William Mariner (VC)

William Mariner was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

William Mariner was born the son of Alice Mariner, who later married John Wignall. In 1900 he joined the Army, serving in India. He was twice court martialled, serving a prison sentence for striking an officer. In 1909 he was discharged and returned to Manchester. He had another civilian conviction in that city.
On the outbreak of war in 1914, as an experienced reservist he was allowed to re-join his old regiment.

Details

Mariner was 32 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
The citation for the award, published in the London Gazette on 23 June 1915, read:

Death

William Mariner was killed on the evening of 30 June 1916 or the early morning of 1 July 1916 during a large scale raid in the Railway Triangle, south of Loos. This raid was a diversionary attack on the eve of the Somme offensive. His death was witnessed by Giles E. M. Eyre and others who wrote "that Mariner seemed to lose control during a heavy bombardment, ran down an enemy trench and was last seen bayoneting a German as a shell exploded on him, blowing him to pieces."

Medal

In late 2005, during a house clearance of the property of William Wignall, the Victoria Cross medal was found in a drawer, without any campaign medals. The following year William Mariner's cross was sold by his relatives at auction for £120,750.