| Wells | John Bayford | | Lieutenant | WELLS, JOHN BAYFORD, Lieutenant, was born 12 April 1881, son of Charles A E Wells, of Heathfield, Albury, Guildford Surrey, and of Annie Macdonak Susannah Wells (Burt). He was educated at Westminster, and entered the Army from the Militia, 20 May 1899; was promoted Lieutenant 4 January 1901. He served in South Africa, 1899-1902; was in the advance on Kimberley, including actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein; operations in the Orange Free State, April to May 1900; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 20 November 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony, May to July 1900, including actions at Lindley (1 June) and Rhenoster River; operations in Cape Colony, north and south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in the Transvaal 30 November 1900 to April 1902; operations in Orange River Colony, August 1901; operations in Cape Colony, September and October 1901, and May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches twice [London Gazette, 20 August 1901, and 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal and King's Medal with six clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "John Bayford Wells, Lieutenant, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was Adjutant of the 1st Battalion of his regiment, March 1906 to March 1909; was promoted Captain 5 May 1906; at the Staff College, Camberley, 1910-11; Staff Captain at the War Office 1 June 1912 to 25 January 1915. He took part in the European War, serving in France, Gallipoli and Egypt. He was DAAG, GHQ, France, and Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 26 January to 13 July 1915 (Substantive Major 1 September 1915); AAG, GHQ, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and Egyptian Expeditionary Force, 14 July 1915 to 16 April 1916, and was employed at the War Office as AAG 17 April 1916 to 30 November 1917, becoming Deputy Director of Organization, War Office, 1 December 1917, and receiving the rank of Temporary Brigadier General. He was given the Brevets of Major, April 1915; Lieutenant Colonel 3 June 1917, and Colonel 3 June 1919; was created a CMG in 1918; was mentioned in Despatches twice, and also received the Legion of Honour (Chevalier) and the White Eagle of Serbia, 3rd Class, with Swords. He married, in 1916, Arabella, daughter of William Walter Wright, and they had one son, Theodore John Macdonald, born 11 November 1918.
CMG, CBE (2nd m), DSO, QSA (4) Bel M-R OFS Trans (Lt, 1/LNL), KSA (2) (Lt, DSO, LNL), 1914-15 Star (Maj, DSO), BWM, Victory Medal with MID (Lt Col), 1935 Jubilee, 1937 Coronation, Defence Medal, War Medal, Legion dHonneur (France) 4th Class, Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) 3rd Class with swords. Christies 1990 est £900-1,000. Neate 2002 £3,795.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Loyal North Lancashire Regiment |
