Walter George Laws

A Leading Seaman with H.M. Submarine Odin, Walter died on 27th of June 1940 at the age of 29. 

Walter was born at Carlton Colville on 29 September 1910, a son of Walter George and Bertha Carrie Laws. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville, on 30 October 1910 and his family lived at The Grove Cottage, Grove Farm, Carlton Colville. By 1921 his family were living at Camp Common, Hopton.

Walter was working as a farm labourer when he joined the Royal Navy, as a Boy 2nd Class, on 26 March 1927. Walter was advanced to Able Seaman on 29 March 1930. He volunteered for the submarine service on 19 June 1936 and joined H.M.S. Dolphin before being drafted, on 21 October 1936, to H.M. Submarine Oberon. On 3 March 1937 he joined H.M. Submarine Pandora and on 11 August 1939 he joined H.M. Submarine Odin. Walter was advanced to Leading Seaman on 13 December 1939 and he was a Seaman Torpedo but had been recommended for service as a Leading Torpedo Operator. 

In 1932 Walter married Dorothy May Howes at Lowestoft. In 1939 Dorothy lived, with her father, at The Street, Lound.

Walter was serving on the submarine H.M.S. Odin when the submarine was sunk by depth charges in the Gulf of Taranto.