Left to right: Al, Gus, Harold, Ted I’m finally getting around to completing the blogs on the Wellings brothers. Albert Aloysius Wellings, or “Al” is the youngest, born January 4th, 1909 in East Boston, and was stationed close to Harold (Captain Wellings) while he served his first term in the South Pacific on Strong. Instead of focusing primarily on his list of career achievements (those will be listed at the end), it’s more interesting to me the role Al played as a support system to his older brother both before and after the sinking. Al was in the neighborhood so to speak, and as such was very accessible to Harold. He was also able to help him grease the wheels to get things done at times. The only source I had for this information was from letters written home to his wife Dolly, but there’s so much in just these small references to the accessibility and support of his brother. Few other men were so lucky to have family nearby so far from home.
Al was a communications specialist, specializing in radio, radar and underwater sound. He set up various stations in the war zone of the Pacific, including the base where Strong frequently stayed between missions, Espiritu Santos in the New Hebrides. The first letter reference mentioned was early January 1943 as Strong was laying low in Dumbea Bay, Noumea, New Caledonia. Al met him at the ship and took him to visit his camp of tents where the radar base on Noumea was set up. Al and his men had developed the area into a comfortable base for the station:
“We wound up for lunch at his home – a tent out in the country where his 17 officers and numerous enlisted men of his gang live. They built everything – roads, foundations for their tents, galley, galley range, hot showers, stole and borrowed ice boxes, etc. Really it was like “Boom Town” in the midwest. Officers and men all turned out to build their camp. They chose a grand location on a hill and the breeze is always good which helps keep away mosquitos. Their “tents” have “built up” wooden foundations, wooden sides for about 3' then screens for the next three feet, the tent just covering the top. I could rave on and on but will tell you more later. He is doing a grand job.”
The next reference is February 24, when Harold complained to Al that they hadn’t yet received mail. Al evidently had some connections that were able to remedy that situation and four days later they got a huge shipment of mail from home. From that point up until May, they got their mail on a regular basis. In April after they downed their first Japanese submarine, Al arranged to have 30 cases of ale delivered to Strong and her crew:
“I must tell you a good story. The night before we sailed on our last trip, we received a message from a ship which had just arrived from Al’s home port that they had 30 cases of Ale (qt. bottles) for us. We thought it was a joke but investigation confirmed the message. We didn’t know what to do as it was 2200 and we were sailing early in the morning and of course we couldn’t take it aboard. Sooo – at 0500 we had a big motor launch from the tender with our working party and removed it from the ship to the recreation center (enlisted men) ashore. They stored it for us. Yesterday my boys certainly had a party and today there will be another.”
During part of April Strong was holed up at Espiritu Santos, New Hebrides. Harold and a few of his officers along with the crew came down with a tropical flu. Al came by to visit and harass him out of his sick bed, then stayed around for a few days. His proximity was due to his arrival on a ship tender with the intention of setting up a radar station on Espiritu Santos. He visited the ship frequently while Strong was at port, and finally left to join his new base around the middle of May. Coincidentally during this time, Strong’s mail deliveries dried up. Al wasn’t in Noumea greasing the wheels anymore and things got behind, much to the chagrin of the captain and his crew.
In early June, Al and Harold met up at the Officer’s Club on Espirtu Santos for scotch and beer. While the ship is in port, Al bunks in with his brother and they enjoy the time spent together watching movies and hanging out with the crew. During this month he gets to see his brother nearly every day. These visits were treasured, as it would be an unusual gift to have a close family member in the same spot fighting the same war and be able to share experiences, good and bad. This soon became very important to Harold.
The next reference doesn’t come until July 13th, days after the sinking when Al flew to the hospital at Tulagi to be with him. He also provided some much needed comic relief to men who really needed it. From there they were put on a hospital ship and transported south to Guadalcanal, also where Al had formerly opened a radar base. Al found the time to come be with him there:
“Yesterday afternoon Al arrived having flown down from his regular base up north. Believe me he is a loyal brother. I was most happy to see him. Somehow to see one of your own under those conditions just adds a certain something that gives one new inspiration. He will be here two or three days.”
The guys were still there in early August and thanks to Al they started getting mail again, a welcome relief to the men recovering in hospital from the trauma and injuries associated with the sinking of the ship and loss of shipmates. This is the last reference to Al’s visits in the letters I have, but it’s clear to see that the relationship he had with his brother was enhanced by shared experiences and proximity in a turbulent war zone. How lucky he was to have that advantage, and in the delivery of the 30 cases of ale and prompt mail arrival the crew benefited, too.
Al’s resume of accomplishments are in the gallery below. Click on the image to enlarge.
-Tammi
Al was a communications specialist, specializing in radio, radar and underwater sound. He set up various stations in the war zone of the Pacific, including the base where Strong frequently stayed between missions, Espiritu Santos in the New Hebrides. The first letter reference mentioned was early January 1943 as Strong was laying low in Dumbea Bay, Noumea, New Caledonia. Al met him at the ship and took him to visit his camp of tents where the radar base on Noumea was set up. Al and his men had developed the area into a comfortable base for the station:
“We wound up for lunch at his home – a tent out in the country where his 17 officers and numerous enlisted men of his gang live. They built everything – roads, foundations for their tents, galley, galley range, hot showers, stole and borrowed ice boxes, etc. Really it was like “Boom Town” in the midwest. Officers and men all turned out to build their camp. They chose a grand location on a hill and the breeze is always good which helps keep away mosquitos. Their “tents” have “built up” wooden foundations, wooden sides for about 3' then screens for the next three feet, the tent just covering the top. I could rave on and on but will tell you more later. He is doing a grand job.”
The next reference is February 24, when Harold complained to Al that they hadn’t yet received mail. Al evidently had some connections that were able to remedy that situation and four days later they got a huge shipment of mail from home. From that point up until May, they got their mail on a regular basis. In April after they downed their first Japanese submarine, Al arranged to have 30 cases of ale delivered to Strong and her crew:
“I must tell you a good story. The night before we sailed on our last trip, we received a message from a ship which had just arrived from Al’s home port that they had 30 cases of Ale (qt. bottles) for us. We thought it was a joke but investigation confirmed the message. We didn’t know what to do as it was 2200 and we were sailing early in the morning and of course we couldn’t take it aboard. Sooo – at 0500 we had a big motor launch from the tender with our working party and removed it from the ship to the recreation center (enlisted men) ashore. They stored it for us. Yesterday my boys certainly had a party and today there will be another.”
During part of April Strong was holed up at Espiritu Santos, New Hebrides. Harold and a few of his officers along with the crew came down with a tropical flu. Al came by to visit and harass him out of his sick bed, then stayed around for a few days. His proximity was due to his arrival on a ship tender with the intention of setting up a radar station on Espiritu Santos. He visited the ship frequently while Strong was at port, and finally left to join his new base around the middle of May. Coincidentally during this time, Strong’s mail deliveries dried up. Al wasn’t in Noumea greasing the wheels anymore and things got behind, much to the chagrin of the captain and his crew.
In early June, Al and Harold met up at the Officer’s Club on Espirtu Santos for scotch and beer. While the ship is in port, Al bunks in with his brother and they enjoy the time spent together watching movies and hanging out with the crew. During this month he gets to see his brother nearly every day. These visits were treasured, as it would be an unusual gift to have a close family member in the same spot fighting the same war and be able to share experiences, good and bad. This soon became very important to Harold.
The next reference doesn’t come until July 13th, days after the sinking when Al flew to the hospital at Tulagi to be with him. He also provided some much needed comic relief to men who really needed it. From there they were put on a hospital ship and transported south to Guadalcanal, also where Al had formerly opened a radar base. Al found the time to come be with him there:
“Yesterday afternoon Al arrived having flown down from his regular base up north. Believe me he is a loyal brother. I was most happy to see him. Somehow to see one of your own under those conditions just adds a certain something that gives one new inspiration. He will be here two or three days.”
The guys were still there in early August and thanks to Al they started getting mail again, a welcome relief to the men recovering in hospital from the trauma and injuries associated with the sinking of the ship and loss of shipmates. This is the last reference to Al’s visits in the letters I have, but it’s clear to see that the relationship he had with his brother was enhanced by shared experiences and proximity in a turbulent war zone. How lucky he was to have that advantage, and in the delivery of the 30 cases of ale and prompt mail arrival the crew benefited, too.
Al’s resume of accomplishments are in the gallery below. Click on the image to enlarge.
-Tammi
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