Surname:	Laird
Initials:	J.R.
Rank:	Lance Corporal
Army No.:	7684769
Notes:	CMP. He was born and resided in Leeds. 16/4/49 died. War Diary 6 L of C Pro Coy, WO 168/81, Harstad, 16/4/40 No. 7864769 L/Cpl Laird (section sent ashore) killed in action during enemy bombing raid on harbour at Harstad at 16.00 hrs. Unit part of the Norwegian Expeditionary Force (NWEF). History of the Office of the Provost Marshall and the CMP. By A V Lovell-Knight, 1942. During the disembarkation the first air raid occurred and an advance party of Provost were immediately sent ashore. This party took control, sheperding the young and inexperienced troops to shelter. One CMP Lance Corporal went to the assistance of an officer and succeeded in getting him under cover when he himself was killed. Casualty List 182, Avon Force, Killed in Action, HQ Pro Coy, L of C, 16/4/1940 James Richard Laird Extract from the Birmingham Daily Post, 22/5/40. Killed in Action Corps of Military Police. L/Cpl J R Laird.