Wilfred St Aubyn Malleson | |
|---|---|
 Malleson (centre) with fellow midshipmen,George Drewry (right) and Greg Russell, onImbros. Photo byErnest Brooks. | |
| Born | 17 September 1896 Kirkee,British India |
| Died | 21 July 1975 (aged 78) St Clement, Cornwall,England |
| Buried | Penmount Crematorium,Truro |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1948 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Unit | SSRiver Clyde |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
CommanderWilfred St. Aubyn MallesonVC (17 September 1896 – 21 July 1975) was a British recipient of theVictoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded toBritish andCommonwealth forces.
Malleson was born inKirkee, India,[1] the son of Major-General SirWilfrid MallesonKCIE CB and Ida Kathleen King, daughter of Frederick St Aubyn King.[2] He attended theRoyal Naval College Dartmouth from 1912 until 1914, being commissioned shortly before the start ofWorld War I.
Malleson was an 18-year-oldMidshipman in theRoyal Navy during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25 April 1915 during the landing at V Beach, Cape Helles,Gallipoli,Turkey, Midshipman Malleson and three others (William Charles Williams,George Leslie Drewry,George McKenzie Samson) ofHMSRiver Clyde assisted the commander (Edward Unwin) of the ship at the work of securing the lighters under very heavy rifle and Maxim fire. When the other midshipman with the party had failed, through sheer exhaustion to get a line from lighter to lighter, Midshipman Malleson swam with it himself and succeeded. The line subsequently broke and he afterwards made two further unsuccessful attempts at his self-imposed task.[3]
He later achieved the rank ofcommander, and retired in 1948. He died atSt Clement,Cornwall. His VC is on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in theImperial War Museum,London.