FALMOUTH CEMETERY
Cornwall
England
Historical Information
Falmouth became a drifter base in January 1915 and in 1918, a centre for ship repairs. Falmouth Cemetery contains 86 First World War burials, including those of two unidentified firemen from the S.S. "Clan Cumming", attacked by German submarine in the English Channel on 5 November 1917, with the loss of 13 lives.
During the Second World War, Falmouth was a significant naval base and Royal Navy Air Station. There was also a military hospital in the town. A war graves plot contains 74 of the 111 Second World War burials within Falmouth Cemetery, the rest are scattered. Lying apart at the southernmost tip of the plot are five graves containing the remains of 27 unidentified sailors who died in the bombing of H.M.S. "Registan" on 27 May 1941. A further 4 are the graves of unidentified seamen of the Merchant Navy.
There are 4 burials of mechant seamen whose deaths were not due to war service.
There are also 13 war graves of other nationalities within the cemetery.
Falmouth became a drifter base in January 1915 and in 1918, a centre for ship repairs. Falmouth Cemetery contains 86 First World War burials, including those of two unidentified firemen from the S.S. "Clan Cumming", attacked by German submarine in the English Channel on 5 November 1917, with the loss of 13 lives.
During the Second World War, Falmouth was a significant naval base and Royal Navy Air Station. There was also a military hospital in the town. A war graves plot contains 74 of the 111 Second World War burials within Falmouth Cemetery, the rest are scattered. Lying apart at the southernmost tip of the plot are five graves containing the remains of 27 unidentified sailors who died in the bombing of H.M.S. "Registan" on 27 May 1941. A further 4 are the graves of unidentified seamen of the Merchant Navy.
There are 4 burials of mechant seamen whose deaths were not due to war service.
There are also 13 war graves of other nationalities within the cemetery.
C/JX173910 Able Seaman William Alfred Savage, V. C.
H. M. M. G. B. 314, Royal Navy, died 28th March 1942, aged 29. Plot Sec. K. Row C. Grave 15.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Savage; husband of Doris Savage, of Smethwick, Staffordshire.
Citation: The following details are given in the London Gazette of 19th May 1942:- For great gallantry, skill and devotion to duty as gun layer of the pom-pom in a motor gun boat in the St. Nazaire raid. Completely exposed, and under heavy fire, Able Seaman Savage engaged positions ashore with cool and steady accuracy. On the way out of the harbour he kept up the same vigorous and accurate fire against the attacking ships until he was killed at his gun.
H. M. M. G. B. 314, Royal Navy, died 28th March 1942, aged 29. Plot Sec. K. Row C. Grave 15.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Savage; husband of Doris Savage, of Smethwick, Staffordshire.
Citation: The following details are given in the London Gazette of 19th May 1942:- For great gallantry, skill and devotion to duty as gun layer of the pom-pom in a motor gun boat in the St. Nazaire raid. Completely exposed, and under heavy fire, Able Seaman Savage engaged positions ashore with cool and steady accuracy. On the way out of the harbour he kept up the same vigorous and accurate fire against the attacking ships until he was killed at his gun.
