James Allen Ward
Sergeant, Royal New Zealand Air Force
- Register No.
- 1270 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- Royal New Zealand Air Force (register: No. 75 Squadron RAF) all No. 75 Squadron RAF VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 July 1941 on this day → all of 1941 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 5th August 1941 on this day → all of 1941 →
- Born
- the 14th in June 1919 at Wanganui, New Zealand
- Died
- in a burning Wellington, 15th September 1941 whilst over
- Memorial / grave
- at Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany
Digest of citation
Sergeant Ward was the co-pilot on a Wellington aircraft when fire broke out after a raid on Munster, Germany. The captain of the aircraft having told Sergeant Ward to try to put out the fire, he then crawled out through a narrow Astro-Hatch, attached a dinghy rope and managed, with great difficulty to scramble to the rear of the starboard engine which was alight, and then smothered the flames with great difficulty using an engine cover. On his way to the engine, being hampered by his parachute, he had torn hand and foot-holes in the wing. In spite of this, his return journey was even more dangerous than the outward one. With the help of the Navigator he finally made it into the aircraft. The pilot, Squadron Leader R.P. Widdowson eventually landed the aircraft safely at Newmarket without flaps or brakes before coming to rest in the boundary hedge
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
WARD, James Allen. (reg No. 1270)
Sergeant. Royal New Zealand Air Force. * London Gazetted on 5th August 1941.
VC Medal not on public display.
Born on the 14th in June 1919 at Wanganui, New Zealand.
Killed in a burning Wellington, 15th September 1941 whilst over Hamburg, Germany.
Memorial on grave at Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany.
Digest of Citation reads: Sergeant Ward was the co-pilot on a Wellington aircraft when fire broke out after a raid on Munster, Germany. The captain of the aircraft having told Sergeant Ward to try to put out the fire, he then crawled out through a narrow Astro-Hatch, attached a dinghy rope and managed, with great difficulty to scramble to the rear of the starboard engine which was alight, and then smothered the flames with great difficulty using an engine cover. On his way to the engine, being hampered by his parachute, he had torn hand and foot-holes in the wing. In spite of this, his return journey was even more dangerous than the outward one. With the help of the Navigator he finally made it into the aircraft. The pilot, Squadron Leader R.P. Widdowson eventually landed the aircraft safely at Newmarket without flaps or brakes before coming to rest in the boundary hedge.
* Won VC while serving with 75 Squadron, RAF.
Additional information:. Sergeant Ward's family had emigrated to New Zealand from Coventry, England. He was educated at Wanganui Technical College and at Victoria University College. He became a teacher at Castle Cliff School in his hometown, joining RNZAF in 1939. He was trained as a pilot and eventually sailed to Canada. He joined the 75 Squadron at Feltwell, Norfolk on 13th June 1941 and on his 22nd birthday, the following day, he was detailed as co-pilot of a Wellington bomber taking part in a raid on Dusseldorf. He flew most of his missions with Squadron Leader R.P.Widdowson, right up to the night of 7th July 1941 when he won the Victoria Cross.
Additional information
Sergeant Ward's family had emigrated to New Zealand from Coventry, England. He was educated at Wanganui Technical College and at Victoria University College. He became a teacher at Castle Cliff School in his hometown, joining RNZAF in 1939. He was trained as a pilot and eventually sailed to Canada. He joined the 75 Squadron at Feltwell, Norfolk on 13th June 1941 and on his 22nd birthday, the following day, he was detailed as co-pilot of a Wellington bomber taking part in a raid on Dusseldorf. He flew most of his missions with Squadron Leader R.P.Widdowson, right up to the night of 7th July 1941 when he won the Victoria Cross.
* Won VC while serving with 75 Squadron, RAF.
VC Medal not on public display.
Hamburg, Germany.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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