- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Unit:
- F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
- Awarded on:
- May 10th, 1943
Recommendation:
"Lieutenant Vallée offered his services to this Organisation in TUNIS in April, 1941. During the first two months of his work, he successfully completed the operations enumerated below.
On two occasions at night he passed papers from the land to a British submarine off the coast of TUNESIA, and returned with wireless equipment and explosives.
At TUNIS railway station he sabotaged the engine of a convoy of French lorries which were being delivered to the Italians in TRIPOLITANIA. This action was accomplished by night, and was completed successfully in spite of the fact that he was deserted by his companion in the course of it.
In the courtyard of the Quartier des Zouaves at GABES, he damaged with incendary grenades the petrol tanks of another convoy of French lorries destined for the Italians. He provided much useful information about the movement and identity of material being delivered to the enemy.
By swimming in the harbour at TUNIS at night, he attacked the Italian ships "SIRIS" and "ACHILLE" with special charges.
This operation had to be carried out on two occasions, as the charges did not explode at the first attempt. The "ACHILLE"sank in the port of LA GOULETTE with a complete cargo of ore of 3,500 tons. The "SIRIS" sank between TUNIS and NAPLES with an estimated cargo of about 4/5,000 tons.
On a subsequent occasion, after having swum and placed a special charge on the French tanker "BEAUCE", which had just been sold to the Italians and was on the point of departure for ITALY, he was discovered, fired upon and arrested. He was condemned to two years Imprisonment and the confiscation of all his possessions: but when the Germans invaed TUNIS he was released by the French authorities after seventeen months imprisonment.
I recommend that Lieutenant Vallée should be awarded the MILITARY CROSS."
Signed
Colin Gubbins
Major-General
10 May, 1943