MAYNARD, Vivian Thomas
| Service Number: | 1695 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 July 1915, A Section 9th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Windsor, Queensland, Australia, 10 November 1881 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Bowen Bridge Road School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | 15 September 1955, aged 73 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Windsor State School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 1695, 3rd Field Ambulance, A Section 9th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep 1915: | Involvement Driver, 1695, 3rd Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Armadale embarkation_ship_number: A26 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Sep 1915: | Embarked Driver, 1695, 3rd Field Ambulance, HMAT Armadale, Brisbane | |
| 7 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 1695, 3rd Field Ambulance, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 19 Jan 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Field Ambulance | |
| 9 Nov 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, 'During the first Australian Divisional Offensive on 11th August 1918, Private Vivian Thomas Maynard was on duty with six other stretcher bearers when a gas shrapnel shell suddenly exploded amongst them killing one man and severely wounding or gassing the other five men. Although considerably shaken, and subjected to heavy shell fire, he set to work immediately adjusting the respirators of his wounded comrades, dressed their wounds and carried them to safety.' | |
| 21 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1695, 3rd Field Ambulance |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sue Smith
Vivian Thomas Maynard was born on 10th November 1881 at Windsor QLD, the 8th of 11 children born to his parents John and Louise Maynard. He had 3 older brothers, 4 older sisters and 3 younger sisters. One of his older sisters died in infancy. Vivian received his education at Bowen Bridge Road School, later known as Windsor State School, where his father was the Head Teacher. Vivian participated in the pupil-teacher training system at the school and was as Assistant Teacher from December 1901 till December 1911. He then transferred to the Head Office of the Department of Public Instruction where he was employed as a Clerk in January 1912. He was a keen cricketer and was selected to play for the Department against the State School Teachers at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds in late 1913. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Military Cadet Corps prior to WW1.
On 16th July 1915 Vivian enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Brisbane QLD aged 30. He’s described as being 5ft 4ins tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and black hair. His service number was 1695, his rank Driver and he was assigned to the 3rd Field Ambulance A Section, 9th Reinforcements. After completing his initial training Vivian embarked from Brisbane on 22nd September 1915 on HMAT Armadale. Upon arrival in Egypt he proceeded to Mudros on Lemnos Island and then to Gallipoli where he arrived on 7th December 1915…the same day as my grandfather, Cyril Morsley, who was also serving with the 3rd Field Ambulance as a stretcher bearer. He mentions Vivian several times in his war diaries. Vivian’s stay at Gallipoli was short as the evacuation of the troops began less than 2 weeks later. He embarked form Gallipoli on 23rd December 1915 on HMT Caledonia and disembarked at Alexandria Egypt on 27th December 1915 and proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir Camp. In mid-January 1916, at his own request, Vivian transferred from being a driver to being a stretcher bearer with the 3rd Field Ambulance and his rank changed to that of Private. On 27th March 1916, the 3rd Field Ambulance (3rd FA) including Vivian, embarked from Alexandria on HMT Kingstonian bound for France. During the voyage he was admitted to hospital with sunstroke and discharged on 3rd April when the unit disembarked at Marseilles, France.
In July 1917 Vivian took leave to the UK. In early October 1917 he was detached for duty with the 10th Infantry Battalion at Chateau Segard, Belgium. He re-joined his unit in mid-February 1918 then proceeded on leave to Paris. He re-joined his unit at Outtersteene, France. He took leave to the UK in mid-August 1918 and re-joined his unit mid-September 1918 at Marquaix, France.
In early October 1918 Vivian was awarded the Military Medal for the following actions near Pozieres, France: 'During the first Australian Divisional Offensive on 11th August 1918, No. 1695 Private Vivian Thomas MAYNARD with No. 572 Private A.C. EVA was on duty with six other stretcher bearers of 3rd Australian Field Ambulance when a gas shrapnel shell suddenly exploded amongst them killing one man and severely wounding or gassing the other five men. Although these two men were considerably shaken by the shock of the explosion and were subjected to a heavy shell fire at the time, nevertheless set to work immediately adjusting the respirators of their wounded comrades, dressed their wounds and carried them to safety.'
Vivian took leave to the UK in February 1919 and re-joined his unit at Chatelet, Belgium, in late February 1919. On 9th March Vivian marched out with Quota 19 for return to Australia. He embarked from France on 20th March and disembarked at Weymouth UK the next day. He proceeded to the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery at Heytesbury and in mid-March proceeded to the Australian Medical Corps Training Depot at Fovant Camp. On 11th May 1919 Vivian embarked from England on HMAT Borda and disembarked at Melbourne, Australia, on 27th June 1919. He was discharged from the service on 21st August 1919.
Vivian never married and remained a public servant for the Department of Public Instruction for rest of working life. He lived with his brother Sheldon at Wooloowin QLD until his death in 1926 then he lived with his sisters at Hendra QLD. He passed away on 15th September 1955 aged 74.
Vivian is commemorated on the Windsor State School WW1 Honour Board.
Vivian Thomas Maynard was awarded for service in WW1 the Military Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Anzac Commemorative Medallion.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 23rd March 2023.
Sources
http://heritage.saintandrews.org.au/vivian-thomas-maynard-mm/
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