| James Joseph Wellwood | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1892 |
| Died | October 25, 1984 (aged 92) |
| Place of birth | Drouin, Victoria, Australia |
| Place of death | Armadale, Victoria, Australia |
| Springvale Crematorium | Victoria, Australia |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Artillery; aviation |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | No. 2 Squadron AFC |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Lieutenant James Joseph Wellwood was an Australian World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. After the war, he went on to a long career as an agriculturalist and husbandman at his Australian home.
Early life[]
James Joseph Wellwood was the son of Elizabeth Anne Payne and James Wellwood. He was born in Drouin, Australia on 15 October 1892,[1] one of five brothers.[2] Wellwood's mother died when he was ten.[1]
Military career[]
Wellwood originally served in an Australian militia unit, the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery before he enlisted in the Siege Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force on 1 June 1915. On his enlistment papers, he stated he was a born British subject working as a "motor mechanic".[3]
He later transferred to the Australian Flying Corps, and trained as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5 pilot. By mid 1918, he had been assigned to 2 Squadron AFC. He scored his first aerial success on 1 August 1918, destroying a German two-seated Rumpler reconnaissance plane southeast of Lille. On 12 August, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII over Licourt. Wellwood teamed with squadronmate Adrian Cole to destroy a DFW recon machine over Epinoy on 25 August.[4]
In September 1918, Wellwood struck twice, driving a Fokker D.VII down out of control on the 6th, and setting a Pfalz D.III afire on the 24th. Wellwood's final two victories were achieved on 4 November 1918; in separate patrols, he destroyed a Fokker D.VII and drove down another out of control.[4]
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his exploits,[5] which was personally presented by General Sir William Birdwood on 20 March 1919.[6]
Post World War I[]
Wellwood married Myra Cantor on 28 June 1924 at Trinity Church, Hampton, Victoria, Australia.[1]
Wellwood was active in horse racing as early as 1929,[7] and became secretary of the Bunyip Race Club in early 1933.[8] He was selected as secretary of the Drouin branch of the United Country Party in early 1937.[9] He was a member of a stock cooperative marketing merino sheep from 1937 to 1941.[10][11][12]
On 8 November 1945, Wellwood posted notice that he would not allow debts to be contracted in his name without his written authority.[13]
James Joseph Wellwood died on 25 April 1984 in Armadale, Victoria, Australia. He was cremated at Springvale Crematorium.[1]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://members.westnet.com.au/boundy/coate/f15.htm#f96 Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4700681?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/australi/attestation/wellwood.php Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/australi/wellwood.php Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ↑ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 June 1919) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31378/supplements/7031; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31378/supplements/7031 Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Argus, 13 March 1920) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1682154?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Examiner, 11 April 1929) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/51537852?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Argus, 31 January 1933) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4522306?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Argus, 3 April 1937) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11053895?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Argus, 28 March 1941) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8156576?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Argus, 30 March 1937) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11075743?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Argus, 4 March 1938) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11180228?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ↑ (The Argus, 8 November 1945) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12151787?searchTerm=%22J.%20J.%20Wellwood%22&searchLimits= Retrieved 14 February 2011.
The original article can be found at James Wellwood and the edit history here.