John Womersley

Lieutenant John Herbert Greenwood Womersley MC (1 April 1896 – 23 January 1962) was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]

John Herbert Greenwood Womersley
Born(1896-04-01)1 April 1896
Halifax, Yorkshire, England
Died23 January 1962(1962-01-23) (aged 65)
Hastings, Sussex, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1915–1919
1940–1945
RankLieutenant
UnitRoyal Garrison Artillery
No. 43 Squadron RFC
Pioneer Corps
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
World War II
AwardsMilitary Cross

World War I

Womersley trained as a cadet in the Leeds University Officers' Training Corps, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the East Riding Fortress Company, Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force)[note 1] on 27 October 1915.[3] On 7 July 1916 he was one of a number of junior officers seconded for duty with the Regular Royal Garrison Artillery.[4]

Womersley later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer on 1 April 1917,[5] and was assigned to No. 43 Squadron to fly the Sopwith 1½ Strutter two-seater fighter. On 16 June, he was part of a multi-aircraft assault on an Albatros D.III; he shared credit for the victory with his observer Air Mechanic 2nd Class J. M. O'Shea and ten squadron-mates.[1][6] On 1 July 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant.[7] Womersley gained a second victory on 23 July, driving down an Albatros D.V with his observer Second Lieutenant Cyril Agelasto. His squadron was then re-equipped with the single-seater Sopwith Camel; in which he gained two more victories on 24 October. His fifth and final victory came on 12 November 1917. That same day, he crashed during a practice flight and was severely injured.[1][6][8]

He was awarded the Military Cross on 18 January 1918.[9] His citation read:

Lieutenant John Herbert Greenwood Womersley, Royal Garrison Artillery and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting. He brought down four enemy machines and forced others to land. He also carried out reconnaissances at a low altitude."[10]

Womersley was transferred to the RAF unemployed list on 16 April 1919.[11]

List of aerial victories
Combat record[1]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No.		 Opponent Result Location Notes
116 July 1917
@ 0830		Sopwith 1½ Strutter
(A8244)		Albatros D.IIIDestroyedNorth of LensObserver: AM2 J. M. O'Shea. Shared with other members of No. 43 Squadron.
223 July 1917
@ 1745		Sopwith 1½ Strutter
(A8247)		Albatros D.VOut of controlNorth-east of LensObserver: Second Lieutenant Cyril Agelasto.
324 October 1917
@ 0800		Sopwith Camel
(B6365)		DFW CDestroyedNorth of Loison-sous-Lens
424 October 1917
@ 1100		Sopwith Camel
(B6365)		DFW COut of controlHaubourdin
512 November 1917
@ 1215		Sopwith Camel
(B2437)		Albatros D.VOut of controlEast of Annay

Inter-war career

Womersley returned to the East Riding Fortress Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, on 18 November 1920,[12] transferring to the Territorial Army Reserve on 24 June 1922.[13]

World War II

Womersley returned to military service on 21 February 1940 when he was transferred from the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps.[14] He served with the British Expeditionary Force up until the battle of France, receiving a mention in despatches "in recognition of distinguished services in connection with operations in the field March–June 1940" in December 1940.[15] Womersley served in the Pioneer Corps throughout the war, but his career ended in disgrace when he was cashiered by sentence of a Field General Court Martial on 29 May 1945.[16]

Notes
  1. As part of the North Eastern Coastal Defences, it consisted of a Headquarters, No. 1 Works Company, and No. 2 Electric Light (i.e. searchlight) Company, based at Hull.[2]

References
  1. "John Herbert Greenwood Womersley". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  2. Baker, Chris (2016). "The Fortress Companies of the Royal Engineers". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  3. "No. 29340". The London Gazette. 26 October 1915. p. 10520.
  4. "No. 29769". The London Gazette. 29 September 1916. p. 9486.
  5. "No. 30034". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 April 1917. p. 3902.
  6. Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 388.
  7. "No. 30359". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 October 1917. p. 11263.
  8. "The Roll of Honour: Wounded". Flight. IX (466): 1250. 29 November 1917. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  9. "No. 30482". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 January 1918. p. 959.
  10. "No. 30651". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 April 1918. p. 5019.
  11. "No. 31467". The London Gazette. 22 July 1919. p. 9254.
  12. "No. 32136". The London Gazette. 23 November 1920. p. 11583.
  13. "No. 32722". The London Gazette. 23 June 1922. p. 4727.
  14. "No. 34846". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 May 1940. p. 2798.
  15. "No. 35020". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1940. p. 7196.
  16. "No. 37167". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 July 1945. p. 3544.
Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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