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Floody, Clarke Wallace Chant "Wally"

Date of birth:
April 28th, 1918 (Chatham/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:
September 25th, 1989
Service number:
J/5481
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Wally Floody was shot down in October 1941 and became POW. He took part in the organisation and implimentation of the "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft III.

Career:
?: Northern Vocational School, Toronto;
1936: Preston East Dome Mines, Timmins, Ontario;
?: No. 401 Squadron.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Awarded on:
June 13th, 1946

LG 37598/2818.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 401 (Ram) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:
October 1st, 1946
Citation:
"This officer's aircraft was shot down during operations in October, 1941. During the whole of his captivity, he took a leading part in all escape activities. Flight Lieutenant Floody made a very thorough study of tunnelling work and devised many different methods of technique. He became one of the leading organisers and most indefatigable workers in the tunnels themselves. Besides being arduous, this work was frequently dangerous and, on two occasions, Flight Lieutenant Floody was buried under heavy falls of sand. In both cases, it was only due to extraordinary luck and the presence of mind of this helpers that he was rescued alive. On other occasions, he had narrow escapes from being buried, as the soil was of a sandy nature and wood for supports was extremely difficult to obtain. Flight Lieutenant Fioody was largely responsible for the construction of the
tunnel through which 76 officers escaped from Stalag Luft III in May, 1944. Throughout his imprisonment, he showed outstanding determination to continue with this work. Time and time again, projects were started and discovered by the Germans but, despite all dangers and difficulties, Flight Lieutenant Floody persisted, showing a
marked degree of courage and devotion to duty."

LG 37744/4901.
Military Division.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Sources

  • Photo 1: Tom MacNeill
  • - Fifth Supplement to The London Gazette of 4th June 1946, Issue 37598, dated 13th June 1946
    - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 27th September 1946, Issue 37744, dated 1st October 1946

Photo