your comments
Duncan Elliott, New Zealand
I am delighted to have read all the foregoing information.I had the pleasure of working for the Edwards Brothers in Fletching, East Sussex, UK, for many years and "Jimmy" the comedian, often spoke of Lummie Lord as a fellow pilot. I seem to remember Jimmy telling me of the moments leading up to the incident which lead to David Lord's award for gallantry. This in turn lead me when I was in Ouisterbeck some years later to wander at will through the immaculate war graves cemetery and stumble upon quite by chance the war graves mentioned above. Quite an eerie moment which took me by surprise and many subsequent quiet thoughts. What or who had lead me to the very spot?
Thu Jul 17 08:37:39 2008
Alister Williams from Wrexham
Delighted to see the comment from Rosemary Barker on the David Lord VC page. I would very much like to contact her as I am currently working on a new book that will include an extensive and detailed entry on her uncle. Last summer I visited Arnhem and saw the crash site of David Lord's aircraft; the graves of David Lord, his crew and the four army dispatchers; and various items that have been recovered from his aircraft. I have recently given a number of lectures on his life and career and am pleased to report that he is still highly regarded and respected in Wrexham. Should Mrs Barker care to contact me, my details are with the web team.
Mon Dec 10 07:59:09 2007
Rosemary Barker
David Lord was my uncle - I am the eldest of 5 children born to Francis Lord and the sister of the Michael and David mentioned above. I would like to hear from Sarah from Wrexham and W Allister Williams because I have done much to the family tree and could possibly aid them.
Mon Sep 24 08:58:41 2007
Glen Connolly, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada.
On September 19th, 1944 I was the Wireless Operator in a 48 Squadron Dakota which flew from Down Ampney to Arnhem and back. After we landed we inspected the "Dak" for any flak damage. In the centre section of the wings we found several bullet holes from ground-fire. Later I was in the Officers' Mess. I recall an Officer coming in and saying that Flight Lieutenant Lord did not come back. On the 20th we went back to Arnhem and returned...unscathed. A few months later the two Pilots, the Navigator and I were posted to a Royal Air Force Squadron in the Far East. When the war there ended I was posted back to Down Ampney and a Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron. It was not until just a few years ago that I learned of David Lord's heroic deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Mon Sep 17 08:44:11 2007
Rachelle Fox from Weston super Mare
My father's name also was David Lord. He was born in India in 1936, with family connections in Ireland. I know very little about his side of the family but he was supposed to be named after a family member. His mother was called Mary. My father was sent to England in 1947, to protect him from the violence in India at that time. If anyone has any information about the history of my family it would be wonderful if they could contact me.
Mon Aug 13 14:45:55 2007
Janet, Wrexham
I do not believe Lord Street was named after David Lord VC, as surrounding streets are named King, Queen, Duke, Regent etc, all of which imply aristocratic titles. There is a brass plaque to David Lord's memory in St Mary's Cathedral, Regent Street.
Mon Jun 4 07:42:27 2007
Dave Rogers, Swindon
My father came from Flint and attended Mold Alun GS. He taught in Germany pre war and settled in Swindon. He was a friend of David Lord and when Lord was stationed at Down Ampney they met frequently. I am named after David Lord. My mother and father never forgot Lummie and talked of him freqently. They clearly recall the realisation, after a long gap in time that when he failed to call, he must be missing. I intend to visit the grave in Holland in early December.
Tue Nov 7 09:40:41 2006
Simon Lord in Ashford Kent
I have just read the piece above by W Alister Williams from Wrexham. I believe his information about the Chindits asking 'Lord, give us this day our daily bread' is incorrect. My grandfather was Horace James (known as Peter) Lord who was Wingates staff captain on the first Chindit expedition. He pioneered the art of air supply in Burma and this quote was attributed to him in a radio message from the jungle. I am intrigued to know if there is a connection with David Lord as I believe my side of the Lord family hail from Castletownsend/Skibereen/Bandon/Cork.
Thu Oct 19 08:07:06 2006
Gillian Rees from Santa Cruz, CA. USA
My heartfelt thanks to W. Alister Williams for writing "Against the Odds" The Life of Group Captain Lionel Rees VC. I located this out of print biography on the internet, read it and found to my delight that I have relatives in The Bahamas! So my son and I flew in his two seater Cessna 152 to The Bahamas two weeks ago with the purpose of locating Group Captain Rees's gravesite in the RAF cemetery in Nassau and to pay our respects. Quite an adventure. Apparently ours was the smallest plane that the Bahamians had seen land at Nassau, (now known as the Lynden Pindling airport.) Glad I was ignorant of that fact before we left. My initial nervousness eased after my son reminded me that Lionel Rees flew with no GPS and had the Germans firing at him. Next trip to Andros. Thank you W. Alister Williams.
Fri Aug 4 08:09:33 2006
Dan Buckley, Cork, Ireland
Dear Sarah,
David Lord was a first cousin of my mother, Imelda. She is still alive, hale and hearty and living in Cork, in Ireland, as I am. David's sister, Pamela, is currently (May 11 06) staying with her on a visit. David is spoken of often in our family and we are very proud of him and his very brave deed. If anyone wants to know more about him please email me at the address below. However, judging from the preceding comments, it seems that many other people are aware of David as well. His brother, Frank, also won medals for bravery. He was a pilot, too.
Dan Buckley
Thu May 11 13:27:45 2006
Arie-Jan van Hees
David Lord's 'Arnhem Story' has been elaborately described in my non-profit privately published book 'Green On! the Story of Arnhem re-supply', published in September 2004. The book (400 pages and 600 photographs) includes photographs of the four crewmembers and the four air despatchers who were also killed in action. Only Pilot officer Harry King survived. Incidentally, one of the crew members was Pilot Officer Richard Medhurst (co-pilot) whose father was Air Marshall Medhurst.
As the (Dutch) Secretary of our local Royal Air Forces Association I am actively involved in having an 'Arnhem RAF Aircrew Memorial' unveiled and dedicated in Oosterbeek in September 2006.
A photograph of the planned monument can be seen on my website www.rafarnhemresupply.nl
Click on 'Page 8' to see the monument.
Best regards from Eijsden, the Netherlands,
Arie-Jan van Hees
Mon Jan 23 12:21:35 2006
Wil, Wrexham.
Mr W. Alister Williams, Wrexham, many thanks for your biography of David Lord V.C. Much more comprehensive than any I've read before. Rob from Wrexham: Lord Street, Wrexham is part of the theme in that part of town, i.e. King, Regent, Duke and Lord Streets. A small development located on the site of the former Croesnewydd railway goods yard has been named 'Llys (Court) David Lord', note the omission of V.C.!
Fri Jan 6 09:50:00 2006
W Alister Williams from Wrexham
David Samuel Anthony Lord was born in Cork, the son of Samuel Beswick Lord (a warrant officer in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, who was later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal) and Mary Ellen Lord (née Miller, of Cork) on 18 October 1913. After the First World War he went to India and received his early education at Lucknow Convent School. When his father retired from the Army he was given a civilian post at the RWF Depot, Hightown Barracks, Wrexham and the family moved to live at 15 Cilcen Grove, Acton (they later moved to live at 22 Sandringham Road, Croes Eneurys). David was an altar boy at St Mary's RC Cathedral and attended St Mary's School. He was intending to become a RC priest and was enrolled as a pupil at St Mary's College, Aberystwyth before becoming a student at the English Ecclesiastical College, Valladolid, Spain. He was not a pupil at Grove Park School, but his brother Frank was. After some time in Spain, David decided that the priesthood was not the career for him and returned to Wrexham where he was employed as a photographer's assistant by Francis the Chemist in Hope Street. He left Wrexham in the mid 1930s to try his hand as a freelance writer in London where, although he had a number of short stories published, he was unable to earn a living and enlisted in the RAF in 1936 as AC2/ACH (six year service). He trained as a pilot and became a Sergeant Pilot in 1939 when he was posted to 31 Squadron in India. He was a supply pilot on the North West Frontier, flying obsolete Vickers Valentia biplane bombers, until 1941 when his squadron was the first to receive the new Douglas DC2 Dakota transport aircraft. He saw active service in the Middle East where he was slightly injured in a crash before returning to India. Commissioned in 1942, he flew on supply missions to the Chindits who were operating behind enemy lines in Burma. Because of his religious background and placid personality he was never known to swear, only saying 'Lumme' which became his nickname. It is reputed that, when a resupply drop was requested by the Chindits the radio message that was sent read 'Lord, give us this day our daily bread'. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 and featured in a major article for the American Life magazine. In January 1944 he returned to Britain for the first time since 1939 and was posted to 271 Squadron, training to drop airborne troops, supplies and tow gilders. Based at Down Ampney in Wiltshire he took part in the D-Day operations and, in September, the attempt to seize the Rhine bridge at Arnhem in Holland. On the third day of operations his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire near the Dutch border but he continued to the target with his starboard wing on fire. Having dropped his supplies he realised that one pannier was still on board and went round for a second time. It is reported that all fighting on the ground stopped as soldiers from both sides watched the blazing aircraft come over the DZ (drop zone) again. As soon as the last crate had been dropped, Lord ordered the crew of 7 to bale out. As he did so, the starboard wing collapsed and the aircraft plunged to the ground. Only one man escaped, the navigator, Flt Lt Harry King, who became a prisoner of war. It was only on his release in 1945 that the full story of Lord's action was revealed and he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. David Lord is buried alongside his crew in Oosterbeek Military Cemetery, Arnhem. I am currently writing a new, enhanced edition of my book The VCs of Wales and the Welsh Regiments and would very much like to contact anyone who might have photographs of the Lord family, particularly his nephews David and Michael Lord.
Fri Nov 11 12:08:58 2005
Geoffrey Evans
David Lord's story is so well known that I can add little to it except to say that the local branch of the R.A.F. Association here in Wrexham have a place where his story is displayed with his photograph. There is a memorial to him in the Wrexham Memorial Hall off Chester Road where the Branch and Cadets of 2279 Sqdn A.T.C pay tribute to his bravery each year on Armistice day. When I organised the official opening of the Branch here in Wrexham I had the privilege of meeting his brother, then retired Wing Commander, who was invited to the ceremony. The Royal Air Force when they took delivery of the V.C.10 Aircraft some years ago named one "David Lord V.C" in his honour a ceremony again attended by his brother.
Thu Oct 20 10:26:26 2005
rob from wrexham
I wondered if Lord St in Wrexham was named after David Lord?
Tue May 10 16:50:56 2005
John Short from York
David Samuel Lord was born in Cork, Ireland, on 18 October 1913 where his father was serving with the British Army. He came as a boy to Wrexham when his father's tour of duty in Ireland with the Royal Welsh Fussiliers ended. His first
Tue Mar 29 07:48:54 2005
Wil
David Lord took part, I think, in operation Market Garden in the Arnhem area. Standing correction if others know better, I believe he bailed out his crew when his plane caught fire. I have visited the War-grave cemetery at Oosterbeek and photgraphed his gravestone. There is also a very interesting museum in the town exhibiting memorabilia of the British Forces used in the Battle of Arnhem. Oosterbeek war cemetery is, like all the others I have seen, wonderfully looked after, some by locals, others by British ex-servicemen. Wrexham Leader have published at least one article on David Lord V.C. in recent years.
Wed Feb 2 11:27:34 2005
Michael Lord
Dear Sarah from Wrexham; David was my uncle - his brother & my father Francis Edward Lord, also a Dakota pilot with RAF's Transport Command, received the AFC, died in 2000. David & Frank's father was a Royal Welsh Fusilier, based in Wrexham. My elder brother David Antony Lord received The Oak Cluster & Mentioned in Dispatches as a RN helicopter pilot during the Bosnian years.
Tue Nov 16 08:54:33 2004
Andrea MacDonald from Wrexham
Well Sarah my Dad who only passed away this year on March 27th, God bless him, was in school with David Lord. My Dad was born in Brook Street in 1913. His name was Benjamin James MacDonald. He and David both attended St Mary's Catholic School but in those days children went to the nearest school regardless of their religion. David and my Dad were the two clever ones in the class. David and Dad tried ths scholarship exam for Grove Park and my Dad passed but his family were not able to send him there cos of the cost of uniform etc. Not sure whether David passed or not but you could also go to Grove Park if your family was wealthy and I believe his family was. I know that he qualified as a chemist/pharmacist and worked at Francis the Chemists which is somewhere near to where Next is now. Then of course they both fought in the War and David received the VC posthumously for not bailing out of his plane. Two very brave men indeed.
Thu Oct 28 11:30:59 2004
