GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 1247
A fine Second World War B.E.M. group of nine awarded to Supply Petty Officer W. T. G. Vallier, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his gallantry on the occasion of the loss of the destroyer H.M.S. Delight to enemy aircraft in July 1940
BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL, (Military)
G.VI.R., 1st issue (S.P.O. William Thomas George Vallier, P./K. 60929); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (J. 47433 W. T. G. Vallier, Ord., R.N.); 1939-34 STAR; ATLANTIC STAR; AFRICA STAR, clasp, North Africa 1942 -43; DEFENCE ANDWARMEDALS 1939-45; ROYALNAVY L.S.&G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue (K. 60929 W. T. G. Vallier, S.P.O., H.M. S. Dolphin), the Great War medals with contact marks and polished, thus fine, the reminder generally very fine or better (9)
£600-800 B.E.M. London Gazette 18 October 1940:
‘For courageous example and devotion to duty when H.M.S. Delight was lost.’ The original joint recommendation states:
‘When H.M.S. Delight was on fire, and in danger of going down, before help could come, the entire Ship’s Company behaved in a manner consistent with the highest traditions of the Service. Prominent in their devotion to duty were Engine Room Artificer Marwood and Supply Petty Officer Vallier. Though three men were killed in his Mess and though he himself was wounded, Marwood - with Vallier’s assistance - made every effort to raise steam and ascertain the damage done.’
William Thomas George Vallier was born in Brighton, Sussex, in July 1900, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in December 1915. He subsequently went to sea in the light cruiser H.M.S. Phaeton in July 1916, and was similarly employed at the War’s end.
Having then gained appointment as a Stoker 1st Class, Vallier transferred to the submarine branch in August 1925, and was similarly employed at the time of receiving his L.S. & G.C. Medal in July 1933.
But by the time of the renewal of hostilities, he had returned to normal seagoing duties, and he was decorated for the above cited deeds on the occasion of the loss of the destroyer H.M.S. Delight in the English Channel, off Portland Bill, on 29 July 1940, when she was sunk by a force of 16 enemy dive bombers with a loss of six ratings and 60 wounded - she had been detected by Freya radar at Cherbourg on leaving Portland harbour in daylight, apparently contrary to orders.
A glimpse of the casualties and the imminent danger of Delight’s magazine going-up may be found in accounts submitted by the C.O’s of several Coastal Forces called to her assistance, among them M.A./S.B. No. 5 under Sub. Lieutenant D. M. Russell, R.N.V.R.:
‘Proceeded from berth in Weymouth at full speed. Made fast on the starboard side of H.M.S. Delight, which was then a blazing mass forward, but lying port quarter to the wind. Shells were blowing up as the fire extended and it seemed only a matter of minutes before the ship would blow up. Casualties were immediately taken on board, some in a very serious condition. When all available space below and on deck was filled, other survivors were taken back on board until the boat was over crowded. In all approximately 50 survivors were taken off. Proceeded to Portland at slow speed in order to keep the decks as dry as possible. Wounded were given as much medical aid as possible under the conditions and were wrapped up in blankets and coats.’
The Delight, under Commander M. Fogg-Elliott, R.N., was transferred from the Mediterranean to home waters at the end of 1939 and, having undergone a refit, returned to an operational footing in the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in January 1940. During the Norwegian campaign in April-May of the same year, Delight participated in the evacuation of the Andalsnes and Bodo, in addition to the Narvik operations. And she was on hand to lend assistance to the armed merchant cruiser Scotstoun after she was torpedoed by the U-25 on 13 June, some six weeks prior to her own demise to enemy aircraft.
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