There was a film on BBC2 last night about Geoffrey Welham DFC who joined 92 Squadron at the age of 18 and who flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. For anyone who didn't see it I hope you can find it on iPlayer or Catch Up as it was a truly inspiring film. He survived the BoB and was then posted to a training school in order to train more pilots, subsequently then being posted to Malta and flying in the Siege of Malta so was involved in probably the 2 most intense air battles in history.
His final words in the film were:-
"None of us want a Thank You. None of us want a medal. We just want to be remembered and, if you can do that, you remember us all, not just those who survived"
Awesome.
Wellhams wartime biography goes by the same name. It is well worth a read..
I did see the documentary - understated, factual - realistic so far as could be reproduced. In a word - brilliant.
It was good too that Mr Welham was seen in it as he is today.
More genuine reality TV of this quality would be a good move I think.
So far as 'being remembered' is concerned how could we who care ever forget?
Geoffrey WELLUM.
I know I'm being pedantic!
Excellent book and film as well
Steve
Steve - if you Google 'Geoffrey Welham' there are pieces with both spellings. My memory is so poor I took the one I believed to be right.
Just watched the film very brave men all of them.
Hi newportnobby, Thankyou for bringing this programme to our attention, my wife and have just watched it on bbc iplayer. This is another extraordinary story of endurance and bravery during the ' Dark Hours'.
Regards, Ken.
Going off topic slightly - another book well worth the read is:-
Kamikaze Hunters by Will Iredale.
It covers the Actions of the Fleet Air Arm in the Pacific during the last year of the war. It's interesting because in talking to people, everyone has heard of the Battle of Britain but not many know of the actions attacking the Home Island of Japan.
The first enemy aircraft shot down by British and Empire forces was shot down by the Fleet Air Arm, the last was also by the Fleet Air Arm..
It's well worth a read as well.
I read 'First Light' when it was first published and I must admit that it became, and remains, my favourite account of that period. Not only did Geoffrey Wellum portray the confusion and fleeting nature of aerial combat but also the tension inherent in mundane night time training flights and flying in weather conditions when 'sitting it out on the ground' was not an option.
A great tribute to 'The Few'.