Air Marshal Sir William Welsh

William Lawrie b: 10 Feb 1891 r: 1 Dec 1944 d: 2 Jan 1962

KCB - 1 Jul 1941 (CB - 1 Feb 1937), DSC - 26 Apr 1918, AFC - 12 Jul 1920, MiD - 12 May 1917, Cwn O - 8 Feb 1919, C de G (F) - 8 Feb 1919, PR (GC) - 24 Sep 1943, LoM (Cdr) - 15 Mar 1946 (LoM (O) - 11 Apr 1944).

For a list of foreign decoration abbreviations, click here

(RNR): - Mid’n: xx xxx 1910, Act Sub-Lt: 13 May 1914, Flt Sub-Lt (P): xx xxx xxxx, Flt Sub-Lt: 7 Nov 1914, Flt Lt: 28 Jun 1915, Flt Cdr: 31 Dec 1916, Sqn Cdr: 31 Dec 1917.

(RAF): - Maj?: 1 Apr 1918, Sqn Ldr: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1922, Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1930, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1934, AVM: 1 Jan 1937, Act AM: 3 Sep 1939 - 15 Jan 1940; 27 May 1940, AM: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jul 1941].

xx xxx 1910: Officer, Merchant Marine/Midshipman, RNR.

xx xxx 1914: Officer, Merchant Marine/Officer, RNR.

xx Nov 1914: Pilot, RNAS Calshot?

xx xxx 1915: Pilot, HMS Campania.

xx xxx xxxx: Pilot, Dover.

14 Jan 1918: Officer Commanding , No 17 Sqn. RNAS

1 Apr 1918: Officer Commanding, No 217 Sqn. (DH4 – Dunkirk Area).

26 Mar 1919: Officer Commanding, No 214 Sqn.

xx Aug 1919: ?, Egypt.

1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Major

9 Apr 1920: Officer Commanding, No 14 Sqn. (Bristol F2B – Palestine)

5 Aug 1921: Air Staff, HQ Middle East Area.

17 Jan 1922: Supernumerary, RAF Depot

1 Jun 1922: Staff Officer, HQ No 1 Group.

15 Jun 1923: Supernumerary, HQ Coastal Area for duty with HMS Eagle.

26 Feb 1924: Officer Commanding Flying, HMS Eagle.

8 Apr 1925: Officer Commanding (Temporary), RAF Mediterranean

1 May 1923: Officer Commanding, RAF Unit, HMS Eagle.

11 Jan 1926: Officer Commanding, RAF Kenley.

21 Sep 1926: Staff, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.

1 Sep 1930: Officer Commanding, Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment.

6 Feb 1931: Officer Commanding, No 203 Sqn. (Southampton II, Rangoon I - Basrah)

3 Apr 1934: Director of Organisation.

1 Sep 1937: Air Member for Supply and Organisation.

15 Jan 1940: AOC, No 11 (Fighter) Group.

27 May 1940: AOC in C, Technical Training Command.

7 Jul 1941: AOC in C, Flying Training Command.

xx xxx 1942: i/c Air operations from Gibraltar for 'Torch'.

2 Nov 1942: AOC, Eastern Air Command.

xx xxx 1943: Head of RAF Delegation, Washington DC

On 6 August 1915 William Welsh flew a Sopwith Schneider floatplane off HMS Campania, steaming at 18 knots. In order to achieve this feat, the floats where fitted with wheels. On 3 November, he repeated the feat, this time with the ship at full speed. He was shot down whilst flying Sopwith Baby seaplane, No 8171, six miles North-East of Dunkirk on 23 April 1917 but was unhurt.

He carried out further developmental flying in 1921, when he surveyed the air route from Jerusalem to Baghdad across the desert On 28 January 1936 he was a mourner at the funeral of HM King George V. Following retirement he stayed in the USA divorcing his wife and marrying the widow of US Senator Warren Barbour in 1947. He ultimately became the North American representative for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

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