Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 202

(x) Four: Chief Shipwright 2nd Class W. R. Vallance, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (M. 7370 W. R. Vallance. Shpt.2. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M. 7370 W. R. Vallance. Shpt.1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (M. 7370 W. R. Vallance. Ch. Shpt.2. H.M.S. Ceres), contact marks and wear to naming, minor official correction to last, nearly very fine (4)

William Robert Vallance was born on 19 November 1886 at Rochester, Kent. He joined the Royal Navy on 21 March 1914, serving as Shipwright 2nd Class aboard the armoured cruiser Bacchante from 31 July 1914-10 February 1916. Transferring to the Marshal Ney which served on Dover Patrol, and later the former North Atlantic convoy escort Antrim, Vallance saw out the war at Queensferry Docks in the Firth of Forth.

Promoted Chief Shipwright 2nd Class aboard the cruiser Calypso in April 1927, Vallance was shore pensioned on 20 March 1936. He rejoined on 4 March 1940, was promoted Shipwright 1st Class at Pembroke II, and served from 14 March 1940-8 September 1945 at the Sheerness naval dockyard Wildfire. In July 1940, the first flotilla of Harbour Defence Motor Launches was formed at Sheerness to patrol the Thames Estuary and protect the flow of convoys towards London and along the East Coast - Wildfire's ships were always hard pressed. Released from service for a second time, Vallance died at Chatham, Kent, in January 1973.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£85

Starting price
£60