William Charles Coleman Gell
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, February 1944
NPG x169555
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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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William Charles Coleman
b: 10 Jul 1888 d: 16 May 1969
CB – 8 Jun 1944, DSO – 1 Jan 1918, Bar – 3 Jun 1919 MC – 1 Jan 1917, TD – 13 Oct 1926, DL (Warwickshire) – 26 Aug 1931.
(TA): - 2 Lt: 12 May 1911, (T) Capt: xx xxx xxxx, Lt: xx xxx xxxx [16 Dec 1914], (T) Maj: 3 Oct 1916 – 28 Jun 1917, Capt: 28 Jun 1917 [1 Jun 1916], Act Lt Col: 18 May – 25 Jul 1917; 15 – 23 Aug 1917, (T) Lt Col: 23 Aug 1917 - 8 Apr 1919, Bt Maj: 1 Jan 1919, Maj: 17 Dec 1920, Lt Col: 16 Feb 1924, Bt Col: 16 Feb 1928, Col: 16 Feb 1929 [16 Feb 1928]
(AuxAF): - Wg Cdr: 18 Jan 1939, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Sep 1940, Act A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1942, Gp Capt (WS): 1 Jul 1942, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Dec 1943, Act AVM: xx xxx xxxx – 12 Feb 1945, AVM: Retained.
William Charles Coleman Gell
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, February 1944
NPG x169555
xx xxx 1907: Cadet Sergeant, Cambridge University (Gonville and Caius College) Contingent, Senior Division, Officer Training Corps.
12 May 1911: Officer, 7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
21 Jan 1912: Officer, 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
18 May 1917: Officer Commanding, 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
6 Jul 1917: Officer Commanding, 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
25 Jul 1917: Officer, 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
23 Aug 1917: Officer Commanding, 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
8 Apr 1919: Officer, 5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
16 Feb 1924: Officer Commanding, 5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, TA
16 Feb 1929: Colonel, TA
xx xxx 1935: Officer, Anti-Aircraft Service, Territorial Army
18 Jan 1939: Appointed to a Commission in the Auxiliary Air Force in the rank of Wing Commander.
18 Jan 1939: Officer Commanding, No 6 Balloon Centre, Auxiliary Air Force (Opened 13 Mar 1939)
1 Jul 1941: AOC, No 30 (Balloon) Group
1 Feb 1944: AOC, Balloon Command
26 Mar 1945: Resigned his Commission
He graduated from Cambridge University with a law degree in 1913. Served in Italy during WW1 and afterwards practiced as a solicitor as a partner in Johnson & Company in Birmingham.
This page was last updated on 16/03/25©
