Tom Webb-Bowen

Tom Ince Webb-Bowen was born on 17 January 1879, the son of Thomas Ince Webb-Bowen (senior) who served as the Chief Constable of Pembrokeshire Police from 1 January 1879 to 1 December 1906.

Webb-Bowen was initially commissioned into a militia battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, later got a regular army commission into the Bedfordshire Regiment and was appointed the Adjutant of the Madras Volunteer Corps while serving in India.[http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Webb-Bowen.htm Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice-Marshal Sir Tom Webb-Bowen] Finding himself unsuited to regimental life, Webb-Bowen learnt to fly in 1912. After several weeks as a Royal Flying Corps flight commander, he was posted to the Central Flying School as an instructor where he later served as the Assistant Commandant.

In March 1915 Major Webb-Bowen took over command of No. 2 Squadron while the squadron was located at Merville, France. During his short tenure there were two significant events. Firstly, because of the difficulty suffered by ground troops in communicating their advance to higher command, a technique was developed whereby troops on the ground could convey their position by laying strips of white cloth on the ground. (These strips are referred to as "Popham strips" in a novel,"C", Tom McCarthy and Webb-Bowen's predecessor was Robert Brooke-Popham.) Aircraft from No. 2 Squadron would then relay by WT the co-ordinates noted. The second and more historically significant event was the award of the first Victoria Cross awarded for bravery in the air, to Lieutenant William Rhodes-Moorhouse. Major Webb-Bowen handed over command to Major Becke in June 1915 following his posting to Home Establishment. He continued his war service commanding No. 3 Wing RFC from May 1915, and then as Brigadier-General Commanding first II Brigade RFC, then VII Brigade RFC and then II Brigade RFC again. He commanded these brigades in France and Italy.[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1934/1934%20-%200443.html A Reunion Dinner] Flight International, 3 May 1934

After the war he was appointed Air Officer Commanding South Eastern Area and then Air Officer Commanding RAF India. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 3 Group in 1923, Air Officer Commanding Inland Area in 1924[http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/document-16.html Battle of Britain – 1940] and Air Officer Commanding Middle East Command in 1925. He then went on to be Air Member for Personnel in 1930 and Air Officer Commanding Wessex Bombing Area in 1931 before retiring on 26 September 1933.

He was recalled during the Second World War to be Duty Air Commodore in the Operations Room at Headquarters Fighter Command.

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{{s-bef|before=Hugh Trenchard}}

{{s-ttl|title=Assistant Commandant of the Central Flying School| years=7 August 1914 – 8 March 1915}}

{{s-aft|after=Duncan Pitcher}}

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{{s-bef|before=George Dawes}}

{{s-ttl|title=Officer Commanding No. 2 Squadron|years=8 March – 27 May 1915}}

{{s-aft|after=John Becke}}

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{{s-bef|before=Robert Brooke-Popham}}

{{s-ttl|title=Officer Commanding No. 3 Wing|years=27 May – 2 June 1915}}

{{s-aft|after=John Higgins}}

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{{s-bef|before=John Salmond}}

{{s-ttl|title=Brigadier-General Commanding II Brigade RFC| years=1916–1917}}

{{s-aft|after=John Becke}}

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{{s-new|reason=Brigade established}}

{{s-ttl|title=Brigadier-General Commanding VII Brigade RFC| years=1917–1918}}

{{s-non|reason=Brigade disbanded
Title next held by Charles Lambe in 1918}}

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{{s-bef|before=John Becke}}

{{s-ttl|title=Brigadier-General Commanding II Brigade RFC| years=1918}}

{{s-non|reason=Brigade disbanded}}

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{{s-new|reason=Formed from Indian Group}}

{{s-ttl|title=Air Officer Commanding RAF India|years=1920–1922}}

{{s-aft|after=Philip Game}}

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{{s-vac|last=Arthur Longmore}}

{{s-ttl|title=Air Officer Commanding No. 3 Group|years=1923–1924}}

{{s-aft|after=Lionel Charlton}}

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{{s-bef|before=Oliver Swann}}

{{s-ttl|title=Air Officer Commanding RAF Middle East|years=1926–1929}}

{{s-aft|after=Francis Scarlett}}

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{{s-bef|before=Sir John Salmond}}

{{s-ttl|title=Air Member for Personnel|years=1930–1931}}

{{s-aft|after=Sir Edward Ellington}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Webb-Bowen, Tom}}

Category:1879 births

Category:1956 deaths

Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Officers of the Military Order of Savoy

Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Anna, 3rd class

Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)

Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Pembrokeshire

Category:High sheriffs of Pembrokeshire

Category:Royal Air Force generals of World War I

Category:Royal Air Force air marshals

Category:Middlesex Regiment officers

Category:Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment officers

Category:Royal Flying Corps officers

Category:British Army personnel of World War I