Tommy Williams

I have a large file of letters from Tommy Williams of Woodstock whom I met while researching the WW1 Flying Aces. If anyone would like to have access to all this wonderful material about WW1, I would be happy to share. It is his letters with my answers and goes all the way through three years of correspondence until his death, subsequent to a trip arranged to Greenwood, where he spoke for two hours on his feet to the young pilots there. He always said his unlucky number was 9 and gave examples. Of course, he knew he would die at 99 and he did. The last letter I received from him was eerily missing the final page.

He kept his pilot's license until he was 86 and still flew. He was active in the association. CPA, until his death. A very interesting nonegenarian. He added greatly to my research material.

[Wayne Ralph]

Dear Betty,

I am the biographer of William Barker, VC, a good friend of Tommy Williams. I interviewed Tommy in 1980-81 about his career in WWI, and about his relationship with Barker, for whom he had the highest of regard.

BARKER VC sold over 10,000 copies, and there is considerable information in it about Tommy Williams, including interviews he did, and comments he made.

As you may know, Tommy was part of the aerial flypast at Barker's funeral in Toronto on March 15th, 1930.

I would very much like to read your letters. Please contact me at <wr@cyberion.com> or telephone (604) 538-9434.

Wayne Ralph, author, BARKER VC

To Wayne Ralph

What a day this has been! I have just spent the afternoon since writing to the Aerodrome Forum going over the publishing of my book! I now have an agent/publisher and I will be working to get my book out there too.

About my file of Tommy Williams letters. It is all in one package and the only other person who has seen it is Max MacLeod who is a local flying buff. I am not sure he is still around, because I haven't seen him or heard of him for years.

I will pack up my Tommy Williams stuff and mail it to you. Please send me your address either by email to the above address or by snail mail if you prefer. You may keep the file as long as you want, but please keep in touch with me if you plan on using it. My son Glenn wants my papers when I am "gone" so I will just ask you to put his name and address on the material when you get it...in case.

I will tell you about his trip to Greenwood if it isn't written up in that file, or give you any information that I can remember. You have only to ask. Thanks for all this interest. Regards,
Betty

P.S. I was 50 when I started this book in 1980. It is about time I finished it, isn't it!!