Laurence Littlewood was living with his parents at Newtown House, Honley at the time of his war service and he enrolled in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve prior to being old enough to join up. He worked for his father, John, as a motor mechanic at the family garage. John Anthony Littlewood had previously been an electrical engineer who had branched out into the new-fangled horseless carriage. Laurence’s grandfather was Lupton Littlewood, a well known Honley woollen manufacturer and member of the Local Board.

In 1916, when he was old enough, Laurence signed on at Newcastle and was sent for training to HMS Hermione in Southampton, where his engineer training came in useful. His engagement was for the duration as required. HMS Hermione was an eight gun twin-screw cruiser launched at Devonport in 1893 and at the outbreak of World War I became guard ship at Southampton. From December 1916 until December 1919, she became HQ Ship there for motor launches and coastal motor boats (minesweepers).

After training, as a skilled man, he was posted to Osea island in the estuary of the River Blackwater, Essex, to a newly completed complex of maintenance workshops to take up work as a Petty Officer in motor boats.

Osea Island was a base for Coastal Motor Torpedo Boats during World War I, with 2,000 sailors billeted there, mainly in temporary huts which were removed after the war.

Although he did not qualify for the Victory in Europe Medal as he technically didn’t serve abroad, Laurence was awarded the 1914-18 War Medal. He later held a long service medal for the special constabulary and was a member of the Royal Observer Corps for the duration of the Second World War.

After the war, he lived in Long Lane, Honley before moving back to Newtown House and the garage business after the death of his father.