William Lewis Wells

William Lewis Wells
Born 1895
Hounslow, Middlesex, England
Died 6 May 1918
Officers section, plot B. 4. 25, St.-Sever Cemetery Rouen, France
Allegiance England
Service/branch Infantry; aviation
Rank Captain
Unit No. 22 Squadron RFC
Awards Military Cross with Bar

Captain William Lewis Wells was a British World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. His exceptional valour twice won him the Military Cross.

Early life

William Lewis Wells was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England in 1895.[1] He was selected as a Temporary Boy Clerk in the British postal service on 4 April 1911.[2]

World War I

On 25 March 1915 Private William Lewis Wells of the London Regiment was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment.[3]

On 22 September 1916 he was appointed a Flying Officer and seconded to the Royal Flying Corps.[4][5]

By early 1918, he had been posted to 22 Squadron as a Bristol F.2 Fighter pilot. He scored his first aerial victory while with them, on 25 January 1918. By 16 March, he had run his score to six.[6] On 19 March 1918 he was appointed as Flight Commander and promoted to temporary captain.[7] A prompt transfer to 48 Squadron followed, as he scored his seventh victory with them on 21 March 1918. Two days later, he rounded out his score list with a triple triumph.[8] His exploits twice won him the Military Cross. On 13 May 1918, his first MC was gazetted:

....On four occasions during three months, he has been engaged with superior enemy formations, and has brought down completely out of control five hostile machines and sent down one other crashing to earth. He has displayed the greatest gallantry, courage, and determination in dealing with enemy aircraft.[9]

His second award came as a Bar to his MC, and was gazetted 22 June 1918. Note that it was not granted solely for his air-to-air combat:

He frequently attacked enemy troops and transport with bombs and machine-gun fire during operations, often flying at a very low altitude under heavy fire. While attacking enemy troops from a height of 150 feet he was severely wounded, but succeeded in bringing his observer and machine back safely. He has destroyed five enemy machines and driven down five others out of control, and has always set an example of courage and determination to the flight which he has commanded. (M.C. gazetted 13th May, 1918.)[10]

However, Wells never got to read the praise for his gallantry. He was killed in action one week before his first award, on 6 May 1918. He was buried in the officers section, plot B. 4. 25, St.-Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.[11]

List of aerial victories

No. Date/time Aircraft Foe Result Location Notes
1 25 January 1918 @ 1340 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter serial number A2736 Albatros D.III fighter Driven down out of control Southwest of Lille, France Observer/gunner: Hugh Fitzgerald Moore
2 18 February 1918 @ 1400 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n A7251 German reconnaissance plane Driven down out of control Seclin, France Observer/gunner: Hugh Fitzgerald Moore
3 13 March 1918 @ 1630 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n A7286 Albatros D.V fighter Destroyed West of Emmerin, France Observer/gunner: Edward George Herbert Caradoc Williams
4 16 March 1918 @ 1045 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4808 Pfalz D.III fighter Driven down out of control Oignies, France Observer/gunner: George S. L. Hayward
5 16 March 1918 @ 1100 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4808 Pfalz D.III fighter Driven down out of control Oignies, France Observer/gunner: George Hayward
6 16 March 1918 @ 1115 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4808 Pfalz D.III fighter Destroyed Beaumont Observer/gunner: George Hayward
7 21 March 1918 @ 1420 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4707 Pfalz D.III fighter Destroyed Southwest of Honnecourt Observer/gunner: Walter Beales
8 23 March 1918 @ 1124 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4707 LVG reconnaissance plane Destroyed Northwest of Hem Observer/gunner: Walter Beales. Victory shared with Andrew Cowper
9 23 March 1918 @ 1625 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4707 LVG reconnaissance plane Destroyed Matigny, France Observer/gunner: Walter Beales
10 23 March 1918 @ 1625 hours Bristol F.2 Fighter s/n C4707 Pfalz D.III fighter Destroyed Matigny, France Observer/gunner: Walter Beales[12]

See also

Aerial victory standards of World War I

Endnotes

  1. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/wells.php Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  2. ↑ (The London Gazette, 4 April 1911, p. 2710) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28482/pages/2710/page.pdf Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  3. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 24 March 1915) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29111/supplements/2954 Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  4. ↑ (The London Gazette, 13 October 1916) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29783/pages/9863 Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  5. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 16 October 1916 http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29787/supplements/10037 Retrieved 15 June 2011. Note: Such appointment usually approximately coincides with completion of aviation training.
  6. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/wells.php Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  7. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 April 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30618/supplements/4283 Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  8. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/wells.php Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  9. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 May 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30681/supplements/5704 Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  10. ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30761/supplements/7397; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30761/supplements/7401 Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  11. ↑ http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=Wells&initials=W+L&war=1&yearfrom=1918&yearto=1918&force=&nationality=6&send.x=34&send.y=11 Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  12. ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/wells.php Retrieved 13 June 2011.