Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second World War ‘special operations’ D.S.C. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant W. A. Gervaise, Royal Naval Reserve, a founder member of the African Coastal Flotilla, and the medals to his father who was killed in the Great War
Distinguished Service Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1945 and hallmarked London 1943, additionally inscribed ‘Lieut., R.N.R. 1st May’, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal; French Croix de Guerre, dated 1939, with silver star; together with his father’s medals, comprising British War and Victory Medals (350817 Pte. A. Gervaise, R. Highrs.) with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Aloysius Gervaise) and Illuminated Memorial Scroll (Pte. Aloysius Gervaise, Gordon Highlanders) extremely fine (10) £4000-5000

D.S.C. London Gazette 15 August 1944: ‘For gallant and distinguished service in special operations. Temporary Acting Lieutenant Walter Aloysius Gervaise, R.N.R.’ Presented by the King at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 1 May 1945.
French Croix de Guerre, an ungazetted award for operations off enemy coasts in the Mediterranean in June and July 1943.

The group is accompanied by the original French citation certificate for the Croix de Guerre to ‘Lieutenant Gervaise de l’African Coastal Flotilla’, three silk escape maps, illuminated In Memoriam scroll for Lottie Gervaise (died 21 June 1926), and an original news cutting announcing the award of the D.S.C., with portrait, which states:
‘Lt. Walter A. Gervaise, R.N.R., a former pupil of Robert Gordon’s College, has been awarded the D.S.C. He already holds the Croix de Guerre and the 1939-43 Star. Lt. Gervaise is the only son of the late Mr. Aloysius Gervaise, a jeweller in Aberdeen, who was killed in the last war, and of Mrs Annie Gervaise. Formerly a member of the Aberdeen Sea Cadets, he went to sea when fifteen years of age as an apprentice in the King Line. He finished his apprenticeship in the Bank Line and sailed as third and then second mate. Later he served for six years with the Anglo-American Oil Company, and returned to Aberdeen, where he was a harbour pilot for two years.’

The recommendation for the award of the D.S.C. to Lieutenant W. A. Gervaise, R.N.R., states: ‘This officer was also a pioneer of the African Coastal Flotilla [which is the cover name for the flotilla, formed in February 1942, engaged on clandestine operations in the Mediterranean] and although considerably older than his contemporaries in the flotilla has displayed the same tenacity, physical endurance and enthusiasm during 8 major operations in local type vessels and coastal forces craft. He has set an outstanding example to the flotilla by his thorough and conscientious conduct of operations.
‘During one operation in a local type craft which had been delayed by bad weather an allied aircraft attacked and wounded his coxswain. Lieut. Gervaise rendered first aid, completed the operation and tended his coxswain on the return passage. According to the subsequent medical report, the first aid skill displayed by Lieut. Gervaise saved his coxswain from the possibility of partial loss of movement in his hand, or worse.
‘His work was specially noteworthy during operations to the Northern coast of Sicily immediately prior to the invasion of that island, when he acted as Senior Officer of the Expedition in a number of difficult sorties by American coastal forces craft on behalf of the Fench, and his work with two of his men was rewarded with the Croix de Guerre.
‘When the physical strain of operations in small craft appeared likely to affect his health, he was transferred at the end of 1943 to command of the large full powered diesel trawler Prodigal, and is at present engaged on the unspectacular but important duty of escorting supply ships between Bari or Brindisi and the Dalmatian island of Vis [off the Adriatic coast]. This work keeps him continuously at sea both by day and by night with very little rest, but his devotion to duty remains consistently high.
‘Petty Officer Bates and Ldg. Seaman Luff [Lieut. Gervaise’s crew] were awarded the Croix de Guerre for their work in the difficult operations... which entailed lengthy passages in small surf boats between the mother ship and ill-defined pinpoints onshore, and locating the parent ship on return.’

The African Coastal Flotilla (ACF) was a little known organization, but a vital one in the success of hundreds of undercover operations for British Military Intelligence, the Free French Intelligence services, the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and its American equivalent (OSS), as well as escaping prisoners of war. These were the ‘fares’ for whom the ACF operated a clandestine ‘taxi’ service in the Western Mediterranean, frequently venturing under the noses of enemy shore batteries or patrol vessels to pick up or deliver their gallant passengers and their equipment. During the period of its existence members of the ACF won 2 DSOs, 5 DSCs and 1 Bar, and 15 DSMs and 1 Bar.

Private Aloysius Gervaise, 4th Bn. Gordon Highlanders (formerly 350817 Pte., Royal Highlanders) was killed in action in France on 29 August 1918, and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais.