Captain Alan John Villiers DSC
(1903-1982)

captain (nautical), Distinguished Service Cross recipient, writer, and photographer

Died aged 78

Alan John Villiers, DSC (23 September 1903 – 3 March 1982) was a writer, adventurer, photographer and mariner. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Villiers first went to sea at age 15 and sailed on board traditionally rigged vessels, including the full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad. He commanded square-rigged ships for films, including Moby Dick and Billy Budd. He also commanded the Mayflower II on its voyage from the United Kingdom to the United States. Villiers wrote 44 books, and served as the Chairman (1960–70) and President (1970-74) of the Society for Nautical Research, a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, and Governor of the Cutty Sark Preservation Society. He was awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War.

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Commemorated on 1 plaque

Alan John Villiers DSC 1903-1982 Master of square-rigged ships, Captain of Mayflower II, writer and photographer of the last days of sail lived here 1967-1982

1A Lucerne Road, Marston, Oxford, United Kingdom where they lived (1967-1982)