View source for Bombardier Billy Wells

{{short description|British boxer (1889–1967)}}
{{for|the British Olympic boxer in 1968|William Wells (boxer)}}
{{for|the Walsall North Member of Parliament|William Thomas Wells (politician)}}
{{redirect|Billy Wells|the American football player|Billy Wells (American football)|the Australian rules footballer|Billy Wells (footballer)}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Bombardier Billy Wells
| image = Bombadier Billy Wells LOC Crop.jpg
| realname = William Thomas Wells
| nickname = Bombardier
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1889|8|31|df=y}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1967|6|12|1889|8|31|df=y}} 
| birth_place = [[Stepney]], London, England
|death_place= [[Ealing]], London, England
| style = Orthodox
| total = 59
| wins = 48
| losses = 11
| draws = 
| KO = 30
| no contests = 
}}
[[File:1912 Billy Wells.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Wells in 1912.]]
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:BillyWells.jpg|right]] -->

'''William Thomas Wells''', better known as '''Bombardier Billy Wells''' (31 August 1889 &ndash; 12 June 1967), was an [[England|English]] [[heavyweight]] boxer. Fighting under the name "Bombardier Billy Wells", he was [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions|British]] and [[British Empire]] Champion from 1911 until 1919, defending his title fourteen times.  In 1911 he became the first Heavyweight to win the [[Lonsdale Belt]], which had been introduced for British champions at all weights in 1909. Phil Grant held his Lonsdale belt when he was in the TA.

Wells, who was {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}} and was between {{convert|182|and|192|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, fought with an [[Orthodox stance|orthodox]] style.

==Early life==
Wells was born at 250 [[Cable Street]], [[Stepney]], in the [[East End of London]]. He was the eldest of five brothers and was one of nine children. His parents were William Thomas Wells, a musician, and Emily Rhoda Farrier, a laundress. He attended Broad Street elementary school, [[Queensbury, London|Queensbury]] until about the age of twelve, then becoming a messenger boy. He began to box as an amateur during this period.

In 1906, Wells joined the [[Royal Artillery]] as a [[Gunner (rank)|gunner]]. He was posted to [[Rawalpindi]] where he boxed in divisional and all-India championships, with great success. He was promoted to a [[Bombardier (rank)|bombardier]], and began training full-time with the help of a civilian coach. It became apparent that Wells was good enough to make a living from boxing, so in 1910, he bought himself out of the army and returned to Britain. This was at a time when boxing was becoming very popular as a spectator sport, in Britain and elsewhere.

==Professional career==
Wells had his first professional fight on 8 June 1910, against Gunner Joe Mills, winning on points over six rounds. In his first eight fights he recorded seven wins and one defeat. In his next fight he fought for the British Heavyweight Title, at the National Sporting Club, [[Covent Garden]], London. The fight was in April 1911 against [[William Hague (boxer)|Iron (William) Hague]], the holder, and Wells won by a knockout in the sixth round of twenty.

Wells was matched to fight the current world heavyweight champion, [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]], in [[London]] in October 1911, but religious opponents of excessive prize money, led by [[Baptist]] minister [[Frederick Brotherton Meyer]], and opponents of contests between the races, caused the fight to be cancelled by [[Winston Churchill]], who was then [[Home Secretary]]. A [[colour bar]] remained in British boxing until 1947.

In December 1911, Wells fought [[Fred Storbeck]] at [[Covent Garden]] for the [[British Empire]] Heavyweight Title, scoring a knockout in the eleventh round to gain his second title in one year.

In June 1913, Wells fought the extremely talented [[France|Frenchman]] [[Georges Carpentier]] for the European Heavyweight Title. The bout was held in [[Ghent]], [[Belgium]], and Wells lost by a knockout in the fourth round.

Wells defended his British heavyweight title three times in 1913, and then in December of the same year, he had a rematch with Carpentier for his European title. The bout was held at Covent garden, but again Carpentier won, this time by a knockout in the first round.

Wells continued to box and successfully defend his British heavyweight title, even after the start of [[World War I]]. In May 1915, Wells joined up for military service (in the [[Welch Regiment]]) and was later made a sergeant.<ref>{{cite news |title="Bombardier" Wells Enlists |work=Sussex Agricultural Express |date=28 May 1915 |accessdate=4 October 2014 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000655/19150528/113/0004| via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> He continued to box until the end of 1916, and in 1917 was sent to France to organize physical training amongst the troops.

After the end of the war, Wells resumed his boxing career. His fourteenth defence of his British heavyweight title, and of his British Empire title was against Joe Beckett, a boxer whom he had beaten on points two months previously. The bout was held in February 1919, in [[Holborn]], London, and Beckett won by a knockout in the fifth round to take Wells' titles.

Wells then had five more bouts, winning them all, before having a rematch against Beckett in May 1920. The bout was held at [[Olympia, London|Olympia]], [[Kensington]], but again Wells was knocked out, this time in the third round. Wells continued to fight, having eight more bouts, winning five and losing three. His last fight was in April 1925.

Wells was one of several people to fill the role of the "[[gongman]]" - the figure seen striking the gong in the introduction to [[The Rank Organisation|J. Arthur Rank]] films.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sellers |first1=Robert |title=The Secret Life of Ealing Studios |date=2022 |page=16|publisher=Dean Street Press |isbn=1915393507}}</ref>

==Private life==
In 1911, he published a book, ''Modern Boxing: a Practical Guide to Present Day Methods''.

On 7 September 1912, Wells married Ellen Kilroy, the daughter of a [[Public house|publican]]. They had four children before eventually parting; Ellaline Beryl Wells, William Thomas Wells, Audrey Ellen Wells, Cynthia Diane Wells.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FamilySearch.org |url=https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LBLN-52N/william-thomas-%27bombardier-billy%27-wells-1887-1967 |access-date=2022-06-25 |website=ancestors.familysearch.org}}</ref>

In 1923, he published the book, ''Physical energy: Showing how physical and mental energy may be developed by means of the practice of boxing'', Publisher: T.W. Laurie.

The [[Lonsdale Belt]] that Wells won was the original heavyweight belt and was crafted from 22 carat gold unlike later belts. The belt was kept at the [[Royal Artillery Barracks]] in [[Woolwich]], south-east London, but is now at Larkhill, Salisbury following the move of the home of the [[Royal Artillery]].

He lived in [[Ealing]], London and died there on 11 June 1967, aged 77.<ref>{{cite news |title='Bombardier' Billy Wells |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-billy-wells-june-12-1967/174970532/ |access-date=21 June 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 June 1967 |page=1|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His ashes were laid to rest in the crypt of [[St. Mary's Church, Hanwell|St. Mary's parish church]] in [[Hanwell]], west London on 15&nbsp;June.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wells |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-bombardier-billy-wel/174971429/ |access-date=21 June 2025 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 June 1967 |page=32|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==

{{S-start}}
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="7"|'''48 Wins''' (30 Knockouts), '''11 Defeats''' (10 Knockouts),<ref name="Boxer">[https://shoreham-army-camp.worthingmuseum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Bombardier-Billy-Wells-.pdf Bombardier Billy Wells' Professional Boxing Record]. Retrieved on 2018-10-30.</ref>
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
|  style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|'''Result'''
|  style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|'''Record'''
|  style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|'''Opponent'''
|  style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|'''Type'''
|  style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|'''Round, Time'''
|  style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|'''Date'''
|  style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|'''Location'''
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|48-11-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/13327 Jack Stanley]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3 (15)}}
|{{small|1925-04-30}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Royal Albert Hall, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|48-10-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Canada}} [http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/11308 ''Soldier'' Jones]
|{{small|DQ}}
|{{small|6 (20)}}
|{{small|1925-01-30}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} The Dome, Brighton}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|47-10-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Gunner''''' Bennett
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|9 (15)}}
|{{small|1924-12-15}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Olympia, Liverpool}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|46-10-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/32082 Charlie Penwill]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (15)}}
|{{small|1924-11-24}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Pitfield Street Baths, Hoxton}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|45-10-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Jack Bloomfield]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|6 (15)}}
|{{small|1922-11-12}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Royal Albert Hall, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|45-9-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Frank Goddard]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|6 (20)}}
|{{small|1922-05-27}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Crystal Palace, Sydenham}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|45-8-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Australia}} [http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/43215 Albert ''Kid'' Lloyd]
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|10 (20)}}
|{{small|1922-04-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} National Sporting Club, Covent Garden}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|44-8-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|France}} [http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/17597 Paul Journee]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|16 (20)}}
|{{small|1920-09-07}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|France}} Deauville, France}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|43-8-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Joe Beckett]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3 (20)}}
|{{small|1920-05-10}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Olympia, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|43-7-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Eddie McGoorty]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|16 (20)}}
|{{small|1920-04-08}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Holborn Stadium}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|42-7-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|France}} [http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/17597 Paul Journee]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|4 (20)}}
|{{small|1920-03-17}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Royal Albert Hall, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|41-7-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Harry Reeve]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|4 (20)}}
|{{small|1920-01-27}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Canterbury Music Hall, Lambeth}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|40-7-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Arthur Townley (boxer)|Arthur Townley]]
|{{small|RSF}}
|{{small|9 (20)}}
|{{small|1919-11-20}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Holborn Stadium}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|39-7-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/40401 Jack Curphey]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (20)}}
|{{small|1919-11-17}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Holborn Stadium}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|38-7-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Joe Beckett]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|5 (20)}}
|{{small|1919-02-27}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Holborn Stadium}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|38-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Joe Beckett]]
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|3}}
|{{small|1918-12-12}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Royal Albert Hall, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|37-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Wales}} [[Ivor Powell]]
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|3}}
|{{small|1918-12-11}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Royal Albert Hall, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|36-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Eddie McGoorty]]
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|3}}
|{{small|1918-12-11}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Royal Albert Hall, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|35-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Ireland}} '''''Private''''' Dan Voyles
|{{small|RSF}}
|{{small|2 (20)}}
|{{small|1916-12-18}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} National Sporting Club, Covent Garden}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|34-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Dick Smith (boxer)|Dick Smith]]
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|9 (20)}}
|{{small|1916-08-28}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Woolwich, London}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|33-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Matthew Curran]]
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|5 (15)}}
|{{small|1916-03-31}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Cosmopolitan Gymnasium, Plymouth}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|32-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Dick Smith (boxer)|Dick Smith]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (20)}}
|{{small|1916-02-21}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Hippodrome, Golders Green}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|31-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} Bandsman Dick Rice
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (20)}}
|{{small|1915-12-26}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Pudsey Street Stadium, Liverpool}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|30-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Dick Smith (boxer)|Dick Smith]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|9 (20)}}
|{{small|1915-03-31}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} The Ring, Blackfriars}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|29-6-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Frank Moran]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|10 (20)}}
|{{small|1915-03-29}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Opera House, Covent Garden}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|29-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} Bandsman Dick Rice
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|6 (20)}}
|{{small|1915-02-24}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}}  Opera House, Belfast}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|28-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Canada}} Dan McGoldrick
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|7 (15)}}
|{{small|1915-02-12}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Cosmopolitan Gymnasium, Plymouth}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|27-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Australia}} [[Colin Bell (footballer, born 1946)|Colin Bell]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (20)}}
|{{small|1914-06-30}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Olympia, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|26-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} Bandsman Dick Rice
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|20}}
|{{small|1914-04-30}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Pudsey Street Stadium, Liverpool}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|25-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|France}} Albert Lurie
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|7 (20)}}
|{{small|1914-04-02}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Canterbury Music Hall, Lambeth}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|24-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Bandsman Jack Blake]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|4 (20)}}
|{{small|1914-03-03}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} London Palladium, United Kingdom}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|23-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|France}} Gaston Pigot
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (20)}}
|{{small|1914-01-24}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|Wales}} Cardiff, Wales}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|22-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Ireland}} '''''Gunner''''' Gus Rawles
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|10 (20)}}
|{{small|1914-01-14}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|Ireland}} Theatre Royal, Belfast}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|21-5-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|France}} [[Georges Carpentier]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (20)}}
|{{small|1913-12-08}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} National Sporting Club, Covent Garden}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|21-4-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Gunner Moir]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|4 (20)}}
|{{small|1913-11-10}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Canterbury Music Hall}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|20-4-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Pat O'Keeffe]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|15 (20)}}
|{{small|1913-08-04}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} The Ring, Blackfriers}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|19-4-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Ireland}} [[Patrick 'Pakey' O'Mahony]]
|{{small|RSF}}
|{{small|13 (20)}}
|{{small|1913-06-30}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} National Sporting Club, Covent Garden}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|18-4-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|France}} [[Georges Carpentier]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|4 (20)}}
|{{small|1913-06-01}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|Belgium}} Ghent, Belgium}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|18-3-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Gunboat Smith|''Gunboat'' Smith]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2}}
|{{small|1913-03-14}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} New York City, USA}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|18-2-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|South Africa}} George Rodel
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2 (20)}}
|{{small|1912-12-06}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} King’s Hall, Southwark}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|17-2-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} Tom Kennedy
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|8}}
|{{small|1912-07-18}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} Madison Square Garden, New York City}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|16-2-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Al Palzer]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3}}
|{{small|1912-06-28}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|USA}} Madison Square Garden, New York City}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|16-1-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|South Africa}} [[Fred Storbeck]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|11 (20)}}
|{{small|1911-12-18}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} National Sporting Club, Covent Garden}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|15-1-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[William Hague (boxer)|''Iron'' Hague]]
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|6 (20)}}
|{{small|1911-04-24}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} National Sporting Club, Covent Garden}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|14-1-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|USA}} [[Dan Flynn (boxer)|Dan Flynn]]
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|20}}
|{{small|1911-03-08}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Olympia, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{no2}}Loss
|13-1-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} [[Gunner Moir]]
|{{small|RSF}}
|{{small|3 (20)}}
|{{small|1911-01-11}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Olympia, Kensington}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|13-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Seaman''''' Parsons
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (20)}}
|{{small|1910-11-16}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} King’s Hall, Southwark}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|12-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Ireland}} '''''Private''''' Dan Voyles
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|10 (20)}}
|{{small|1910-10-19}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} King’s Hall, Southwark}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|11-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Corporal''''' Sunshine
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|6 (20)}}
|{{small|1910-09-15}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} King’s Hall, Southwark}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|10-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Corporal''''' Brown
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3 (10)}}
|{{small|1910-07-23}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Wonderland, Whitechapel}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|9-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Gunner''''' McMurray
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1 (10)}}
|{{small|1910-06-22}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Garrison Theatre, Shoebury}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|8-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Gunner''''' Joe Mills
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|6}}
|{{small|1910-05-08}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|UK}} Wells Club, London}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|7-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Ireland}} '''''Private''''' Clohessy
|{{small|RTD}}
|{{small|3}}
|{{small|1910-02-13}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|India}} Lucknow, India}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|6-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|Ireland}} '''''Private''''' Clohessy
|{{small|PTS}}
|{{small|?}}
|{{small|1909-09}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|India}} Poona, India}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|5-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Sargeant''''' Gale
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1}}
|{{small|1909-09}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|India}} Poona, India}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|4-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Corporal''''' Goulborn
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|1}}
|{{small|1909-09}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|India}} Poona, India}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|3-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Private''''' Tansell
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3}}
|{{small|1909}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|India}} Poona, India}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|2-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Private''''' Jarvis
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|2}}
|{{small|1909}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|India}} Poona, India}}
|- align=center
|{{yes2}}Win
|1-0-0
|align=left|{{Flag icon|UK}} '''''Gunner''''' Turner
|{{small|KO}}
|{{small|3}}
|{{small|1909}}
|align=left|{{small|{{Flag icon|India}} Poona, India}}
|- align=center
{{S-end}}

==Selected filmography==
* ''[[Kent, the Fighting Man]]'' (1916)
* ''[[The Silver Lining (1919 film)|The Silver Lining]]'' (1919)
* ''[[Beloved Imposter]]'' (1936)
* ''[[Make-Up (1937 film)|Make-Up]]'' (1937)
* ''[[We'll Smile Again]]'' (1942)
* ''[[Happidrome (film)|Happidrome]]'' (1943)

==See also==
* [[List of British heavyweight boxing champions]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Oxford DNB article: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/53467
* {{Boxrec|id=32180|name=Bombardier Billy Wells}}
* {{Boxrec|id=32082|name=Charlie Penwill}}
* {{Boxrec|id=11308|name=Soldier Jones}}
* {{Boxrec|id=43215|name=Albert Lloyd}}
* {{Boxrec|id=17597|name=Paul Journee}}
* {{Boxrec|id=13327|name=Jack Stanley}}
* {{Boxrec|id=40401|name=Jack Curphey}}

{{British boxing}}
{{boxing}}
{{boxing History}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/wells-bb.htm Profile and list of bouts]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wells, Bombardier Billy}}
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1967 deaths]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:English male boxers]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:People from Stepney]]
[[Category:Boxers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
[[Category:Royal Artillery soldiers]]
[[Category:Welch Regiment soldiers]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]