Leading Wren C/10036 Laura Beatrice Bessant, W.R.N.S., HMS Minos...

...was born the 29th of December 1905 at Lowestoft, the daughter of Robert F Bessant (1883 to 1963) and Florence` Caroline nee Wright (1885 to 1970). Laura was baptised at Lowestoft, St. Margaret on the 26th of January 1906.

The baptism register records that Robert was a fisherman and the family address was 26, Tennyson Drive, Lowestoft. (Robert Bessant served the First World War as Private 17686 with the Suffolk Regiment.)

The 1911 census gives the family were residing at 263 Raglan Street, Lowestoft. Florence, aged 25 was born at Lowestoft. She and Robert have been married for six years and have produced two children, both still alive. Children recorded are Laura aged 5 and George aged 2.

The family were at the same address for the 1921 census (and would still be there for the 1939 Register). Robert is a fisherman engine driver; his employer was Mr Evans, boat owner and he was out of work. Florence was “home duties”. Children recorded are Laura a dress maker out of work - her employer was miss Reader, dressmaker; George aged 13; Ivan aged 10; Robert aged 6; John aged 3 and Gordon aged 1, all born Lowestoft. 

By 1939, Robert was a “steam finishing boat engine driver”; Florence was unpaid domestic duties; Laura was a “shop assistant-ladies dresser”; Gordon a 'carpenter and joiner apprentice' and Mary a “junior club mimic and radio S….(?); one record is permanently closed.

Laura joined the W.R.N.S. and was based at the shore station HMS Minos.

The 'Waller Raid', Lowestoft, 13th January 1942 

On the afternoon of January 13, 1942, Laura and other Wrens were taking tea Waller’s Restaurant in the town centre, when at 4.27 a Dornier 217 based in Holland dropped four bombs, causing much death and destruction.

Seventy one people were killed in the raid, fifty two of which were civilians and nineteen were service personnel. More than one hundred and fifty people were injured, of which forty one were seriously injured.

The Marina Theatre, which had been damaged, and the Odeon Cinema were turned into temporary morgues. Most of the casualties occurred in Waller’s Restaurant from which the attack has become know as "The Waller Raid”.

In the four days that followed, rescue workers pulled twelve people from the debris. One of the rescuers, William Reade was awarded a British Empire Medal for his heroic efforts.

Laura buried in Lowestoft (Normanston Drive) Cemetery was one of those killed in Waller’s Restaurant along with two other WRENS - Ivy Creighton, C/2719 aged 32, buried Lowestoft (Normanston Drive) Cemetery and 10781 Mary Margaret Thompson, buried Holt Burial Ground, Norfolk.

This raid on the 13th of January was the worst of the war for Lowestoft, another attack was made soon after, on the 23rd, which killed twelve people.