Volume 24 www.legionnl.com 31 Newfoundland Labrador Command When Flt. Lt. Power passed away in 2006 in Sydney, NS he was the last surviving plotter in “The Great Escape” from Stalag III during WWII in what is now Poland. Law was not among the escapees. He assisted the escape committee with breakout plans. Before war broke out, he held the Nova Scotia lightweight boxing title. He persuaded the camp commandant to allow him to build a boxing ring. The construction activity of digging, sawing and hammering diverted the attention of the guards and allowed tunnellers to scatter dirt under the ring. On escape night Law organized a diversionary fight card which was watched enthusiastically by prisoners and guards. His first aircraft was a Wellington bomber. While flying a night raid over Germany near Wesel they were attacked by night fighters, shot down and forced to bail out. All 6-crew survived but 2 were hospitalized. Several months later he returned to Squadron 426 and on the night of Jan. 27, 1944, his Lancaster bomber was shot down over Berlin. Four bombers were lost, 23 crew members were killed and six, including 3 from Law’s crew parachuted to safety and became POW’s. His parents were told he was missing in action and it was months later they learned he was a POW from the International Red Cross. Law was a bombardier and navigator. There were no gallantry ribbons on his chest, but he was proud of his 2 gold caterpillar pins on his lapel. The gold caterpillars are presented to airmen who are forced to bail out while under enemy fire. “Boxer Who Fought the Good Fight in The Great Escape” Flt. Lieutenant Lawrence (Law) Power
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