RICHARD HENRY JOHN WELLFARE

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

DICK

Born: 1923, Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Died: 25th March 1944; age: 20; at Lage Mierde, North Brabant, Holland.

Residence: 29, Hatfield Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: with Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, Ipswich.

Rank: Sergeant/Navigator; Service Number: 1397598.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 44 Squadron.

Grave Reference:

KK.24.

Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery,

Woensel,

Noord-Brabant,

Netherlands.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of James & Winifred Edith Wellfare, of Ipswich.

Father: James Wellfare, born 1884, Warrington, Lancashire.

Mother: Winifred Edith Wellfare (nee House), born March 1900, Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Brother: James Harry Wellfare, born July 1925, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Sisters:

Mollie Wellfare, born December 1920, Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Winifred Joan Wellfare, born 1922, Bristol.

Audrey Edith Wellfare, born September 1926, Chichester, West Sussex.

Rosemary Christine Wellfare, born 1928, Chichester.

Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies remember Richard with the entrance gates, dedicated in May 1958, at Ransomes Sports’ Centre, Sidegate Avenue, Ipswich.

22nd December 1943

Richard survived a crash on the 22nd December 1943. He was in a Lancaster aircraft, Serial number – DV361; Code – EM-V on a cross-country test flight. There was an engine fire which could not be extinguished, and the crew were ordered to bale out over Brigstock, near Oundle, Peterborough.  3 of the crew were killed.

25th March 1944

Aircraft – Lancaster; Serial number – ME672; Code – KM-A, took off from R.A.F. Base Dunholme Lodge, Lincolnshire at 19.02hrs. Operation: Berlin. 811 aircraft took part in what was to be named ‘night of the strong winds’ as a very strong wind took the bomber stream further south on the outward journey and caused the homeward journey of bombers to become very scattered. Richard and his crew were shot down by Oberleutnant Josef Nabrich, a nightfighter ace who at the time had 6 abschuss to his credit. Combat took place at 5.800 metres. The Lancaster crashed at 00.3hrs at Lage Mierde, North Brabant, Holland. 6 men were killed, 1 survived.

Crew:

Pilot Officer/Pilot; Bernard Michael Hayes; age 26; R.A.F.V.R.

Sergeant/Flight Engineer; James Maurice Ella; age 20; R.A.F.V.R.

Sergeant/Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; Wilfred Keith Walker; age 21; R.A.F.V.R.

Sergeant/Air Gunner; Kenneth Lloyd Radcliffe; age 19; R.C.A.F.

Sergeant/Air Gunner; William Griffin Perrie; age 22; R.A.F.V.R.

Sergeant/Air Bomber; Michael Fedoruk; age 23; R.C.A.F. Survived and evaded capture. http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/89:michael-fedoruk/

Radcliffe Lake, Manitoba, Canada, was named after Kenneth Radcliffe in 1974, as part of the Aircrew Canadian Commemorative Geographical Feature Naming Program.