Surgeon W.J. Maillard, MD, RN

[seaJane]

The Royal Naval Medical Service's only VC holder so far. Candia [now Heraklion], Crete, September 6 1898.

From the report in the Times a few days later:

"instantly the whole of the houses round the harbour opened fire on the Custom-house and English patrol. Every window held two or three riflemen, and the fire is described as something appalling. The patrol immediately got into the Custom-house and started to return the fire. There was a guard of 45 Highlanders near the telegraph office, and 40 of these were brought down to reinforce, but they had to come via the tunnel and archway through the town wall just behind the Custom-house, losing several men. ... The Hazard's men behaved magnificently, and I hope they get something out of it. Their doctor should get the V.C. His clothes were shot through in at least a dozen places whilst he was helping the wounded, and he escaped marvellously without a scratch."

[nigelweysom]

SeaJane an interesting story, a couple of questions come immediately to mind , do you know what regiment the Highlanders were from? and was the Hazard HMS Hazard?
Nigel

[seaJane]

Yes she was HMS Hazard, later served as a submarine depot ship in Gosport; can't remember the Highlanders from home but will check if I get time tomorrow.

[Dreadnought]

Thanks for that seaJane … very interesting. A Brave man.

Attached is an obituary published in the British Medical Journal on the 26th September 1903, giving some more detail about his exploits. Also a photograph of his grave in Wimbourne Road Cemetery, Bournemouth.

Photograph of Maillard's VC which is in private ownership (Ashcroft VC Trust). A replica is on display at the Institute of Naval Medicine in Alverstoke, Gosport.
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[seaJane]

Hi Dreadnought, the replica is in the room next door as I type :)

HMS Hazard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hazard_(1894). She was sunk off Portland Bill following a collision with the hospital ship SS Western Australia on 28 January 1918.

The Highlanders were a detachment of the Highland Light Infantry.

For an article on other bravery awards at that time Peter Evans's Inconspicuous valour on Crete - the Royal Marine career of Ernest Hooley (Medal News, October 2004, pp. 15-ff.) is illuminating.