This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Lawson, Richard Gordon played for England Internationals: 1 : 1925 I= Richard Lawson was born on 1 September 1901 Played as a No 8 for: St Bee’s School, Workington, Cumberland Profession: Sales director for Ogden and Lawson’s brass foundry of Workington. War service: 2nd Lieutenant, No 73 Sqn, Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force. Claimed a Fokker Dr.I out of control 3 miles south east of Caudry at 13.55 on 11 March 1918 when flying Sopwith Camel B2469 [a presentation aircraft – Australia No 19. Victoria No 1. The Sargood Bros – presented by F G & A H Sargood of Sydney and Melbourne]. Claimed an Albatros over St Simon at 09.40 and an LVG C type over Poeuilly at 1020 on 24 March 1918, when flying Camel B7233. Combat with an Albatros 25 March 1918; B7233 damaged. He was taken Prisoner of War when he was brought down flying Sopwith Camel D1827, on 11 April 1918 – he took off on an Offensive Patrol at 17.25 and was not seen leaving his formation. Leutnant Fritz Pütter (1895-1918), Jasta 68, claimed 2/Lt Lawson as a “Sopwith 1 seater” at 19.25 [German time] over Villers-aux-Erubles. 2/Lt Lawson was the 20th of Ltn Pütter’s total of 25 victories before the German died from wounds on 10 August after the tracer ammunition in his Fokker D.VII caught fire on 16 July. Remarks: Brother of Thomas Lawson (2 caps). 60 appearances for Cumberland, including the Championship-winning team of 1924. Served during the 1939-1945 War as a Captain in a Coastal Defence Battery. He died on 3 January 1961, in Cockermouth
