James Allen Ward RAF VC (1919 - 1941)

Born 14 Jun 1919 in Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Died 15 Sep 1941 at age 22 in Hamburg, Germany

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Biography

401793

HAMBURG CEMETERY

5A. A1. 9.

Germany

Won VC in July 1941 and died in Sept 1941

Son of Percy Harold Ward and of Ada May Ward (nee Stokes), of Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand.

Flew with

Pilot - S/L R P Widdowson - Canada

Rear Gunner - Sgt Allan Robert James Box DFM - Auckland NZ

Observer - Sgt L A Lawton

Bomb Aimer- Sgt T Evans

Wireless Op - Sgt W Mason

Attacked from below and set on fire. Ward climbed out onto the wing and staunched the fire saving the crew

The citation in the London Gazette for 5th August, 1941, gives the following details. On the night of July 7th, 1941, Sgt. Ward was second pilot of a Wellington which, while returning from a raid on Munster, was damaged by cannon shell and incendiary bullets from an attacking Messerschmitt 110. Fire broke out near the starboard engine which, fed by petrol from a split pipe, threatened to spread to the entire wing. Strenuous efforts by the crew failed to extinguish the fire, and they were warned to be ready to abandon the aircraft. Sgt. Ward then volunteered to try and smother the fire with a [canvas] engine cover which chanced to be in use as a cushion. He got through the narrow astro-hatch and, by breaking [holes into]] the fabric [fuselage] to make hand and foot holds, succeeded in climbing on to, and then along, the wing, to a position behind the engine. Lying precariously there he smothered the fire in the wing fabric, and tried to push the engine cover on to the leaking pipe. It was blown back by the terrific wind, and on the second attempt was lost. Nevertheless, the fabric surrounding the pipe was destroyed, so that the fire could not spread and finally burnt itself out. Sgt. Ward, with assistance from the navigator, was able to struggle back into the aircraft, which eventually reached home and landed safely. The flight back was made possible by Sgt. Wards most conspicuous bravery in extinguishing the fire at the risk of his life.

Story Alan W Mitchell 1941

Sources

• "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz).
  • Birth Registration / 1919/10942 / Name: Ward & James Allen/ Parents: Ada May & Percy Harold
  • Death Registration / 1945/41197 / Name: Ward, James Allen / Aged: 22Y
• www.cwgc.org
• https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/nightlife/history/13338834
• https://www.google.com/search

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q6128652, en:Wikipedia