Bill Wells

William George Wells (also known as Bomber Wells, 8 November 1920 – 16 March 2013) was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was injured during the war and told he was expected to spend the remainder of his life in a wheelchair, but made a successful comeback. After leaving the VFL he played for various clubs, including three stints with Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association (VFA). He also coached in the Wimmera Football League and Ballarat Football League. North Melbourne Wells, who was born in Brunswick, came to North Melbourne from East Coburg. He started the 1939 season strongly in the league seconds and was called up to make his senior debut in round five after kicking 11 goals from two games. That year he played six senior games, all in succession. In 1940 he made another six appearances and during the year enlisted in the AIF. His availability was limited during the war and he missed the entire 1941 and 1942 seasons. World War I While serving in the Middle East, Wells received wounds which left him paralysed. He was repatriated to Heidelberg Military Hospital, then later Ballarat. Doctors told him that he would never walk again and that he would have to remain in bed for the next five years. Determined for this not to be the case, there is an account of his time in hospital when he broke out of his plaster cast in order to go over and restart a radio, for which he was fined for going against orders. His recovery went better than expected and he was gradually given more freedom.