Major Albert Gregory Waller (15 October 1890 – 1967) was an Irish

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, credited with eleven aerial victories. He would return to Britain's military service during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Family background

Waller was born in

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...

, Ireland. His family were descendants of Richard Waller, a lieutenant in

Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

New Model Army The New Model Army was a standing army formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians during the First English Civil War, then disbanded after the Stuart Restoration in 1660. It differed from other armies employed in the 1639 to 1653 Wars of the Th ...

during the conquest of Ireland, who was awarded Castle Cully and its lands near

Newport, County Tipperary Newport (, formerly ) is a town in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the barony of Owney and Arra. At the 2016 Census the population was 1,995. Location It is located approximately 8 km from Birdhill and 16 km from Limerick. T ...

in 1666. Richard Waller's great-grandson William Thomas Waller married Eliza Augusta Guinness, the granddaughter of

Arthur Guinness Arthur Guinness ( 172523 January 1803) was an Irish brewer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. The inventor of Guinness beer, he founded the Guinness Brewery at St. James's Gate in 1759. Born in Celbridge, County Kildare around 1725, Guinness ...

. His eldest son George Arthur Waller became Guinness' Chief Brewer and engineer, while his fourth son Francis Albert Waller was the managing director of Banagher Maltings (F.A. Waller & Co. Ltd.) in Shannon Grove,

County Galway "Righteousness and Justice" , anthem = () , image_map = Island of Ireland location map Galway.svg , map_caption = Location in Ireland , area_footnotes = , area_total_km2 = ...

, near

Banagher Banagher ( or ''Beannchar na Sionna'') is a town in Ireland, located in the midlands, on the western edge of County Offaly in the province of Leinster, on the banks of the River Shannon. It had a population of 3,000 at the height of its econ ...

County Offaly County Offaly (; ga, Contae Uíbh Fhailí) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe. It was formerly known as King's County, in hono ...

. Francis Albert Waller married Frances Otway on 7 September 1872, and they had nine children, of whom Albert Gregory Waller was the youngest.

World War I

Waller was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant to serve in the Army Service Corps on 7 September 1914, alongside his brother William Hastings de Warrenne Waller (who also became a pilot, eventually retiring from the RAF with the rank of wing commander in 1935.) He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 November 1914, and to captain on 5 September 1915. Waller transferred to the Royal Flying Corps to train as a pilot, being granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 4015 after soloing a Henri Farman biplane at the Military School, Joyce Green, on 3 December 1916. He was appointed a flying officer and transferred to the General List on 10 February 1917. Waller served in No. 55 Squadron RFC for three months before being posted to No. 18 Squadron RFC in early 1918, where he was appointed a flight commander on 12 February 1918. Flying an Airco DH.4 two-seater Waller was credited with eleven aerial victories between 6 March and 30 May 1918, though he shared three of those wins with other air crews whose pilots included

Herbert Gould Captain Herbert Ruska Gould (23 December 1891 – 14 August 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. Biography Gould was born in Sydney, Australia, the second son of English journalist and novelist Nathani ...

and

Alfred Atkey Alfred Clayburn Atkey, (16 August 1894 – 14 February 1971) was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 38 aerial victories, making him the fifth highest scoring Canadian ace. However, all those above him flew in singl ...

. Waller's final victorious sortie brought his observer, Basil Blackett, to acedom. Overall, Waller destroyed three enemy aircraft (including one shared triumph) and drove down eight others down out of control while accomplishing his missions. Waller was subsequently awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

, which was gazetted on 16 September 1918. His citation read: :Temporary Captain Albert Gregory Waller, General List and Royal Air Force. ::"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has led fifteen successful bombing raids, twenty-two low bombing and reconnaissance flights and eight successful photographic flights. In addition he has destroyed five enemy machines. As a flight commander he has shown initiative and enterprise both in the air and on the ground, and the excellent work done by the flight under his command is entirely due to his fine example and untiring energy." On 23 October 1918, shortly before the armistice brought an end to hostilities, he was granted the acting rank of major. On 22 January 1919 Waller received a mention in despatches "in respect of the valuable services ... rendered in connection with the war" while serving in the

Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of the Secretary of State ...

. He was transferred to the RAF's unemployed list on 3 February 1919.

List of aerial victories

World War II

Waller returned to service in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was established in 1936 to support the preparedness of the U.K. Royal Air Force in the event of another war. The Air Ministry intended it to form a supplement to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF ...

during World War II. He was commissioned as a pilot officer (on probation) on 12 December 1940, being confirmed in his appointment and promoted to the war substantive rank of flying officer on 12 December 1941. Waller eventually relinquished his commission on account of ill-health on 8 November 1943, retaining the honorary rank of

flight lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...

Personal life

In 1920 Waller married Marjorie Harrison in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. They had four children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waller, Albert Gregory 1890 births 1967 deaths Military personnel from County Tipperary Royal Army Service Corps officers Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Irish World War I flying aces Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II British Army personnel of World War I Royal Air Force officers Military personnel from County Galway