Air Commodore J.G. Weir

MattyBoy · 22 April 2006, 09:22 AM

Dear all,
This chap seems to have been an early pilot - qualifying for his certificate in 1910. He also became an Air Commodore in 1923.

Does anybody here know what units he served with in 1914-15, and what Squadron(s) and Wing(s) he commanded in 1916-1918 ?

Thanks for any help rendered.

Graeme · 22 April 2006, 11:44 AM

MattyBoy

As per http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.x...%2F0014%2FWEIR

1877 Born, son of James and Mary Weir of Dumfriesshire. Educated Glasgow High School.
1898 Partner in G and J Weir Limited.
1904 Married Alice Blanche MacConnachie of Glasgow.
1915 Scottish Director of Munitions.
1917 Controller of Aeronautical Supplies and member of Air Board.
1918 Director General of Aircraft Production, Ministry of Munitions. Secretary of State and President of Air Council (to 10 January 1919). Privy Councillor. Baron Weir.
1919 Chairman of Advisory Committee on Civil Aviation.
1921 Member of Trade Boards Acts Committee.
1923 Chairman of Committee on Forces Common Services. Member of Committee of Imperial Defence Committee on Fleet Air Arm.
1925 Chairman of Committee on National Grid.
1931 Chairman of Committee on Railway Electrification.
1932 Industrial adviser at Ottawa Conference.
1936 Member of Committee of Imperial Defence Committee on Defence Policy.
1938 Created Viscount Weir of Eastwood, Renfrewshire.
1939 Director General of Explosives, Ministry of Supply.
1941 Resigned.
1942 Chairman of Tank Board (Resigned). Member of Hydro-Electric Development in Scotland Committee.
1959 Died.

He was seconded from the Royal Artillery.

As a Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1918) and made a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (London Gazette 1 January 1918)

As a Lieutenant-Colonel (acting Brigadier-General) he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (London Gazette 3 June 1919); an Officer of the Crown of Italy (London Gazette 8 November 1918) and an Officer of the Legion d'honneur (London Gazette 15 July 1919)

Read more about him in "Architect of Air Power the Life of the First Viscount Weir of Eastwood 1877-1959" by W J Reader (London, 1968)

Graeme

MattyBoy · 23 April 2006, 05:24 AM

Hi Graeme,
This is William Weir - although James George Weir, R.F.C. appears to be his brother.
Thanks for the reference checks.

Graeme · 23 April 2006, 07:51 AM

Matt

Apologies for the duff info - I'd followed a link from a genealogy website that clearly indicated J G Weir as being born in 1877. However, the information re his awards and secondment is pukker.

Graeme

Graeme · 25 April 2006, 11:58 AM

Matt

Been looking a bit deeper but apart from confirmation that James George Weir was born on 23 May 1887 in Ardoch Grove, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire I haven't turned up much.

William Douglas Weir (later the 1st Viscount Weir) was born 12 May 1877 (in Crosshill, Cathcart, Renfrewshire). I think the similarity between the dates of birth led me up the wrong path.

Graeme