William Mariner (VC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Mariner
VC
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| Born | 29 May 1882 Chorley, Lancashire |
| Died | 1 July 1916 (aged 34) Loos, France |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1902 - 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I † |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
William Mariner was an English soldier who showed incredible bravery during World War I. He was born on May 29, 1882, and sadly passed away on July 1, 1916. William Mariner received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for courage in the face of the enemy for British and Commonwealth soldiers.
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William Mariner: A Brave Soldier
William Mariner was 32 years old when he performed the brave act that earned him the Victoria Cross. He was a Private in the 2nd Battalion of The King's Royal Rifle Corps, which was part of the British Army. This amazing event happened during the First World War.
What is the Victoria Cross?
The Victoria Cross, often called the VC, is the most important award for bravery in the British military. It is given to soldiers who show extreme courage when facing the enemy. It's a very special medal that few people receive.
His Amazing Act of Bravery
On May 22, 1915, during a big thunderstorm, William Mariner did something truly heroic. He was near a place called Cambrin. A German machine gun was causing trouble, hitting their walls and stopping their work.
William decided to do something about it. He left his trench, which is a long ditch soldiers hide in. He quietly crawled through the German wire fences. He kept going until he reached the spot where the German machine gun was set up.
He climbed on top of the German wall and threw a bomb inside the machine gun's shelter. He heard noises, like people groaning and running away. After about 15 minutes, he heard some Germans coming back.
So, he climbed up on the other side of the shelter. He threw another bomb at them using his left hand. Then, he lay very still. The Germans started shooting a lot at the wire fences behind him. It took him about an hour to crawl back safely to his own trench.
Before he started, he had asked a sergeant to shoot at the enemy's trenches once he threw his bombs. William Mariner was out there alone for an hour and a half, doing this incredibly brave work.
His Final Sacrifice
William Mariner was killed on July 1, 1916. This happened during a large attack near a place called Loos. This attack was a distraction for a much bigger battle called the Battle of the Somme. Other soldiers saw what happened. They said that during a heavy bombing, Mariner ran into an enemy trench. He was last seen fighting a German soldier when a shell exploded, taking his life.
