1st British Airborne Division officers -- W

1st British Airborne Division
Arnhem, September 1944

officers

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The service number of each person is (when known) given after the date of commissioning. Most officers had only a wartime career, but when no indication is given about a Territorial Army commission or an emergency commission, the officer involved served as a Regular Army officer, with in most cases an active army career before and after the war. For explanations & abbreviations you can look at the help page.

Waddy,
Alexander Peter Harry
A.P.H. Waddy

Son of Capt. Alexander Harry Waddy, and of Dorothy Latham Waddy, of Bransgore, Hampshire.

10.02.1919
-
18.09.1944
(KIA) [age 25]
(Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery 27.C.4]
[commemorated at Bransgore War Memorial]

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	01.07.1939 [95501]
Lt.	01.01.1941
A/Capt.	22.05.1940
WS/Capt.	04.11.1943
T/Maj.	04.11.1943

Education: Royal Military College

01.07.1939			commissioned, The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, B Company, 3rd Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [killed in action])

Waddy,
John Llewellyn
J.L. Waddy (Photo courtesy of Mr H.J. Broer)

Son of Lt.Col. Richard Henry Waddy, DSO (1886-1952).

interview at IWM
(search for
"Waddy"
under "Maker/Producer Information")

17.06.1920
Taunton district, Somerset
-
04.2008 still alive

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	03.07.1939 [95593]
Lt.	03.01.1941
A/Capt.	24.09.1940-23.12.1940
T/Capt.	24.12.1940-28.02.1941, 20.04.1941-23.01.1944
WS/Capt.	24.01.1944
Capt.	01.07.1946
A/Maj.	24.10.1943-23.01.1944
T/Maj.	24.01.1944-09.07.1945, 27.07.1945-03.04.1948
Maj.	03.07.1952
Lt.Col.	07.08.1960 [supernumerary 07.08.1963]
Col.	16.11.1964, seniority 23.08.1964 (retd 31.08.1974)

	OBE	01.01.1963	New Year 63
	MID	29.06.1954	Malaya 2nd half 53

Education: Royal Military College; psc (1950), fs

03.07.1939			commissioned, The Somerset Light Infantry
(10.1941)			151st Parachute Battalion (India)
(1942)			Intelligence Officer, 156th Parachute Battalion (injured 02.1942)
04.11.1942	-	30.11.1942	Adjutant, 156th Parachute Battalion
(1943)			Intelligence Officer, 4th Parachute Brigade (Middle East, Italy)
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, B Company, 156th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem)
1945	-	1946	9th Parachute Battalion (Palestine, Malaya, Egypt)
23.10.1948	-	07.01.1950	General Staff Officer 3rd grade (GSO3), HQ Southwest District
26.04.1951	-	06.07.1952	General Staff Officer 3rd grade (GSO3), HQ ... Infantry Division
02.05.1956	-	04.04.1958	General Staff Officer 2nd grade (GSO2), UK ALS Canada
10.06.1958			transferred to the Parachute Regiment
07.08.1960	-	13.09.1962	Deputy Commandant Airborne Forces
14.09.1962	-	14.11.1964	Chief Instructor, SA Wing, School of Infantry, Eastern Command
			Commandant, Depot The Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces

Colonel, Special Air Service.
Published: A tour of the Arnhem battlefields (1998)

Wadsworth,
John Graham Hilton
J.G.H. Wadsworth

?
-
[1978 alive, Waterloo, London]

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	12.03.1944 [312500]
WS/Lt.	12.09.1944 (reld 21.03.1951)
T/Capt.	?
Hon.Capt.	21.03.1951

BSM

14.11.1947

Arnhem 09.44

12.03.1944			commissioned, Royal Armoured Corps [emergency commission]
(09.1944)			Troop Officer, HQ Troop, 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron (Arnhem)

Head of Programme Contracts, British Broadcasting Corporation (?).

Wainwright,
Thomas James
"Tom"
T.J. Wainwright (Photo courtesy of Mr H.J. Broer)

(03?).1922 ?
Hackney district, Greater London ?
-

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	15.10.1939 [101367]
WS/Lt.	15.04.1941
A/Capt.	18.04.1940
T/Capt.	11.03.1942 (reld > 04.1946)

	MID	20.09.1945	escape and evasion
	BK	20.01.1947	Arnhem 09.44 [date of Dutch Royal Decree 31.07.45]

15.10.1939			commissioned, The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) [emergency commission]
> 04.1941 < 04.1944			transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, Support Company, 156th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem)

Walchli,
Robert Oscar
"Robin"
R.O. Walchli

Son of ... Walchli, and ... Fryer.

(03?).1920
Islington district, Greater London
-
1996 still alive

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	19.10.1940 [153528]
WS/Lt.	19.04.1942 (reld > 04.1946)
T/Capt.	29.03.1944
Hon. Maj.	?

19.09.1995

			Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU)
19.10.1940			commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery [emergency commission]
02.05.1942			transferred, Glider Pilot Regiment - Army Air Corps
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, 24 Flight (G Squadron, No. 1 Wing), The Glider Pilot Regiment (Arnhem)

Chartered quantity surveyor, Sarratt, Hertfordshire.

Walker,
John Waine
"Johnny"
J.W. Walker

?
-

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	22.02.1941 [172952]
WS/Lt.	22.08.1942
T/Capt.	13.05.1943 (reld > 04.1946)

MID

10.05.1945

NW Europe

22.02.1941			commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery [emergency commission]
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, B Troop, 1st Airlanding Light Battery RA (acting as Forward Observation Officer, attached to the 7th Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers) (Arnhem [evacuated])

Wallis,
David William
D.W. Wallis

Son of Frederick and Katherine Elizabeth Wallis (née Ellis), of Rannoch, Perthshire.

(03?).1915
Solihull district, Warwickshire / West Midlands / Worcestershire
-
18.09.1944
(KIA) [age 29]
(Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery 18.C.10]
[commemorated at a memorial on the east bank of Loch Rannoch]

2nd Lt.	26.07.1939 [93375]
WS/Lt.	30.01.1941
T/Capt.	30.01.1941
WS/Capt.	18.08.1942
T/Maj.	18.08.1942

MID

25.10.1945

Arnhem 09.44

26.07.1939			commissioned, The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry - Territorial Army
24.08.1939			mobilized TA
			4th Battalion The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
> 04.1941 < 04.1944			transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps - Territorial Army
(09.1944)			Second-in-Command, 2nd Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [killed in action])

Walley,
Howard Trevor
H.T. Walley

Son of Arthur Leonard and Constance Violet Walley (née Hitt), of Plymouth.

(03?).1923
Cardiff district, Glamorgan
-
13.12.1944
[Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece, 17.A.10]

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	05.12.1942 [255151]
WS/Lt.	05.06.1943

Education: Sutton High School for Boys (1937-1939)

05.12.1942			commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery [emergency commission]
(09.1944)			Troop Leader, D Troop, 2nd Airlanding Light Battery RA (Arnhem)
?	-	13.12.1944	165th Field Regiment RA (attached 7th US Army)

Walpole,
Robert Holland
R.H. Walpole

?
-

Cadet	? [1929836]
2nd Lt.	14.11.1943 [299893]
WS/Lt.	14.05.1944 (reld > 04.1946)

14.11.1943			commissioned, Corps of Royal Engineers [emergency commission]
(09.1944)			Troop Officer, C Troop, 1st Parachute Squadron RE (Arnhem)

Walters,
Ernest Frederick
E.F. Walters

?
-

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	03.10.1942 [247035]
WS/Lt.	03.04.1943 (reld > 04.1946)
Hon. Capt.	> 04.1946

18.02.1949

03.10.1942			commissioned, The South Staffordshire Regiment [emergency commission]
(07.1943)			Officer Commanding, 19 Platoon (D Company), 2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment (Sicily)
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, Pioneer Platoon (HQ Company), 2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment (Arnhem [POW])

Warr,
Peter Esmond
P.E. Warr

Son of ... Warr, and ... Robinson.
From Hindhead, Surrey.

30.10.1919
Alton district, Hampshire
-
19.01.1982
North East Hampshire district, Hampshire

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	17.05.1941 [187052]
T/Capt.	?
WS/Capt.	01.05.1943 (reld > 04.1946)
T/Maj.	01.05.1943

	DSO	20.09.1945	Arnhem 09.44
	MBE	09.09.1942	Middle East (Egypt and Libya) 41/42

17.05.1941			commissioned, The East Surrey Regiment [emergency commission]
10.1941	-	(1942)	parachute training school at Kabrit, later No. 4 Middle East Training School
(1942)			1st Special Air Service Regiment
01.01.1943			transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps
(09.1943)	-	(09.1944)	Officer Commanding, B Company, 10th Parachute Battalion (Italy; Arnhem [wounded, POW])

Manufacturers agent (Elstead, Surrey).

Warrack,
Graeme Matthew
G.M. Warrack

Married (1939); 3 children.

27.06.1913
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
-
13.01.1985
Humbie, East Lothian, Scotland

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	28.01.1933 [57723]
Lt.	28.01.1936
Capt.	16.01.1938
A/Maj.	25.11.1940
WS/Maj.	01.12.1942 (reld 1945/46)
T/Lt.Col.	01.12.1942
A/Col.	1944
Hon. Col.	1945/46
Maj. TA	10.10.1950, seniority 09.01.1945
A/Lt.Col. TA	10.10.1950
Lt.Col. TA	27.06.1951
A/Col. TA	01.12.1956
Col. TA	14.02.1958, seniority 01.12.1956 (retd 28.01.1968)
local Brig. TA	01.12.1960

CBE	01.01.1968	New Year 68
OBE	20.09.1945	Arnhem 09.44
DSO	24.05.1945	Arnhem 09.44
TD	14.11.1947	?
TD	03.11.1950	?
TD	10.01.1958	?

Edcuation: Edinburgh Academy; Trinity College, Glenalmond; University of Edinburgh & University of Pennsylvania (medicine & dentistry)

			Officer Cadet from Edinburgh University Contingent, Senior Division, Officer Training Corps
28.01.1933			commissioned, Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) - Territorial Army
			company commander, 7th/9th Battalion Royal Scots (Territorial)
24.08.1939			mobilized TA
30.07.1940			transferred, Royal Army Medical Corps
25.11.1940	-	(04.1941)	Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services, ...
08.1942	-	1944	Commanding Officer, 181st Airlanding Field Ambulance (N Africa, Sicily, Italy)
1944	-	(09.1944)	Assistant Director of Medical Services, 1st Airborne Division (Arnhem)
?	-	10.10.1950	Territorial Army Reserve of Officers
10.10.1950	-	01.12.1956	Supplementary Reserve of Officers [renamed: Army Emergency Reserve of Officers]
01.12.1956	-	01.12.1960	Territorial Army (Active List)
01.12.1960	-	28.01.1968	Territorial Army Reserve of Officers

MRCP, LRCS, FDS.
Retired from the Army and started a practice in Edinburgh as general practitioner. Served on in the TA (Chief Medical Adviser to the TA Council). Honorary Colonel, 144th Parachute Field Ambulance RAMC (V), 10.01.1969-10.01.1979. Chairman, Edinburgh, Lothians and Peebles Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association, 1962. Deputy Lieutenant, Edinburgh, 21.11.1963; President, Royal Odonto-Chirurgical Society of Scotland, 1967. Honorary Physician to the Queen, 29.07.1958-29.07.1960. Member of Queen's Body Guard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers); Chairman, Royal British Legion, Scotland, 1981-1984.
Published: Travel by dark : after Arnhem (1963)

Watkins,
the Reverend Robert Talbot
R.T. Watkins

From Leeds.

13.07.1913
Tynemouth district, Northumberland
-
15.03.1973
Sheffield district
[aged 60]

Capt.

28.05.1941 [188498] = Chaplain to the Forces 4th Cl. (retd 17.06.1946)

	MC	09.11.1944	Arnhem 09.44
	MID	1943?	Sicily 07.43

Education: University (BA; MA)

28.05.1941			commissioned, Royal Army Chaplains' Department [emergency commission] - Methodist
1941			qualified as paratrooper
1943			16th Parachute Field Ambulance RAMC
(09.)1944	-	10.1945	Chaplain, 1st Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [evacuated], Norway)
10.1945	-	02.1946	Chaplain, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Kent
02.07.1956	-	17.11.1962	Territorial Army (Active List)
17.11.1962	-	01.04.1967	Territorial Army Reserve of Officers
01.04.1967	-	13.07.1968	Regular Army Reserve of Officers (Class III)

Parishes: Oxford Hall, Manchester/Salford, Southpost, Bristol & Sheffield.

Watling,
Stanley Edward
"Stan"
S.E. Watling

Son of Edward and Ethel Watling (née Watling), of Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Husband of Phyllis J. Watling, of Overton, Hampshire.

(03?).1916
Woodbridge, Suffolk
-
19.09.1944
(KIA) [age 28]
[Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, 6.B.19]

Sgt.	? [2612035] (Drum Major)
2nd Lt.	04.10.1943 [301782]
WS/Lt.	1944?

BEM

23.09.1943

North Africa (Algeria & Tunisia)

			served in the ranks, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards
04.10.1943			commissioned, Reconnaissance Corps - Royal Armoured Corps [immediate emergency commission]
11.12.1943			transferred, Parachute Regiment - Army Air Corps
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, 4 Platoon (A Company), 156th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem [killed in action])

Wayte,
Albert Edwyn Francis
A.E.F. Wayte

Son of Edwyn John and Violet Constance Wayte, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.

1917 ?
-
20.09.1944
Arnhem
(DOW) [age 27]
[Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, 26.B.1]

2nd Lt.	?
Lt.	?

	-	01.04.1944	RRC
01.04.1944	-		No. A-34 Training Centre (Reinforcements) CIC
			Canloan scheme: CDN/477
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, 10 Platoon (C Company), 7th Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers (Arnhem; died of wounds)

Webber,
Daniel Robert Wyndham
"Dan"
D.R.W. Webber

10.12.1913
-
08.1993
West Somerset district, Somerset

2nd Lt.	30.08.1934 [63580]
Lt.	30.08.1937
A/Capt.	21.09.1939-23.11.1939, 08.12.1939-03.01.1940
T/Capt.	04.01.1940-30.06.1940, 26.07.1940-29.08.1942
Capt.	30.08.1942
A/Maj.	18.10.1941-17.01.1942
T/Maj.	18.01.1942-14.05.1942, 05.06.1942-09.02.1944, 20.03.1944-24.06.1945, 30.06.1945-11.04.1946
WS/Maj.	12.04.1946
Maj.	30.08.1947
A/Lt.Col.	12.01.1946-11.04.1946
T/Lt.Col.	12.04.1946-29.05.1946, 24.10.1946-14.02.1948
Lt.Col.	01.03.1957 (retd 22.06.1958)

Education: psc

30.08.1934			commissioned, West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own)
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, HQ Company, 11th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem)

Welch,
William Gordon

From Walton, Staffs.

21.12.1918
-

2nd Lt.	25.05.1940 [132473]
WS/Lt.	25.11.1941
Lt.	09.08.1947, seniority 09.09.1941
A/Capt.	10.07.1943-09.10.1943
T/Capt.	10.10.1943-17.06.1945, 11.07.1945-28.01.1946
WS/Capt.	29.01.1946
Capt.	09.08.1947, seniority 01.07.1946
A/Maj.	29.10.1945-28.01.1946
T/Maj.	29.01.1946-16.07.1947
Maj.	09.03.1953
Lt.Col.	04.09.1961 (retd 23.03.1963)

21.10.1943

Sicily 07.43

Education: psc

25.05.1940			commissioned, The Border Regiment [emergency commission to 08.08.1947]
(09.1944)			Second-in-Command, C Company, 1st Battalion The Border Regiment (Arnhem; wounded, POW)
09.08.1947			commissioned, Royal Army Service Corps [permanent commission]

Wellbelove,
John Arthur
J.A. Wellbelove

Son of John and Mary Eva Wellbelove, of Eston, Saskatchewan, Canada.

1920 ?
-
21.09.1944
(KIA) [age 24]
[Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery 30.C.2]

2nd Lt.	?
Lt.	20.11.1943

?			commissioned, Canadian Infantry Corps [emergency commission]
(11.1943)	-	14.03.1944	The Prince Albert & Battleford Volunteers
14.03.1944	-		No. A-34 Training Centre (Reinforcements) CIC
			Canloan scheme: CDN/318
(09.1944)			Officer Commanding, 13 Platoon (B Company), 1st Battalion The Border Regiment (Arnhem; killed in action)

Wells,
Charles Edward Cecil
C.E.C. Wells

Son of ... Wells, and ... Flack.

09.03.1917
Chelsea district, Greater London
-
05.1993
Truro district, Cornwall

Lt.	14.08.1943 [287897]
WS/Capt.	14.08.1944

Education: MB

14.08.1943			commissioned, Royal Army Medical Corps [emergency commission]
(09.1944)			Section Officer, 16th Parachute Field Ambulance RAMC [attached to 1st Parachute Brigade HQ] (Arnhem; wounded, POW)

Wetherill,
Peter Hindley
P.H. Wetherill

?
-

2nd Lt.	26.01.1940 [117403]
WS/Lt.	26.07.1941
T/Capt.	26.03.1942
WS/Capt.	20.01.1946
T/Maj.	20.01.1946

26.01.1940			commissioned, Corps of Royal Engineers [emergency commission]
(09.1944)			Second-in-Command, 9th (Airborne) Field Company RE (Arnhem)

Whimster,
William Swanson
W.S. Whimster

10.04.1910
-
12.1992
Brighton, Sussex

2nd Lt.	19.07.1939 [93355]
WS/Lt.	19.04.1940
Lt.	30.07.1946, seniority 19.04.1940 [short service commission]
Lt.	13.09.1947, seniority 01.08.1938 [permanent commission]
A/Capt.	19.01.1940-18.04.1940
T/Capt.	19.04.1940-09.09.1943, 01.12.1943-24.12.1945
WS/Capt.	1944?
Capt.	13.09.1947, seniority 10.04.1943
A/Maj.	01.10.1946-31.12.1946
T/Maj.	01.01.1947-09.04.1948
Maj.	10.04.1948
T/Lt.Col.	04.08.1954
Lt.Col.	21.04.1956 (retd 02.09.1958)

MID	20.12.1940	?
MID	10.05.1945	NW Europe (Arnhem)
TD	?	?

19.07.1939			commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery - Territorial Army (late Officer Cadet, Aberdeen University Contingent, Senior Division, OTC)
24.08.1939	-