Alfred Frederick Maynard (1894-1916)
Durham School educated man served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Division
Alfred Frederick Maynard was born on 23 March 1894 in Penge, Surrey. His father was William John Maynard (1853-1921) who was District Probate Registrar for Durham. His mother was rector’s daughter Annie Maynard nee Smith (1857-1942). Alfred was the youngest of six children with three sisters and two brothers. In 1901 the Maynard family lived at 9 Laurel Gardens, Penge, Surrey. His father William’s occupation took the family to Durham in 1903. Alfred entered Durham School as a day boy in 1906 staying until 1912 when he went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. His parents lived in South Street, Durham at the time of the 1911 census.
Alfred was an all-round sportsman. He was a rugby blue at Cambridge and in his vacations played rugby for Harlequins, Durham City and Durham County. He also represented Durham County at cricket. The peak of his sporting career was reached when he represented England at international rugby level when the team won the Grand Slam in 1914. He graduated with a BA from Cambridge in 1914.
Alfred volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war. He served with the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division (RND) at Antwerp in 1914. He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) on 18 October 1914. He was drafted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) for operations in the Dardanelles on 1 March 1915 and took part in the first raid on the Suez Canal on his way to Gallipoli. He suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg on 19 May 1915 and was evacuated to Egypt. He served as coding officer and records officer at the RND base in Egypt until he re-joined Howe Battalion in France in 1916. He was killed whilst officer in charge of A Company leading his men in an attack at Beaumont Hamel on 13 November 1916. He has no known grave and is honoured on the Thiepval Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. He appears on eight memorials in Durham listed below.
Alfred Frederick Maynard was awarded the 1914 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
The world rugby museum gives further details on Alfred’s career: https://worldrugbymuseumblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/13/lest-we-forget-alfred-frederick-maynard-england-13111916/
The Rugby History Society has further details of Alfred: http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/maynard.html
Civil Parish: Durham
Birth date: 23-Mar-1894
Death date: 13-Nov-1916
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 9 Laurel Gardens, Penge, Surrey (1901 census)
South Street, Durham City (Family Address 1911 census)
Education: Durham School (1906-1912)
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Family: Parents: William John Maynard (1853-1921), Annie Maynard nee Smith (1857-1942)
Siblings: Aimee Ellen Maynard (1885-1954), Katherine Mary Maynard (1888-1911), May Elizabeth Maynard (1889-1889), William Edmund Maynard (1892-1928), Haskett John Maynard (1893-1954)
Military service:
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Sub-lieutenant
Lieutenant
A company, Howe Battalion
Royal Naval Division
Medal(s): 1914 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Thiepval Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
Organ and Plaque 1914-18, St Margaret of Antioch Church, Durham
Pavilion 1914-18, Durham City Rugby Football Club
ROH 1914-18 Durham County Cricket Club Booklet
Chapel 1914-18 1939-45, Durham School
War Record 1914-18 Durham School
Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Durham Town Hall
Memorial 1914-18 County Rugby F.C, Durham City
Plaque 1914-18 Comrades Club, Durham City
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
