William Job Maillard


Staff Surgeon William Job Maillard VC 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.

Details

Born in the village of Banwell, Somerset, Maillard was educated at Kingswood School in Bath, Dunheved College in Launceston and Guy's Hospital, London from 1882 to 1889, when he won the Gold Medal. He joined the Royal Navy in 1889 first serving in HMS Blake. Maillard was 35 years old, and a surgeon in the Royal Navy during the 1898 Occupation of Crete when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 September 1898 at Candia, Crete, Greece, two parties of men from HMS Hazard went to the assistance of the Customs House Garrison which was being besieged. Later, when medical help was called for, Surgeon Maillard, who had disembarked and reached a place of safety, went back through a deluge of bullets in an attempt to rescue one of the seamen who was wounded and had fallen back into the boat. He was, however, almost dead and it was impossible for the surgeon to lift him, as the boat was drifting. He returned to his post unhurt, but his clothes were riddled with bullets.
He was the first and only naval medical officer to win VC. He later achieved the rank of staff surgeon, and retired from the Navy on 7 April 1902.
The medal is displayed in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum in London.