Rifleman Mariner V.C

[Thomas]

I've just started reading Somme Harvest by Giles E.M Eyre who was a private in the 2nd Battalion K.R.R.C during the battle of the Somme and was envolved in the fighting around Bazentin ridge and Pozieres ridge.

In the introduction Terry Cave mentions that in the same section as Eyre in the 7th battalion K.R.R.C where Eyre was first posted before being wounded was Rifleman Mariner who won the Victoria Cross in action at Cambrin. Can some one please tell me how he won the V.C?

Rifleman Mariner died whilst attacking 'the triangle' beside the double crassier at Loos yet he is remembered on the Thiepval memorial to the missing. Why is his name not on the Dud Corner memorial to the missing?

Thanks,

From,

Thomas McCall

[stiletto_33853]

Thomas,

Great book to read, from the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade, full details of gallant deeds compiled from London Gazettes and Army Orders up to & for 1st December 1915.

2052 Rifleman William Mariner 2nd Bn. K.R.R.C.

During a violent thunderstorm on the night, 22nd May, 1915, he left his trench near Cambrin and crept out through German wire entanglements till he reached the emplacement of a German machine gun which had damaged our parapets and hindered our working parties. After climbing on top of the German parapethe threw a bomb under the roof of the emplacement and heard some groaning and the enemy running away. After quarter of an hour he heard them coming back and climbing up the other side of the emplacement he threw another bomb left handed. He then lay still while the German opened a heavy fire on the entanglement behind him. After about quarter of an hour he was able to crawl back to his own trench. Before starting out he requested a Sergeant to open fire on the enemy's trench as soon as he had thrown his bombs. Mariner was out alone for one and a half hours, carrying out his gallant work.

Andy

[robertb]

According to Max Arthur's "Symbol of Courage", William Mariner V.C. was killed on 1/7/1916 (Somme) - hence his presence on the Thiepval Memorial. There is greater detail in the book if you want further information.

Rob

[robertb]

Further - Mariner was not his real name. Born in Chorley, Lancashire, he enlisted as William Wignall (a regular) in 1902. Got into trouble with police, reported killed, but no relative could be found (due to his false name). This was after the battle of Festubert, where he won his V.C.

This is probably where the confusion arises. As already said died on the first day of the Somme.

Rob

[Paul Reed]

Mariner was not killed on the 1st Day of the Somme, and not even on the Somme - as Eyre states in the book (and indeed as is stated in several contemporary sources) he fell in a joint action with 2nd Royal Sussex at the Double Crassier at Loos while serving with 2nd KRRC. They did not move down to the Somme until about the third week in July.

His date of death, as he was missing, has been 'rounded off' - anyone who has researched 1st July 1916 Somme casualties will know that many are recorded as 2nd July. What the WO seem to have done with missing soldiers if there was some doubt over the date they died, then they recorded them as having died the last day the unit was in the line before relief; 2nd KRRC and 2nd Royal Sussex were relieved on this day (1st July).

For some reason whoever compiled the Thiepval registers had Mariner - possibly because of the date - as having died on the Somme. So his name was inscribed there.

So he is indeed mis-commemorated on the wrong memorial; he should, as Thomas says, be on the Loos Memorial.

[Paul Reed]

His CWGC extract is at:

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/casualty_...casualty=804562

[stiletto_33853]

As Paul says, the book has him dying at Loo's, blown apart by a shell if i remember correctly.

Andy

[Hedley Malloch]

I seem to recall that Mariner VC's main claim to fame is that he is believed to be the convict VC. I think he was a burglar by profession. He is said to have been doing time in Parkhurst when war was declared; he, like many other prisoners, volunteered in return for suspension of sentence. He is believed to be commemorated on the HMI Parkhurst Prison war memorial, but successive Governors have refused all requests by researchers for access. And the WFA don't have anyone in Parkhurst - for the moment.

To confirm that Mariner was not his real name; it was his mother's maiden name.

Edited 7 December , 2004 by Hedley Malloch