Laurence Meredith

John Laurence Russell Meredith (August 14, 1907 – November 1990) was a Canadian newspaper journalist, World War II RAF pilot, First Nations language translator, and historian.

Personal

John Laurence Russell Meredith was born August 14, 1907 in Vancouver, British Columbia to Francis Russell Meredith and Mishea Beryl (Johnson) Meredith, who had immigrated from Perth, Australia, the year before.[1][2] He was primarily known as Laurence Meredith, however he was also known as "Laurie," "Larry," and "Lawrence" throughout his life.[1][3][4][5] He was a member of the Boys Choir at St. Paul's Anglican Church (Vancouver).[6] His childhood education was received at Lord Roberts School in Vancouver, BC.[7] At age 14, he won the governor-general's prize for highest standing as a student as he prepared to enter High School.[8][9] After graduating from The University of British Columbia in 1930 and serving as a Principal at a British Columbia school, he moved to London, England in October 1934 to work for United Press International.[10][11][12] He never married and his mother lived with him until she was invited to live in a Grace and Favour cottage by the Queen.[1] He died in November 1990 at Kensington and Chelsea, London, England.[13][2]

Time at university

Laurence attended The University of British Columbia from 1925 to 1929, except for a year long break in which he visited Australia.[14] He graduated with 2nd class honors in English and Latin.[1] The following year he returned to UBC and received a teaching certificate.[15][16] While at UBC he was the literary editor of the "Ubyssey" from 1928 to 1930, elected president of the Letters Club in 1928,[17] winner of the University Prize, English honour student, member of the Players' Club, and member of the Publications Board.[14][18][19]

War Record

Laurence joined the Royal Air Force during World War II and had a storied five-year career.[4][20] Early on, he was appointed to the Intelligence Branch of the RAF.[21] On October 10, 1941, he was raised to Acting Pilot Officer on probation (emergency).[22] On December 10, 1941, he was raised to Pilot Officer.[23] This career nearly ended early in 1942 when he fell 1000 feet without a parachute and broke almost every bone in his body.[4][24] On October 1, 1942, he was demoted to Flight Officer on probation.[25] He made it back into service and was appointed to Louis Mountbatten's staff in 1944.[26][4] On September 27, 1944 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant.[27] In 1946, he created an official record of RAF India.[28] On February 10, 1954, he relinquished his commission under the provisions of the Navy, Army and Air Force Reserve Act 1954 and was granted permission to retain the rank of Squadron Leader.[29]

Professional career

Pre-United Press

Before attending UBC, Laurence worked for a lumber camp. This gave him an opportunity to interact with the Kwakwaka'wakw nation. He wrote four articles about the nation that were published by the Library of Congress. He also developed an English translation list of the Kwakwaka'wakw's language.[1] After graduating from UBC, he become a teacher at Courtenay High School in Courteney, BC. He taught at Courtenay from 1930 to 1934.[30][31] For some of his time there, he was also principal.[4]

United Press

In 1934, Laurence moved to London where he joined United Press International.[10][32][12] Apparently, he was sent to the Fiji Islands at the start of his career.[20] His career at UPI was interrupted by World War II when he joined the Royal Air Force. After World War 2, Laurence returned to United Press International as a foreign correspondent. His articles began to be picked up by international papers in the late 1940s. The earliest known article of his that made it into American or Canadian newspapers appeared in 1947 and it detailed the destruction of the 16 palatial homes in London, known as Carlton House Terrace, to make way for the new home of Britain's Foreign Office.[33] In 1970, Laurence was appointed UPI's manager in Lisbon, Portugal.[34] His last article to appear in American or Canadian newspapers was an article on the interrupted recovery of the US dollar in August 1973. The article was published in the United States six days after Meredith's 66th birthday.[35] He was later quoted in an article published on the death of UPI reporter Harold Guard in 1986.[36]

Additional Resources

Laurence Meredith's records and ephemera are located in the University Archives of The University of British Columbia.[1]

References
  1. "Laurence Meredith fonds" (PDF). University Archives. University Archives. 2018. p. 3. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. "Meredith, Francis Russell (1863-1942)". WestEndVancouver. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  3. "The Ubyssey". The Ubyssey (Volume X, No. 14). Vancouver, BC. 18 November 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. Cash, Gwen (27 May 1950). "Island Youth Finds Acting Is Hard Work In England". The Province. p. 49. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007" (Database). Family Search. Family Search. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. "Boy Choir Leads Singing At St. Paul's Church". The Vancouver Sun. 19 September 1920. p. 24. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  7. "Lord Roberts School Students Now Nearly One Thousand Strong - Boys of Lord Roberts School". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. 25 September 1918. p. 8. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  8. "More Than 4,000 Children Pass Into High School in Province; Prize List Out". The Vancouver Sun. 27 July 1921. p. 12. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. "Present Trophies At King George School". Vancouver Daily World. Vancouver, BC. 12 November 1921. p. 13. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  10. The Players' Club of the University of British Columbia production of "Hedda Gabler.". Vancouver, BC: Player's Club of the University of British Columbia. March 1935. p. 13. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  11. "Miss Fowler Is Honored in East". The Province. Vancouver, BC. p. 13. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. Harvey, Isobel, ed. (July 1935). "Personals". Graduate Chronicle. Vancouver, BC: Alumni Association of the University of British Columbia. 0 (3): 31. doi:10.14288/1.0224311. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  13. "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007". Family Search. 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  14. Woodworth, Jean D., ed. (1929). The Totem for 1929. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia. p. 42.
  15. "Former Local Student Leads Teacher Exams". The Victoria Daily Times. Victoria, BC. 17 May 1930. p. 5. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  16. The University of British Columbia Calendar. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia. 1930. p. 302. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  17. "Letters Club". The Ubyssey (Volume X, No. 38). Vancouver, BC. 23 March 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  18. "Players' Club Select Many New Members". The Ubyssey (Volume X, No. 6). Student Publications Board of the University of British Columbia. 18 October 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  19. "The Ubyssey". The Ubyssey (Volume X, No. 20). Student Publications Board of the University of British Columbia. 20 January 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  20. "Spotlight Writers". Chicago Tribune. 13 May 1962. p. 45 (Part 2, page 1). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  21. Tobin, Brian A. (December 1941). "Letter to the Editor". The Graduate Chronicle. Vancouver, BC: Alumni Association of the University of British Columbia. III (3): 5, 12. doi:10.14288/1.0224319. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  22. "London Gazette". The London Gazette. 18 November 1941. p. 6647.
  23. "The London Gazette". The London Gazette (35387). 19 December 1941. p. 7193.
  24. "City Flyer Hurt". Vancouver Daily Province. 21 April 1942. p. 9. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  25. "Supplement To The London Gazette". The London Gazette (Supplement 35946). 19 March 1943. p. 1314. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  26. "News In General Of The Services". The Graduate Chronicle. Vancouver, BC: Alumni Association of the University of British Columbia. 6 (4): 15. July 1944. doi:10.14288/1.0224280. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  27. "Supplement To The London Gazette". The London Gazette (Suplement 36930). 6 February 1945. p. 816.
  28. "Branches". The Graduate Chronicle. Vancouver, BC: Alumni Association of the University of British Columbia. 8 (3): 35. October 1946. doi:10.14288/1.0224147. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  29. "Supplement To The London Gazette". The London Gazette (Supplement 40240). 23 July 1954. p. 4391. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  30. Assembly, British Columbia Legislative. Sixtieth Annual Report Of The Public Schools Of The Province Of British Columbia 1930-31 By The Superintendent Of Education With Appendices [Part II. Statistical Returns.]. Victoria, BC: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. p. L2. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  31. Sixty-Third Annual Report Of The Public Schools Of The Province Of British Columbia 1933-34 By The Superintendent Of Education. Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. 1935. p. 66. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  32. Crawford, Helen, ed. (May 1937). "UBC in London". Graduate Chronicle. Vancouver, BC: Alumni Association of The University of British Columbia. 0 (5): 9–10. doi:10.14288/1.0224342. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  33. Meredith, Laurence (13 June 1987). "London's Famous Carlton Terrace Joins New Era". Republican and Herald. Pottsville, Pennsylvania. p. 8. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  34. Taishoff, Sol, ed. (6 April 1970). "Fates & Fortunes" (PDF). Broadcasting. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications. 78 (14): 118–122. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  35. Meredith, Laurence (20 August 1973). "Dollar Loses Some Momentum". The Daily Herald. London, UK. p. 20. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  36. "Harold Guard, a pioneer submariner and veteran war correspondent..." United Press International. Christchurch, England. 11 February 1986. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
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