Sir Henry Wells | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | "Bomba"[1] |
Allegiance | Australia |
Service/ | Australian Army |
Years of service | 1916 – 1959 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held | Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee Chief of the General Staff British Commonwealth Forces Korea Southern Command Royal Military College, Duntroon |
Battles/wars | Second World War
|
Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (3) Legion of Merit (United States) |
Other work | Honorary Colonel of the Royal Victoria Regiment Businessman |
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells KBE, CB, DSO (22 March 1898 – 20 October 1973) was a senior officer in the Australian Army. Serving as Chief of the General Staff from 1954 to 1958, Wells' career culminated with his appointment as the first Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee; a position marking him as the professional head of the Australian Military. He served in this capacity from March 1958 until March 1959, when he retired from the army.
Born in Victoria, Wells' career in the Australian Army began in 1916 upon entering the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Graduating as a lieutenant three years later, he served in a variety of staff and instructional positions prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. Initially posted to the 7th Division as a staff officer in 1940, Wells was promoted to lieutenant colonel and made senior liaison officer to I Corps. Serving on Greece and in North Africa, Wells was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership at El Alamein. Transferred to the South West Pacific theatre in 1943 as a brigadier, he served on New Guinea with the headquarters of II Corps and later Borneo with I Corps.
Promoted to major general in 1946, Wells was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff. Following promotion to lieutenant general, he was made Commander-in-Chief, British Commonwealth Forces Korea from 1953 to 1954, serving during the last days of the war. In retirement, Wells was a director of several companies. Aged 75, he died in 1973.
Early life and career
Wells was born in the Victorian suburb of Kyneton on 22 March 1898,[2] the youngest of seven children to Arthur Wells, a draper, and his wife Elizabeth (née Carter). Educated at Kyneton High School, Wells entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in February 1916, where he participated as an active sportsman. Graduating from the college in December 1919, Wells was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Australian Army, and posted to England for further training.[3]
On his return to Australia, Wells was appointed as adjutant and quartermaster of the 8th Light Horse Regiment in 1921. The following year, he was re-posted to the 9th Light Horse Regiment. In February 1926, Wells was briefly appointed brigade major of the 6th Cavalry Brigade, before becoming an instructor at the Small Arms School, Sydney, during July. On 14 December that year, Wells married Lorna Irene Skippen in a ceremony at St John's Church of England, Cessnock; the pair would later have two sons.[3]
During 1927, Wells was assigned to the Royal Military College, Duntroon as a company commander and promoted to captain that December. Returning to the Small Arms School as an instructor in 1931, he was dispatched to England and attended the Staff College, Camberley between 1935–36. Ariving back in Australia, Wells was made adjutant and quartermaster of the 4th/3rd Battalion, and later brigade major of the 1st Infantry Brigade. During 1938, Wells was posted to Royal Military College, Duntroon as a lecturer in tactics.[3]
Second World War
Greece and North Africa
On 15 May 1940, Wells transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force for active service during the Second World War.[2] Promoted to major, he was posted to the headquarters of the 7th Division. Wells proceeded with the division to the Middle East, where, on arriving in December, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and posted as senior liaison officer to I Corps.[3] During this time, the Australian forces were diverted for service in the Greek Campaign.[4]
Wells arrived in Greece on 7 March 1941, with an advance party of Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Blamey's I Corps staff.[4] On 10 April, a plan was formulated to withdraw Greek and Commonwealth troops from their positions in the Verria pass of the Vermion Mountains to the River Aliakmon. In order to carry this out, Blamey despatched Wells to coordinate the movement of the 12th Greek Division west to its new position.[5][6] The withdrawal began on 12 April, but the force's movement was hampered due to lack of vehicles and the division did not arrive until late evening the following day.[7] During this time, Wells travelled between I Corps Headquarters and the 12th Greek Division, organising and coordinating the division's movement, despite frequent air attacks on the roads.[3][6]
On 24 April 1941, Wells embarked from Greece along with the remainder of the I Corps Headquarters during the British and Commonwealth withdrawal.[8] Commended for his "conspicuous skill, ability and energy" and fostering "mutual confidence and goodwill between the Allied forces",[6][9] Wells was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order, but was subsequently appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services in Greece.[6][9][10] The announcement of the award was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 30 December 1941.[10] Then Brigadier Stanley Savige later wrote of Wells during the campaign: "Tireless in his long journeys, helpful in every possible way, and courageous in all circumstances".[11]
Following Greece, the headquarters of I Corps returned to Egypt. For his "gallant and distinguished services" during this time,[12] Wells was subsequently Mentioned in Despatches.[13] In June, the corps was posted for service in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign,[14] and Wells was made General Staff Officer, 2nd Grade (GSO2).[3] Promoted to colonel, Wells became General Staff Officer, 1st Grade (GSO1), to the 9th Division during November.[3]
On 28 June 1942, Wells accompanied Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead—Commander of the 9th Division—to Cairo, where they received orders tasking the 9th Division with the defence of Cairo. The pair spent that night and the following day organising plans for the move, before Morshead received further orders on 30 June canceling his previous instructions and directing the division instead be dispatched to Alexandria; the move took place on 1 July.[15] Two days later, it was decided that the 28th Brigade would be sent forward to reinforce the position at El Alamein. The brigade was lacking in equipment, and Wells spent that day arranging equipment for the unit as well as overseeing its preparation; the brigade moved forward the next day.[16] The divisional headquarters proceeded to El Alamein on 7 July, and was posted to the northern flank of the British frontline. The unit then spent the remainder of the month in action against Axis forces in the area.[17] For his "distinguished services" during this period, Wells was consequently Mentioned in Despatches a second time.[18]
On 23 October 1942, the British and Commonwealth forces under Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery launched an offensive against Axis forces at El Alamein. The 9th Division took part in the battle, and was initially tasked with the seizure of a section of the Oxalic Line.[19] Over the proceeding twelve days, the Australians assisted in the assault, with Morshead and his staff coordinating the 9th Division's assault; success was claimed on 4 November.[20] Praised for his "ability of high order",[21] Wells was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his efforts in training and preparing the divison prior to the battle, in addition to his labours during the engagement.[22] The notification for the decoration was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 11 February 1943.[23]
During late November 1942, the members of the 9th Division returned to Palestine.[24] In January, the unit embarked from North Africa and sailed home to Australia in preparation for service against the Japanese in the South West Pacific.[25]
South West Pacific
Wells arrived back in Australia during February 1943.[3] On 15 March, Morshead was appointed to command II Corps, and Wells was transferred along with him to the unit's headquarters as Brigadier, General Staff.[26] He was promoted to temporary brigadier in April.[3] During this time, the combat forces of the corps undertook training in both jungle and amphibious warfare in preparation for its planned deployment to New Guinea.[27] Wells took an active hand in organising these exercises,[28] before he moved with the corps headquarters to New Guinea during October.[29]
The movement of II Corps coincided with the vicious fighting around the Finisterre Range and Ramu Valley.[30] Over the subsequent months, Wells assisted in the planning and coordination of operations in the Ramu Valley, which culminated in the seizure of Madang during April 1944. For his "exceptional services in the field",[31] Wells was awarded his third Mention in Despatches during this time.[32]
In April 1944, Wells returned to Australia and was transferred to the headquarters of I Corps stationed in Queensland.[3][33] The following month, Wells proceeded to Land Command Headquarters in Sydney, where he attended a conference on staff appointments. He returned to the corps eleven days later. During this period, Wells was active in organising the unit's training off the Queensland coast,[34] before he was granted a period of leave during August; he returned to duty on 26 September. In October, I Corps was moved to Hollandia, Western New Guinea.[35] On 19 July 1945,[36] Wells was upgraded to a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his "exceptional ability and outstanding devotion to duty" in conjunction with the "valuable assistance" given throughout the New Guinea campaign to the General Officer Commanding New Guinea Force.[3][37][38]
During March 1945, it was decided that I Corps would lead an assault against the island of Borneo.[39] The initial landings took place on 1 May, with the Australian force in action at Tarakan.[40] Over the proceeding engagements, Wells assisted in the organisation and implementation of the operations in Borneo.[41] As the war drew to a close in September 1945, Wells returned to Australia and was posted to Army Headquarters in Melbourne.[3]
Senior command
In March 1946, Wells was briefly posted as director of military operations at the Army Headquarters, before he was promoted to temporary major general and appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff. The following year, Wells embarked for the United Kingdom where he attended the Imperial Defence College in London.[3] During this time, Wells attended an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, where he was presented with his Commander of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI.[37] On his return to Australia in 1949, Wells was made Commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He served in this position until February 1951, when he was appointed General Officer Commanding Southern Command with the rank of temporary lieutenant general.[3]
During 1953, Wells was appointed Commander-in-Chief, British Commonwealth Forces Korea. Arriving inland, he assumed the role on 11 February. Over the following twenty-one months, Wells headed the British and Commonwealth forces in Korea as the war ended. During this time, Wells' rank was made substantive on 12 April 1954,[3][42] and he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1954.[43] Commended for his "exceptional meritorious service" in Korea,[44] Wells was awarded the United States Legion of Merit in the degree of Commander.[45] Wells was presented with the decoration by General John E. Hull on 19 October,[44] before returning to Australia three days later.[42]
Arriving back in Australia, Wells was made Chief of the General Staff during December 1954. His appointment to this role coincided with the commitment of Australian forces to the Malayan Emergency, and as such he presided over the deployment of Australian soldiers to the engagement as well as the formation of the first regular brigade group.[3] Wells was upgraded to a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1956 New Years Honours.[46]
Wells was appointed the first Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee on 23 March 1958.[47] This position was created as part of the Australian Government's response to a review of the Defence group of departments conducted by Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Morshead in 1957, which recommended greater centralisation of the armed forces. Although the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee was the Government's principal military advisor and reported directly to the Minister for Defence, Wells was not promoted and remained at the same rank as the heads of the Navy, Army and Air Force. He was also hampered by being given only a small staff. The role of the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee was not strengthened until 1961 when Air Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger was appointed to the position.[48] Wells served in this capacity until his retirement from the Australian military on 22 March 1959.[3][47]
Retirement
In retirement, Wells was appointed as a director to several companies, including Broken Hill South Ltd, Metal Manufactures Ltd, Navcot Australia Pty Ltd and Sitmar Line (Australia) Pty Ltd. During April 1961, Wells was appointed honorary colonel of the Royal Victoria Regiment. Described as "somewhat reserved and taciturn",[3] Wells died at Yarrawonga, Victoria, on 20 October 1973. His funeral service took place with full military honours at Toorak Presbyterian Church, after which he was cremated.[3]
Notes
- ^ Essex-Clark 2005, p. 150
- ^ a b "Wells, Henry". World War II Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Andrews, E. M. (2002). "Wells, Sir Henry (1898 – 1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ a b Long 1953, p. 34
- ^ Long 1953, p. 54
- ^ a b c d "Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army)—Image details—Wells, Henry—30 December 1941" (fee usually required to view full pdf of original recommendation). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ Long 1953, p. 65
- ^ Long 1953, pp. 160–161
- ^ a b "Recommendation for Henry Wells to be awarded a Officer of the Order of the British Empire" (PDF). Index to Recommendations: Second World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ a b "No. 35396". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 30 December 1941. - ^ Long 1953, p. 103
- ^ "Recommendation for Henry Wells to be awarded a Mention in Despatches" (PDF). Index to Recommendations: Second World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "No. 35821". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 15 December 1942. - ^ Long 1953, p. 335–336
- ^ Maughan 1966, pp. 544–545
- ^ Maughan 1966, pp. 551–552
- ^ Maughan 1966, pp. 555
- ^ "No. 36065". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 24 June 1943. - ^ Maughan 1966, pp. 677–678
- ^ Maughan 1966, p. 745
- ^ "Recommendation for Henry Wells to be awarded a Distinguished Service Order" (PDF). Index to Recommendations: Second World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ "Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army)—Image details—Wells, Henry—11 February 1943" (fee usually required to view full pdf of original recommendation). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ "No. 35898". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 11 February 1943. - ^ Maughan 1966, p. 748
- ^ Maughan 1966, pp. 753–754
- ^ "2 Australian Corps General Branch: March 1943" (PDF). Australian Army War Diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ Dexter 1961, pp. 265–266
- ^ "2 Australian Corps General Branch: September 1943" (PDF). Australian Army War Diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "2 Australian Corps General Branch: October 1943" (PDF). Australian Army War Diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Dexter 1961, p. 561
- ^ "Recommendation for Henry Wells to be awarded a Mention in Despatches" (PDF). Index to Recommendations: Second World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ "No. 36972". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 8 March 1945. - ^ "1 Australian Corps General Branch: March–April 1944" (PDF). Australian Army War Diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "1 Australian Corps General Branch: May 1944" (PDF). Australian Army War Diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ "1 Australian Corps General Branch: September–October 1944" (PDF). Australian Army War Diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ "No. 37184". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 19 July 1945. - ^ a b "Recommendation for Henry Wells to be awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire" (PDF). Index to Recommendations: Second World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ "Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army)—Image details—Wells, Henry—19 July 1945" (fee usually required to view full pdf of original recommendation). DocumentsOnline. The National Archives. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 50
- ^ Long 1963, p. 62
- ^ Long 1963, p. 458
- ^ a b "Wells, Henry". Korean War Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ "No. 40189". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 10 June 1954. - ^ a b "Recommendation for Henry Wells to be awarded a US Legion of Merit" (PDF). Index to Recommendations: Korean War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dateformat=
ignored (help) - ^ "No. 40325". The London Gazette. 12 November 1954.
- ^ "No. 40670". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=
(help)). 2 January 1956. - ^ a b "Previous Chiefs". Chief of the Defence Force. Department of Defence. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Horner 2001, p. 43
References
- Dexter, David (1961). The New Guinea Offensives (PDF). Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- Essex-Clark, John (2005). Hassett: Australian Leader. Loftus, New South Wales, Australia: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1-876439-65-3.
- Horner, David (2001). Making the Australian Defence Force. The Australian Centenary History of Defence Volume IV. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195541170.
- Long, Gavin (1953). Greece, Crete and Syria (PDF). Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- Long, Gavin (1963). The Final Campaigns (PDF). Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- Maughan, Barton (1966). Tobruk and El Alamein (PDF). Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 8 March 2009.