order of the British Empire. So as to leave a vacancy on the list for someone else all Orders are restricted to the number of members living and the holder is obliged to inform the Chancellory of any change of address during his lifetime. What restrictions if any they place on divulging information I don’t know but it could be only family.Initials can be deceptive I know an Australian Who is a member of an Australian Order and after it has RFDS no one knew what it stood for , so I asked him if it stood for Royal Flying Doctor Service , Naaah he said it’s Reserve Forces Defence Services so we were all wiser. JS.
PS The last Grand Master of the Order was the Duke of Edinburgh so I assume today the new one is the new Duke an extra chore for him . Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

A little bit of personal knowledge about Cable and Wireless ….I applied to them after the seaman’s strike in 1966. Got a nice letter back saying I was outside their parameters of 28 being the cut off age me being 29 at the time . Their literature for others the likes of the person looking for uniform details was very RN orientated in fact they called their masters Commanders and more than likely others more appropriate to naval rank. The age restriction I would imagine was linked to seatine for attaining certificates , I had already mentioned I did not require seatime as had all certificates as needed. I received another letter a month later saying they would waive the age in my instance and what were my choices on where in the world to be stationed . The conditions superseded merchant shipping and there but for the person who misread the original letter went the job as by that time had accepted another job out in Canada. JS

[Marian Gray]

#2, Thank you Vernon for enlarging certs.

Continued

Hi Christopher, Not much more on Captain Lawson's Navy career apart from another:31936_1831109333_0104-01240.jpg
You would have to apply to the link in The National Archives #2. You can join for free but there will be a charge for info.

As you mentioned, his son: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...onteith-lawson

John Monteith Lawson in the UK, Navy Lists, 1888-1970

Rank Midshipman

Military Date: 1 Jan 1940

Service Branch Navy

Sub-Lt John Monteith Lawson died 23 MAR 1943 • Maddalena, Sardinia on HMS Turbulent


Oldest daughter: Dorothy J Lawson b 15 June 1917 in Tavistock, Devon - died Chichester, Sussex, 1992

On the 1901 Census it states aged 14yrs he is on Schoolship ''H.M.S. Conway''?? See below.

DBYRG13_3270_3272-0051 (1).jpg

Found a few trees on Ancestry, only one of them mentions his youngest daughter [Actress] Sarah Lawson.

If you require a photograph of him there are over 24,000+ photographs to wade through and no guarantee
However, can't resist so will have a quick peek later today.




Noel John Cecil Lawson

DEATH
29 Sep 1964 (aged 76–77)

BURIAL

Hills Cemetery, Horsham, Horsham District, West Sussex, England

PLOT: V 023, MEMORIAL ID 197860678

Can furnish you with parents /siblings names etc if of interest.

[Christopher MJ]

One of my interests is the submarine HMS Turbulent. I knew that John Monteith Lawson had been a Sub-Lieutenant aboard the boat and over a decade ago I made contact with his sister Sarah to ask her about his naval career. She told me a lot about their father and the Pluto project , the mascot of which was based upon a toy dog of hers.
Sarah died a month ago and was buried yesterday. I am trying to put together an article about John and his father for my blog hence my request here.He hadn’t been in submarines very long and he appears to have been ill for a considerable period prior to the patrol in Turbulent, possibly with Malaria.

[Hugh]

Hi Christopher,

Noel John Cecil Lawson appears to have served as follow, this is a result of some of my research and records are known to contain some mistakes and omissions. I have also enclosed a copy of his CR10 card which contains his photograph ID.

Noel John Cecil Lawson b. 19.12.1886 Chelsea, London. Dis A number 383423. Board of Trade Certificate of Competency [Master’s Ticket] 005297.

Training ship CONWAY - April 1900 – December 1902 – Cadet
Barque LINDFIELD – 98682 – 3.4.1903 – 2.4.1906 – Apprentice
Barque LINDFIELD – 98682 – 4.4.1906 – 29.6.1906 – A.B.

August 1906 passed for 2nd Mate.

C/S JOHN PENDAR – 112729 – 28.10.1906 – 19.11.1906. Aux 3rd Mate
C/S SHERARD OSBORN – 77104 – 7.3.1907 – 14.3.1908. Aux 3rd Mate
C/S SHERARD OSBORN – 77104 – 14.3.1908 – 5.9.1908. Extra 2nd Mate
C/S SHERARD OSBORN – 77104 – 5.9.1908 – 8.10.1908. Extra 2nd Mate
C/S SHERARD OSBORN – 77104 – 9.10.1908 – 9.11.1908. 2nd Mate
C/S SHERARD OSBORN – 77104 – 9.11.1908 – 22.6.1909. Extra 2nd Mate

August 1909 passed for 1st Mate.

SS BRITANNIA – 89690 – 31.12.1909 – 16.6.1910. 2nd Mate – Cable Service
SS BRITANNIA – 89690 – 16.6.1910 – 10.6.1912. 2ND Mate – Cable Service

July 1912 passed for Master

C/S JOHN PENDAR – 112729 – July 1920.

Regards
Hugh

[Marian Gray]

#7, Hi Christopher, aftraid I have extended my limitations already. Hugh is the expert on here



#8, Thank you Hugh much obliged as always

[John Arton]

Not wanting to hijack the thread but when I read the gentleman in question had been engaged in the PLUTO project I had to reply. My father was on deep sea rescue tugs during the war and was also involved in the PLUTO project. Over the years I have tried to obtain records of salvages and towing operations he carried out along with any convoy duties.
Rgds
J.A