Name/Title
87th Battalion CEF - BSM / Battalion Sergeant Major (Late Captain) William Wallis, DCM - Earned his DCM and was Battalion Sergeant Major of 87th (CGG) during the Battle (April 9, 1917)Description
For Museum records only - Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection
*** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION ***
Medal Group belonging to Captain William WALLIS, DCM
One of only 2,132 Canadians to ever be awarded a DCM (all wars) - only 1,984 issued to CEF in WW1
(From Left to Right):
King George V British Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) - correctly named to 25547 B.S.MAJ W. Wallis 87th / Can-Inf - One of only 2,132 ever awarded to a Canadian
WW1 1914-1915 Star - Named to 24557 Sjt W. Wallis 14 CAN-INF - 71,150 issued to Canadian
WW1 British War medal - named to 25547 W.O.1 W. Wallis 14-CAN INF - 427,993 issued to Canadians
WW1 British Victory Medal - named as above - 351,289 medals issued to CEF.
WW2 Silver Canadian Volunteer Service Medal no overseas clasp - 650,000 issued (520,000 O/S Bar)
WW2 Silver Canadian 1939-45 War Medal
1932 Canadian Long Service Good Conduct Medal - Named to W.O.2 W. Wallis DCM, RCR - one of only 150 ever issued to Canadian Soldiers (replaced by KGV ED and KGVI CD) - Awarded to WO2 Wallis on the last year of issue
*** Original Member of CGG (1912) and 14th Bn (1914)
*** Original Sr. NCO of 87th Bn (1916)
*** RSM of 87th Battalion CEF (Canadian Grenadier Guards) during The Battle of Vimy Ridge
*** Battle of Vimy Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) Awarded June 4th, 1917 (L.G. 30111)
*** One of only twenty members of 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) to receive a DCM
*** One of only 30 Canadian Grenadier Guards to win a DCM in any/all wars
Born in 1882 in Birmingham, England, Pte William Wallis served with the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) and Royal Field Artillery (RFA) prior to immigrated to Canada around 1911 where he joined 1st Regiment, Grenadier Guards of Canada as a Founding Sr. NCO in 1912.
When the First World War broke out, he was quick to follow many other Grenadiers and enlist with the 14th Battalion CEF (Royal Montreal Regiment) as part of the No1 Company Special Service Contingent (No1 Division CEF) on August 4th, 1914.
He was one of only 3 CGG members to have served in the 14th and become an original member (Company Sergeant Major) of the 87th Battalion CEF (Canadian Grenadier Guards). There were at 5 Pre-1914 CGG Members who served with both Battalions although 2 joined the 87th only after they had been deployed to France.
After a distinguished record serving with the 14th Bn, CSM Wallis was wounded and returned to Montreal where he was one of only 2 Sr. NCOs from the 14th Bn to help form the 87th Battalion CEF (Canadian Grenadier Guards). W.O.II Wallis was promoted to Battalion Sergeant Major in 1917, and helped lead the 87th during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. He was awarded his DCM on the 17th of July 1917.
His Distinguished Conduct Citation reads - 25547 BSM W. Wallis, Infy. “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations he assumed command of the company and directed the men with the greatest gallantry and determination.”
Having suffered multiple medical issues (Injured 1915, Influenza 1915, VDS 1916, Stomach ulcer 1917-19) He was transferred to Aldershott on October 31st, 1917 to be an instructor with the 23rd Reserve Battalion.
DEALING WITH THE INFLUENZA PANDEMIC OF WW1
As Camp RSM of Frensham Pond, the major intake recruiting and instruction Camp in the UK, W.O. II Wallis, DCM was a key person in helping deal with and minimize the pandemic of 1918, He helped implement a policy whereby all CEF new troops were required to quarantine for 28 days upon arrival from Canada in 1918.
How bad was the first Influenza? 16% of all Canadian troops became infected // 3% Died of the influenza Pandemic. The official history of the Canadian Medical Services reported that the CEF experienced 776 deaths out of 45,960 influenza cases overall. Historians now regard these numbers as low estimates, of both cases and deaths. To provide context for the size of the CEF in 1918, it had overseas 130,000 recruits, instructors, wounded, medical staff and administrators stationed in England. Another 105,000 men served in the Canadian Corps, with a further 47,000 men and women serving outside the corps in France and Belgium.
The military was forced to place a major training camps under quarantine, closing the facility’s cinemas, bars, churches and other meeting places to prevent its spread. This greatly limited the recreational opportunities for the troops and meant dull nights confined to barracks. As a further precaution, the medical authorities ordered that the men were not to be worked so hard that they sweated while they trained. However, the limitations on training had little effect
On 15 January 1919, RSM Wallis was transferred to the 23rd Reserve Battalion CEF thus becoming the only Canadian Grenadier Guards to serve in Sr. NCO roles all 3 Major Montreal raised units.
After WW1, he continued to serve and joined the Royal Canadian Regiment (1920-1929) where he earned his Commission to Captain and later served with the Veteran's Guard of Canada in WW2.Context
Only 2,132 DCM awards have ever been issued to Canadians in all wars (1900-Present) including 38 first bars and one second bar.
The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was awarded to Warrant Officers, non-commissioned officers, and non-commissioned members, serving in any of the sovereign's military forces, for distinguished conduct in the field. It was the second highest award for gallantry in action (after the Victoria Cross) for all army ranks below commissioned officers and was available to Navy and Air Force personnel also for distinguished conduct in the field.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
December 30, 2021Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
May 28, 2025
