Street name for war hero
The name of a local war hero who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross is to adorn a street on a new multi-million pound housing estate in Smethwick. The name of a local war hero who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross is to adorn a street on a new multi-million pound housing estate in Smethwick. Able Seaman Bill Savage was killed as he heroically manned his gun in a famous wartime attack on the German-occupied French port of St Nazaire in 1942. His widow Doris collected her husband's treasured VC from King George VI at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Able Seaman Bill Savage was killed as he heroically manned his gun in a famous wartime attack on the German-occupied French port of St Nazaire in 1942.
His widow Doris collected her husband's treasured VC from King George VI at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The object of the raid on St Nazaire was to blow up the only dry dock on the western European seaboard capable of berthing the mighty German battleship Tirpitz.
Able Seaman Savage was one of 169 men killed in the raid.
He remained at his post firing a 'pom pom gun' with no protective shield until he was fatally wounded.
A bronze plaque, laid as a tribute to his heroic efforts, still stands in the foyer at Smethwick Council House.
But now Sandwell Council leader Bill Thomas is drawing up plans to have his name immortalised by naming a street after him on the new estate being build on the site of the former Mitchells and Butlers Brewery.
Councillor Thomas said: "It is extra fitting because Bill actually worked at the brewery before he went to war."
Councillor Thomas also wants a St Nazaire boulevard on the sprawling estate.
He said: "I have mentioned my plans to the three local councillors and they have backed it fully.
"It would be a fitting tribute to a genuine Smethwick war hero."
He said it was important to honour the borough's famous and heroic residents.
"We have recently unveiled a monument to the 1930's film star Madeleine Carroll who came from West Bromwich and we are in the process of setting up a tribute to Jack Judge in Oldbury town centre," he added.
Mr Judge is credited with penning the famous song It's A Long Way To Tipperary in the back room of a pub in the town.
Local councillor Darren Cooper, backed the proposal.
He said: "Bill Savage was a proper war hero.
When he went into battle he must have known that he would lose his life but he continued to man his gun to the very last. Naming a street after him on the very site where he worked is a superb way to make sure that he is never forgotten."
