UP
Hull FC have 41 players serving in WW2 Armed Forces they all are heroes.
Hull F. C. Captain and WW2 hero Ernie Lawrence is safe in Switzerland.
Local lad Ernie Lawrence born in Hull on the 15 April 1918, and lived at 3 Chaucer Street near East Park. At the age of 20 Ernie was given his chance to play his first senior game for Hull FC against the league champions Widnes on the 24 Sept 1938.
He takes the place of Herbert who is on his honeymoon. Lawrence and half-back partner Johnson will be facing the best halves in the league and if they can hold their own in the battle of wits and stratagem they will earn the gratitude of the hull supporters.
Unfortunately a heavy defeat was recorded against Widnes much to the weakness of the forward allowing the league champions to completely control the game.
It took a while for Lawrence to get a regular place in the first team and at the age of 20 year youth was on his side. By the time of 1940 Lawrence was a regular halfback in hulls first team but was called up for the war effort and joined the Royal Artillery where he served his time in Europe.
It was recorded that Lawrence was a Prisoner Of War and held in a POW internment camp by the Italian force. Lawrence did manage to escape from the POW camp but was captured and held in a secure part of the camp. This did not deter Lawrence as he managed to escape again and this time was successful. His mother had official notification that her son Ernest Lawrence was now safe in Switzerland had the honour of being mentioned in dispatches (MID)
Ernie Lawrence Mentioned in Dispatches
In 1944 Gunner Ernie Lawrence was repatriated to England and married his girlfriend Olive J Ellwood. On discharge from the army Lawrence continued his employment as a Printers Winder and continued with is rugby sporting career. In 1947 Ernie took over the captaincy of Hull F C from Freddy Miller and held the post of captain for 2 years, he was selected to represent Yorkshire against Lancashire and Cumbria and was awarded his county caps.
Hull F C forward Tom Danter passes to Ernie Lawrence to race in and score the winning try against the strong French touring side from Marseilles.
In his long association with Hull FC he played 265 matches and scored 58 tries.
Laurie Barlow who played 173 matches was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in a Hill Attack.
Details of how Sgt. Laurie Barlow of the Coldstream Guards: the former Hull F C forward won his Military Medal. The official Citation was received by Mr Barlow of 1 Victoria Ave-Rustenburg Street, Hull, from the regimental headquarters.
It states During the attack on a hill on September 25, 1943. This non commissioned officer, who was acting platoon commander, led the leading section forward and it was due to him that they reached the crest so quickly.
Through-out the attack he set a fine example to his platoon and was tireless in his efforts in reorganising the position and consolidating. The remainder of the day after consolidation, he himself went forward on to the forward slopes of the position as a forward Bren observation post.
His example to his men and his complete disregard for his own safety was instrumental in the capturing and holding of the hill. Until dark his observation post was under heavy mortar and shell fire, but he remained at his post and so prevented an enemy infiltration or counter attack.
No. 2654528 Sergeant Lawrence Barlow, Coldstream Guards (Hull)
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 27 JANUARY, 1944Fred Shillito escapes from Italian prisoner of war camp.
Fred Shillito signed for Hull FC and his debut was on the 26 Jan 1946 against Bramley. Just over year later 12 March 1947 ironically he received an injury in the game with Bramley which will deprive Hull of one of their best and most hardworking forward.
It was unfortunate that in a tackle he fell heavily on his right shoulder. He was taken to Leeds infirmary and a broken collar bone is suspected.
Both the club and it followers will miss Shillito hustling and forceful play, and all will hope for his speedy recovery.
Having first played for hull Kingston Rovers then moved and joined Halifax.
The war then claimed Shillito and he became a sergeant in the 4th Bn East Yorkshire regiment. He was captured in Italy and was a prisoner-of war along with his club mate, Ernie Lawrence.
He escaped however, and after hiding in the hollow trunk of a tree eventually found his way back to the British lines. His many war experiences would make a long and thrilling reading.
Shillito playing record for Hull FC was 48 games and in Jan 1948 he was transferred to York.
Hull FC players who lost their lives in WW2 in Military Service.
I have featured three that died in service of their country.
Ernest Herbert
Ernie Herbert Hull FC new halfback from Ossett rugby union made his debut against a French team at the Boulevard on the 24 March 1934.
Very soon he became a regular stand off for Hull and was selected to play for Yorkshire and played in two international matches against France in 1936. During his spell with Hull he played in 213 matches scoring 76 tries.
Lived in Leeds and was the Landlord of the Falcon Inn. At the outbreak of the war Ernie Herbert joined the army and whilst on leave from the army he was admitted into hospital with Glandular trouble a few weeks later he died at home in Leeds at the age of 28 years.
John Richard Pexton Dawson
J P R Dolly Dawson signed for Hull FC from Warrington and his debut was against Bramley on the 16 Apr 1923 as the loose-forward. Only a few weeks earlier Bramley inflicted a heavy defeat on Hull by 35 points to Hull 11 point.
So the fans will be curious to see how Dawson performs, Hull won the Home match by 28 points to Bramley 3. Dawson became a great favourite with the fans and played 239 matches and scored 26 tries.
In his early rugby days Dawson played in Liverpool and the researcher for the Sefton club David Bohl has a detailed account of Jack Dawsons rugby and RAF career click the link to see more.
Please click the link for information on Dolly Dawson
Albert Edward Allan
Albert Edward Allan the Hull FC center-three-quarter was a popular player with his colleagues and the fans.
He was a Hull Lad and started playing rugby whilst at Courtney Street School and selected to play for Yorkshire County schoolboys.
His debut for Hull was against a winning Oldham team on 08 Oct 1938. Albert Allan became a regular in Hulls line up and he played in 131 matches scoring 31 tries.
For the war effort he joined Royal Air Force and was killed in service on the 28 May 1944.
