World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born William Wignall in Chorley, Lancashire, England, he served as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army. On the night of May 22, 1915, Private Mariner left his trench near Cambrin, France and crept out through the German wire entanglements till he reached the emplacement of a German machine gun which had been damaging parapets and hindering working parties. After climbing on the top of the German parapet, he threw a bomb in under the roof of the gun emplacement, killing some and the other enemy running away. After being out on the enemy lines for over an hour, he heard some of them coming back again, climbed up on the other side of the emplacement and threw another bomb among them. He then lay still while the Germans opened a heavy fire on the wire entanglements behind him and it was only after about another hour that he was able to crawl back to his own trench. For most prestigious gallantry, he was vested with the Victoria Cross on August 12, 1915, by King George V at Buckingham Palace. He was later killed in action at Loos, France, after volunteering for a mission against an enemy machine gun position.
Service No: A/2052
Age: 34
Regiment/Service: King's Royal Rifle Corps, 'B' Coy. 2nd Bn.
Honors: V C
Son of Mrs. Alice Wignall, of 18, Fletcher St., Lower Broughton, Manchester.
Service No: A/2052
Age: 34
Regiment/Service: King's Royal Rifle Corps, 'B' Coy. 2nd Bn.
Honors: V C
Son of Mrs. Alice Wignall, of 18, Fletcher St., Lower Broughton, Manchester.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born William Wignall in Chorley, Lancashire, England, he served as a Private in the 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army. On the night of May 22, 1915, Private Mariner left his trench near Cambrin, France and crept out through the German wire entanglements till he reached the emplacement of a German machine gun which had been damaging parapets and hindering working parties. After climbing on the top of the German parapet, he threw a bomb in under the roof of the gun emplacement, killing some and the other enemy running away. After being out on the enemy lines for over an hour, he heard some of them coming back again, climbed up on the other side of the emplacement and threw another bomb among them. He then lay still while the Germans opened a heavy fire on the wire entanglements behind him and it was only after about another hour that he was able to crawl back to his own trench. For most prestigious gallantry, he was vested with the Victoria Cross on August 12, 1915, by King George V at Buckingham Palace. He was later killed in action at Loos, France, after volunteering for a mission against an enemy machine gun position.
Service No: A/2052
Age: 34
Regiment/Service: King's Royal Rifle Corps, 'B' Coy. 2nd Bn.
Honors: V C
Son of Mrs. Alice Wignall, of 18, Fletcher St., Lower Broughton, Manchester.
Service No: A/2052
Age: 34
Regiment/Service: King's Royal Rifle Corps, 'B' Coy. 2nd Bn.
Honors: V C
Son of Mrs. Alice Wignall, of 18, Fletcher St., Lower Broughton, Manchester.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
KING'S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS
PRIVATE
V.C. MARINER W.
Gravesite Details
Final resting place unknown. Name listed on the Memorial
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