Biggs Walter Laurence MID.
Royal Navy
The WW2 story of Laurence Walter Biggs has been recorded in a book titled; http://www.Amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0992429307/virtonthevirtuat"target="new">'Above and Beyond'. It was written for our family so his memory and story would not be lost to the passing of time. I can only encourage you to record your families war story. The book concludes with the the story of Peter Bickmore BEM who served on MTB 243.
Royal Navy Research Archive book review: Above and Beyond, is a story of one man’s journey to God; Laurence Walter Biggs’ story tells of his journeys in World War Two as a Seaman Gunner on the Russian convoys to Murmansk, to officer training school as a CW candidate and an unexpected turn of events when he has to leave the course. Laurence finds himself promoted to Leading Seaman and doing three jobs on his return to normal duty; by day a Gunnery instructor at HMS Gosling teaching new entrants, by night teaching weapons and commando skills to civilians gong behind enemy lines, and when called for, he operated as the Coxswain of a vessel in the top secret world of covert operations with one of the RNs Special Operations Groups. After completing 10 missions with the Special Operations Group it really was back to 'normal’ duties, this time with Coastal Forces employed on minesweepers and patrol work. In December 1944, after several near brushes with death, Laurence finds himself floating in the freezing waters of the North Sea after MTB 243 has struck a mine and been abandoned, he makes a promise to serve God.
The book takes its title from the citation for the award of Mentioned in Dispatches ‘Above and Beyond the Call of Duty’ which Laurence received for his actions that night a aboard MTB 243, a night which would mark the start of his journey to God and a promise to keep. Laurence Biggs lived to fulfill his promise and became an ordained a Priest in the Anglican Church of England on Sunday 21st May 1967 and later emigrated to Australia in 1970. He died in 2005 in Drouin, Victoria, his last Parish.
