Geoffrey Wellum RIP

Author
Discussion

TR4man

Original Poster:

5,229 posts

175 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
In just a few days we have lost Tom Neil and now it is announced that Geoffrey Wellim died on Wednesday.

He was only 19 when he fought in the Battle of Britain.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-448...

SpunkyGlory

2,322 posts

166 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
This was very sad to read this morning.

I only started his book at the weekend, and haven’t been able to put it down during the free moments I’ve had this week. A remarkable man.

RIP - at last reunited with all your old comrades.

DeejRC

5,811 posts

83 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Sleep well Boy, absolutely deserved.

Ive had a cpl of chats with Geoffrey over the yrs via our Typhoon links and thoroughly enjoyed his conversation each time. I was considerably younger at the time, little more than a punk graduate -though much closed to my BoB knowledge than I am now - and he was basically just a legend.

Well played Geoffrey, well played.

dontlookdown

1,739 posts

94 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
He wrote a wonderful book, First Light is up there with The Last Enemy for me. And he seemed like a delightful man with a real twinkle in his eye.

Not many of 'the few ' left now.

GadgeS3C

4,516 posts

165 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
The Few become even fewer, RIP Sqn Ldr Wellum

A shame the BBC didn't mention his superb book First Light. Well worth a read. I shall pick it up later and remember what these young lads did.

Eric Mc

122,053 posts

266 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
dontlookdown said:
He wrote a wonderful book, First Light is up there with The Last Enemy for me. And he seemed like a delightful man with a real twinkle in his eye.

Not many of 'the few ' left now.
It's a great book. In reality, it was mostly ghost written by James Holland.

Composite Guru

2,215 posts

204 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
RIP Geoffrey, you did this country proud sir!!!

DJFish

5,923 posts

264 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Very sad.

aeropilot

34,666 posts

228 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
GadgeS3C said:
The Few become even fewer
Could be now less than 5 left...?

They were down to 8 left back in Nov last year, so with Tom Neil and Geoff Wellum now gone, that's certainly six left and could well be less than if any of the others have passed since.
Geoff was the youngest at the time, and he's just gone at age 96.......they could all be gone before end of this year.
Tom Neil was the last living 'ace' status pilot from the BoB (from either side, as the last Luftwaffe 'ace' pilot from the Battle died quite some years ago)







dontlookdown

1,739 posts

94 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
It's a great book. In reality, it was mostly ghost written by James Holland.
I didn't know that, thanks Eric. Well done to both of them then.

paintman

7,692 posts

191 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Interviewed by local author Bob Felce during the compilation of his book on the history of Mullion Cove he described going out before dawn one morning with one of the local fishermen & watching the sun come up 'and I thought "When I die this is heaven"

Let's hope it is as a reward well earned.

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

199 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
dontlookdown said:
Eric Mc said:
It's a great book. In reality, it was mostly ghost written by James Holland.
I didn't know that, thanks Eric. Well done to both of them then.
Honestly, one of the best books I've ever read. It puts you right there with him.

L100NYY

35,220 posts

244 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Just heard the news,

RIP dear boy

"......why are Germany bombing us? Britain is a peaceful country, plus it's getting in the way of the cricket"

DeejRC

5,811 posts

83 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Just listening to Uncle Ken per chance Loon? Loved the immediate comment from a listener...good job Pop Master wasn’t around back then! They wouldn’t have stood for that!

Snr officer on site at the Ball last week was RAF, shame it was held a week early - would have been a good toast.

L100NYY

35,220 posts

244 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
I was indeed yes

Simpo Two

85,526 posts

266 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
dontlookdown said:
He wrote a wonderful book, First Light is up there with The Last Enemy for me. And he seemed like a delightful man with a real twinkle in his eye.
I'm fairly sure I heard BBC R4 call it 'First Flight' this morning... irked

I'm fortunate in having two signed copies (different editions) and a Christmas card too smile

Europa1

10,923 posts

189 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I'm fairly sure I heard BBC R4 call it 'First Flight' this morning... irked

I'm fortunate in having two signed copies (different editions) and a Christmas card too smile
Yep, I heard it as First Flight as well.

Tally ho, Sqdn Ldr Wellum.

FourWheelDrift

88,551 posts

285 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Could be now less than 5 left...?

They were down to 8 left back in Nov last year, so with Tom Neil and Geoff Wellum now gone, that's certainly six left and could well be less than if any of the others have passed since.
Geoff was the youngest at the time, and he's just gone at age 96.......they could all be gone before end of this year.
Tom Neil was the last living 'ace' status pilot from the BoB (from either side, as the last Luftwaffe 'ace' pilot from the Battle died quite some years ago)
The Few. 7 British, 1 Irish, 1 Canadian.

Flight Lieutenant William Terence Clark, DFM, 219 Squadron, Blenheim
Wing Commander John Francis Durham Elkington, 1 Squadron, Hurricane
Wing Commander Paul Caswell Farnes DFM, 501 Squadron, Hurricane
Squadron Leader J. S. Hart 602 Canadian 54, 81 and 602 Squadrons, Spitfire
Flying Officer John Allman Hemingway DFC (Irish) - 86 Squadron Hurricane
Flight Lieutenant William Robert Kent Hughes, DFC, AE, 23 Squadron, Blenheim
Flight Lieutenant Ronald MacKay, 234 Squadron, Spitfire
Flight Lieutenant Archibald McInnes, 601 & 238 Squadrons, Hurricane
Flight Lieutenant Maurice Hewlett Mounsdon, 56 Squadron, Hurricane

Deptford Draylons

10,480 posts

244 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
My YouTube feed showed a trailer for a new film called Spitfire yesterday, featuring a clip of Mr Wellum and Mr Neil, both sadly recently gone, but not to be forgotten.

Wills2

22,878 posts

176 months

Friday 20th July 2018
quotequote all
First light is a tremendous read, a fabulous memoir.