William Alfred Savage
Able Seaman, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1110 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Able Seaman all Able Seamans →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HM Motor Gun Boat) all HM Motor Gun Boat VCs →
- Date of action
- 28 March 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 21st May 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Born
- 30th October 1912 at Smethwick, Staffordshire
- Died
- in action on 28th March 1942 at St Nazaire, France
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Town Cemetery, Falmouth, Cornwall
- Medal held by
- the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Digest of citation
For gallantry and devotion to duty as a gunlayer of a pom-pom aboard a motor gunboat during the attack on St Nazaire, France, on 28th March, 1942. With cool and steady accuracy he engaged onshore positions, all the time under heavy fire and without a gun-shield he was completely exposed. He sustained the same accurate fire, on the way out of the harbour, aiming at the attacking ships until, at last, he was killed at his gun. It is stated that the Victoria Cross was awarded not only for the gallantry of Able Seaman Savage, but as recognition for the Valour of many of the others who carried out their duty, under extremely heavy fire at very close range, as they served in Motor Launches, M G B's and MTB's on the raid
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SAVAGE, William Alfred. (reg No. 1110).
Able Seaman. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 21st May 1942.
VC Medal's Custodian is the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Born on 30th October 1912 at Smethwick, Staffordshire.
Killed in action on 28th March 1942 at St Nazaire, France.
Memorial on grave at Town Cemetery, Falmouth, Cornwall.
Digest of Citation reads: For gallantry and devotion to duty as a gunlayer of a pom-pom aboard a motor gunboat during the attack on St Nazaire, France, on 28th March, 1942. With cool and steady accuracy he engaged onshore positions, all the time under heavy fire and without a gun-shield he was completely exposed. He sustained the same accurate fire, on the way out of the harbour, aiming at the attacking ships until, at last, he was killed at his gun. It is stated that the Victoria Cross was awarded not only for the gallantry of Able Seaman Savage, but as recognition for the Valour of many of the others who carried out their duty, under extremely heavy fire at very close range, as they served in Motor Launches, M G B's and MTB's on the raid.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Town Cemetery, Falmouth, Cornwall
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour William Alfred Savage by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.