Born an only child in Walthamstow, Essex, Wellum was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook before serving in the RAF. My only regret is that it had to happen so early in life". We are on our own against this Teutonic monster, this arrogant bully, the invader of small nations., He always said that the friends he made during this period proved irreplaceable, and he mourned the waste of their young lives. In his evocative memoir, First Light (2002), he wrote: I look into the far distance, the vast panorama of sky. "Aged seventeen, he signed up on a short-service commission with the Royal Air Force in August 1939. There it all is, the whole arena for bloody battle, and there they are, the enemy. My target, concentrate, the target. [5] It was at 92 Squadron that he first encountered a Spitfire, and flew the aircraft for the first time. SquadronLeader Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum DFC (4 August 1921 18 July 2018)[1][2] was a British fighterpilot and author, best known for his participation in the BattleofBritain. Here, he is remembered and his life as a fi. Then I got cross. Eventually, Wellum relaxed: "I found a new peace andgradually I seemed to unwind. . The first aircraft he flew was the Tiger Moth at Desford . Geoffrey Wellum recalls the RAF's 'finest hour'. A few weeks later Wellum was in his local in Cornwall when the landlady handed him the phone. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Died. When that base was being bombed, the squadron mess was moved to a place called the White House in Knockholt, where they would, as he recalled, party with girls from London until 5am and then be in their cockpits at first light. Wellum left the Royal Air Force in 1960[13] and took over the family haulage business. Although just 18, he was not the youngest pilot to fight in the battle, an honour which is currently held by Martyn Aurel King, born 15 October 1921 - [7]) despite being nicknamed "Boy" by his colleagues. [3] In 1943, he married Grace Neil, his wartime girlfriend, with whom he had three children. Wellum was educated at ForestSchool, Snaresbrook, where he captained the school cricket team.[3]. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trevelyan relative 'would consider' famine payment, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic. "No, darling. [11], In February 1942, he was reassigned to combat duties, being transferred to 65Squadron based at Debden, where he was appointed a Flight Commander in March 1942. Among his appointments he was with the Second Tactical Air Force in Germany, converted to jets flying Gloster Meteors, de Havilland Vampires and English Electric Canberra bombers on reconnaissance sorties served at RAF Gaydon, and finally, in East Anglia, with a Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile unit. "It was always the other chap. Family members linked to this person will appear here. I decided that if I survived, I wanted to be allowed to relish it. Dear Jesus why this? Two days later Britain declared war on Germany. The film was first shown by the BBC on 14 September 2010 starring Sam Heughan.[19]. Add to your scrapbook. [4], Much later, in an unpublished interview with The Times, Wellum recalled: "After I joined the squadron they went to Dunkirk and by the end of that day we'd lost five people, four of whom I'd met the night before in the officers' mess. First Light (2002), which was made into a BBC drama in 2010, was . "The family business was going into liquidation," he recalls, voice quavering. He was technically inexperienced and emotionally immature. In May 1940, on the eve of Dunkirk, so bad was the situation deemed that he was posted to 92 Squadron before his training was complete. First Light (2002), which was made into a BBC drama in 2010, was drawn from notes he had made as a teenage flier in the Battle of Britain. Geoffrey Wellum married Grace Christian in September 1943. It was the crucial point of the Second World War. . The average life- expectancy of a Spitfire pilot was four weeks. He and his wife were divorced in 1975. In May 1940 eighteen-year old Geoffrey Wellum joins the 92 squadron of the Royal Air Force and is taken to the pub,where pilots who have seen action sign their names on a blackboard. The comradeship in a fighter squadron that has survived the Battle of Britain is something that you will never be able to understand, he observed, and I will never experience again. On hearing of the death of one of his closest friends he wrote, Why take young lives like Peters? Geoffrey was just 18 when he became the youngest fighter pilot to fly in the . He enlisted in the RAF in 1939 at the age of 18 and became the yougest fighter pilot to serve in the Battle of Britain, leading to his nickname "Boy". Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Geoffrey Wellum (219366673)? Try again later. Try again later. It will enhance any encyclopedic page you visit with the magic of the WIKI 2 technology. The Battle of Britain was a pivotal moment in WW2 when the country stood alone against Hitler's seemingly unstoppable military power, In July 1940 the RAF deployed 640 planes, although more were available, and aircraft production was subsequently ramped up, The Luftwaffe could call upon 2,600 fighters and bombers, Nearly 3,000 aircrew served with RAF Fighter Command during the battle, The average age of a pilot was 20 years old, 20% of the pilots were from the British Dominions, and occupied European or neutral countries, The RAF lost 1,023 planes and the Luftwaffe lost 1,887 planes in the battle. Wellum's first solo flight was on 1 September 1939. There is a little bit of artistic licence in it, the BBC wanted a bit of a love scene in it and as I was going to get a bag of gold well, not exactly, something to buy me another beer I went along with it.. He remained on the island as part of the air defence force before returning to Britain, suffering from exhaustion. By September his time with 92 Squadron had come to an end, and he was tired. The sun glints on their wings and bellies as they roll like trout in a stream streaking over smooth round pebbles. "I see you, you sod," reads one passage as he dives on an enemy bomber. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Later in the war he served in the defense of Malta before returning to England for duty as an instructor pilot. His father, who had served at Gallipoli during WW1, ran an off-licence. A system error has occurred. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Percy had served at Gallipoli during the first world war and was commissioned on the battlefield. Please try again later. '", 'First Light' is published by Viking, 16.99, Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. The Germans were flying a formidable new fighter, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, and Wellum was beginning to suffer from persistent headaches. Yet Wellum struggled in civilian life. These are Huns attacking England, our small country, our island, intent upon invasion and eventual occupation. "I'd never seen a Spitfire before, let alone flown one, but there was a war on and they needed pilots. The sun glints on their wings and bellies as they roll like trout in a stream streaking over smooth round pebbles. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Patrick Tootal, secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, said members of the charity's staff and volunteers had been "much saddened by the news". The family settled in Epping, Essex.[3]. GEOFFREY WELLUM, a veteran of the Battle of Britain, was the youngest fighter pilot (at 18) in the Royal Air Force (RAF) to have fought in that battle. At this time he began to develop severe headaches, "a splitting headache pain across my eyes". No92 was soon flying patrols from an airfield in South Wales, then on September 9 the squadron was sent to Biggin Hill at the height of the Battle of Britain. "Only this week Sqn Ldr Wellum had been talking enthusiastically about attending the Memorial Service at Westminster Abbey on 16 September," he said. Having learnt to fly in Tiger Moths, he first went solo on September 1, 1939. Never stay still, never fly straight and level, chuck it around. All in all it was a good TV movie. Sqn Ldr Wellum was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was later promoted to flight commander with 65 Squadron. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. The first aircraft he flew was the Tiger Moth at Desford airfield in Leicestershire. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"Winston Churchilll, Prime Minister, 1940, In Ever Loving Memory, Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Wellum, DFC, 1921-2018, One of "The Few", In Pectore Robur, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Wellum eventually became the deputy harbourmaster. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. 92 Squadron RAF at RAF Biggin Hill, September 1941. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Wellum was stationed during the battle first at Pembrey, protecting Bristol, and then, from September, at Biggin Hill. Born in Walthamstow, on the eastern edge of London, Geoffrey was the only child of Percy, who managed an off-licence, and his wife, Edith. He was awarded the FreedomoftheCityofLondon.[15]. He was immediately attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf 109; he had run out of ammunition and he had great difficulty escaping after his Spitfire was badly damaged. Britain stood alone. Ellie Cullen. "I was a cocky little bastard, a bit full of myself. By now, the Luftwaffe was flying a new fighter aircraft, the Focke-WulfFw190, superior in all but turn radius to the SpitfireV, and the squadron took heavy losses. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Twenty-five years ago, Geoffrey Wellum was at the lowest ebb of his life. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The thought of occupation horrified him: These are the Kings enemies, he wrote. There he shared the responsibility with an American office for three Thor ballistic nuclear missiles. Their son and daughter survive him and a second daughter predeceased him. The marriage was later dissolved. [3], In the mid-1980s, with the family business in liquidation and his divorce pending,[14] Wellum retired, as he had promised himself in his youth, to The Lizard peninsula, Cornwall,[14] settling in Mullion. Geoffrey Wellum was still just 18 when the Battle of Britain started in July 1940. He was a member of the RoyalAirForceClub. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Geoffrey Harris Augustus Boy Wellum I found on Findagrave.com. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. His marriage and business collapsed. He claimed a Bf 109 shot down on 9 July 1941 over France,[9] and in August 1941, Wellum was awarded the DistinguishedFlyingCross. Resend Activation Email. I must be getting lightheaded! After two years of near constant action, with dozens of colleagues killed or wounded, Wellum's youthful enthusiasm had disappeared forever, replaced by a weary acceptance of death. When I was first given one to fly, he recalled, my emotion was almost intimidation. The intention was to engage with the Luftwaffe in combat, and to escort RAF bombing missions. The series aired on Netflix in 2019, after his death, and the episode "Battle of Britain" is dedicated in his memory. Within a year, he was sent to join his boyhood heroes in the hellraising 92 Squadron. He was a writer, known for Witness 1939: When War Broke Out (2014), Battle of Britain (2015) and First Light (2010). Geoffrey Wellum dead - youngest WWII Spitfire pilot to fly in the Battle of Britain who was just 18 when war broke out dies aged 96 The veteran, who was just 18 when he joined the RAF in August. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He later led eight Spitfires from HMS Furious to relieve Malta. During the summer of 1941 Wellum engaged Bf 109s and claimed one destroyed, one probably destroyed, and a third probably damaged. During the early years of the war Wellum had jotted down some reflections and these formed the basis of First Light. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Having learnt to fly in Tiger Moths, he first went solo on September 1, 1939. Wellum left the Royal Air Force in 1960[13] and took over the family haulage business. His father, Percy, who managed an off-licence, had fought at Gallipoli as a quartermaster sergeant before receiving a battlefield commission. "As the three ships come through the harbour entrance, just about maintaining steerage way, the cheering of the Maltese who have to welcome her in slowly subsides until there is absolute silence. "Most fighter-pilot memoirs are fascinating, but they tend to be anodyne, devoid of any emotional punch. His father, who had served at Gallipoli during WW1, ran an off-licence. I use WIKI 2 every day and almost forgot how the original Wikipedia looks like. Like many of his colleagues, Wellum had discovered that nothing could ever compare with the intensity of life as a fighter pilot. The marriage was later dissolved. Disappointed to be leaving frontline service, Wellum initially found the experience to be "almost unbearable". Wellum was educated at Forest School, Snaresbrook, where he captained the school cricket team.[3]. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, 50 off over 650 using this Expedia discount code, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected product with this eBay voucher code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK May 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this May, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. The first aircraft he flew was the TigerMoth at Desfordairfield in Leicestershire. Of the numerous Bf 109 fighters which escorted the German bombers, Wellum wrote "God, is there no end to them? The family settled in Epping, Essex.[3]. Squadron Leader Geoffrey Harris Augustus Wellum DFC (4 August 1921 18 July 2018)[1][2] was a British fighter pilot and author, best known for his participation in the Battle of Britain. I thought 'To hell with this, I'm not ready to go yet'. Its like one of those wonderful dreams, a Peter Pan sort of dream. It felt like a thoroughbred horse watching a new rider and wondering how much to be bloody-minded. Wellum never intended his memoir for publication, but two years ago, he gave it to James Holland, a young author researching a novel set during the Second World War. Yes, and he currently resides in Mullion, Cornwall, England. [6], Life for Wellum at the end of his career as a fighter pilot was never be quite the same. [3], Wellum's first commanding officer was RogerBushell, (later immortalised in TheGreatEscape). Congratulations on this excellent venture what a great idea! Wellum remained in the RAF after the war and flew a variety of early jets. He and his wife were divorced in 1975. The History of 92 Squadron RAF, "Youngest Battle of Britain RAF pilot dies", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geoffrey_Wellum&oldid=1147204304, 5 August 1941 - Flying Officer Geoffrey Harry Augustus Wellum (42925) of, This page was last edited on 29 March 2023, at 13:16. "I was 20 and, since then, everything else has seemed anticlimactic. Later he became a commodities broker. "That at some point in my life I had been of use.". My only regret is that it had to happen so early in life". He is now known world-wide. His are the inchoate thoughts of a young man who grows wearily accepting of death. ", Two weeks after leaving school, Wellum was training with the RAF. Walthamstow, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Greater London, England, Mullion Cove, Cornwall Unitary Authority, Cornwall, England. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Wellum had married, in 1943, Dorothy Grace Neil, with whom he was to have three children: Anna was flight attendant and now works part-time in the NHS; Deborah, who died in 2017, had a career in the music business, notably with Apple Records; and Neil has been latterly a senior marine environmental inspector and manager. Aged eighteen, Wellum signed up on a short-service commission with the Royal Air Force in August 1939. [4] After successfully completing the course he then went on to fly the NorthAmerican Harvard at RAFLittleRissington with 6FTS.
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