Squadron Leader TY Wallace

Links of Long Standing

King Edwards educated Sgt Jocelyn Friendly, the first South African to be awarded the DFM was scarcely 18 years old when he volunteered in 1939. He survived a training accident in January 1940 and was a No 110 Squadron Blenheim aircrew member when his award was announced in “The London Gazette” on October 22nd, 1940, a few days before the award to South African “Battle of Britain” pilot Sgt TY Wallace. The two recipients did not survive the war.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Flying Officer Wells, Pilot Officer Stapleton, Sgt DA Helcke and Sgt TY Wallace survived different incidents that day. Wells was shot down and posted “Missing”, Stapleton crash landed in a Kent field to the consternation of a picnicking couple, No 504 Helcke shot down an He 111 and Wallace “baled out” after an Me109 exchange 23.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Johannesburg born James Terence Crossey commissioned in October 1939 with Thomas Young Wallace, and Arthur Basil Watkinson. He joined No 249 Squadron in June 1940 and served on the squadron until early 1942. Posted to South Africa as an instructor he returned to operational flying in 1944. Released from service in 1946, Crossey managed Malta Airlines and died in 1988.

Against Unfavourable Odds

The story behind “The London Gazette” announcement of the “Distinguished Flying Medal” award to Thomas Young Wallace on October 25th, 1940, the first to a South African, reads like copy about a “Battler Britton” comic book hero.38

Against Unfavourable Odds

Born in Johannesburg and one of four brothers educated at Jeppe Boys High, Wallace commissioned in 1939 and in June 1940, Pilot Officer TY Wallace reported for duty with No 610 Squadron at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. Court- Martialled after taking absence without leave to visit a member of the fairer sex in London, Wallace resumed duty as a Sergeant-Pilot on July 17th flying No 111 Squadron Hurricanes.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Sergeant TY Wallace accounted for several enemy aircraft during August, “baled out” landing on a roof after an exchange with a Me109 on September 7th but was back flying within days 39. The October 25th “London Gazette” citation suggests Wallace was one of the highest scoring South African “Battle of Britain” pilots but “conspicuous courage and fighting ability” had touches of unsubtle “Orwellian” irony as the award would have been a “Distinguished Flying Cross” had he not been demoted!

Against Unfavourable Odds

Rested as a flying instructor in Canada after the “Battle of Britain” Wallace, returned to Britain and commissioned status in 1943 to fly Hawker Typhoons. Squadron Leader TY Wallace DFM was commanding No 609 Squadron when he lost his life on November 11th, 1944, 40. His brother Hugh, a seconded SAAF pilot had been killed five months earlier flying RAF Liberators in a bombing raid.

The Dreaded Telegram

Squadron Leader Thomas Young Wallace DFM, one of four brothers educated at Jeppe Boys High, lost his life on November 11th, 1944. His older brother Hugh died during a May 11th No 13 Squadron Baltimore bombing raid. The words “He died a Hero as did his brother Hugh, Mum, Dad, Billy and Derrick” masked their grief but not their pain 36