Roland Morillot was a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 naval officer and hero of the early age of submarine

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

s.

Career

Morillot captained the Monge when she was sunk by SMS Helgoland

SMS Helgoland (1912)

SMS HelgolandIn German, "SMS" means "Seiner Majestät Schiff" . was a Novara-class scout cruiser built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy right before World War I. Helgoland participated in several raids on the ships defending the Strait of Otranto, including the Battle of the Strait of Otranto in May 1917...

. He ordered the ship evacuated and sunk with her as he made certain that his men escaped to safety. The entire crew was saved, except Morillot and two non-commissioned officers.

Honours

The admiral of the Italian Navy awarded him the Gold Medal of Military Valour

Gold Medal of Military Valor

The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...

.

Three submarines

French ship Roland Morillot

Three ships of the French Navy have born the name Roland Morillot in honour of lieutenant de vaisseau Roland Morillot:* Roland Morillot, a captured German Type UB II submarine...

were named in his honour.

Sources and references

• Les bâtiments ayant porté le nom de Monge, netmarine.net