John William Ormsby VC and Horace Waller VC

1. Men who were awarded VCs in WW1 In Memoriam 1914 – 1918 Horace Waller V.C. John William Ormsby V.C., M.M. FOR VALOUR Horace Waller V.C. John William Ormsby V.C., M.M. Private Waller was awarded his V.C. on 10th April Sergeant Ormsby was awarded his V.C. on 14th 1917, whilst serving with the King’s Own April 1917, whilst serving with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry south of Heninel, France. Yorkshire Light Infantry in Favet, France. He was with a bombing section forming a block During operation which culminated in the In the enemy line when the enemy made a very capture of an important position Sergeant violent counter-attack on the post and five of Ormsby, acting as company sergeant major the garrison were killed. Private Waller, who was showed complete indifference to heavy machine-gun just 20, continued for more than an hour to and rifle fire and set a fine example. After clearing throw bombs and finally repulsed the attack. a village he pushed on and drove out many snipers In the evening the enemy again counter-attacked from places further forward. When the only and all the garrison became casualties except surviving officer was wounded Sergeant Ormsby Private Waller who, although wounded later took command of the company and led them continued to throw bombs for another half forward under heavy fire, for 400 yards to a an hour until he was killed. new position. He organised his new position with great skill and held his line with determination Throughout the attacks he showed the utmost until relived of his command bravery and it was due to his determination that the attacks on this important post were repulsed He was 71 when he died in 1952 and is buried in Dewsbury Cemetery. He is buried at Cojeul CWGC, Pas-de-Calais, France 2. War Savings Campaign 1943 – Wings for Victory Week This plaque is situated at the top of the staircase leading from the main entrance on the corridor leading to the Mayoral Office and records the following:- Per – Ardua – Ad – Astra War Savings Campaign 1943 Presented by the Air Ministry in recognition of successful achievement in Wings for Victory week This plaque was handed to The Mayor of Dewsbury (Alderman A. Sugden JP) by Group Captain A. V. Sawyer A.F.C. on September 11th 1943 3. HMS Valorous - Dewsbury’s Own Warship The Shield depicting a Roman soldier for Valorous has the inscription Presented by The Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty to DEWSBURY to commemorate the adoption of HMS VALOROUS During Warship Week Nov 8th 1941 The plaque below reads as follows HMS Valorous Dewsbury’s own warship This ship was adopted by the town of Dewsbury during Warship Week, in May 1942. This was one of several fund-raising events held by the Government to help the war effort during the Second World War. Dewsbury raised enough money to pay for a destroyer, and was allowed to adopt HMS Valorous. The Admiralty presented this plaque to the town in recognition of its efforts HMS Valorous in the 1930s She was launched in May 1917. During the Second World War she served on escort duties in the North Sea and the English Channel. She was scrapped in March 1947. HMS Valorous was a V/W Class ‘destroyer leader’ armed with four4 inch guns and four torpedo tubes. Her captain was in command of a number of destroyers which were used for escorting convoys, scouting ahead of larger ships, raiding enemy shipping and coasts, and other tasks for which a fast, lightly-armed ship was most suitable.