Born on September 20th, 1875, the son of a civil engineer holding an Admiralty appointment at Chatham. He was educated at Epsom College, where he gained the entrance scholarship in Science to St Mary's Hospital in 1893, and served as House Surgeon to Edmund Owen (qv) in 1898. He served in the South African War as Civil Surgeon with the 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment, gaining the Queen's Medal with two Clasps, and on his return to London he was elected House Surgeon to the Victoria Hospital for Children in Tite Street, Chelsea, in 1901, was Assistant Surgeon in 1907-1914, but was never full Surgeon. At St Mary's Hospital he was appointed Surgical Registrar in 1904, Demonstrator of Anatomy in 1905, Surgeon to Out-patients with charge of the Orthopedic Department in 1906, and full Surgeon on the resignation of J Ernest Lane (qv) in 1922. Maynard Smith was also Surgeon to the London Fever Hospital, to Epsom College, to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Ealing, and to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute for Girls, and was for many years Hon Secretary to the Old Epsomian Society. During the European War he was appointed Surgeon-in-Chief to the St John Ambulance Brigade in 1914, and proceeded to France early in 1915 with the Hon rank of Major. He quickly made a reputation both as an administrator and as a surgeon, was appointed Consulting Surgeon to the Fifth Army in 1916, and was chiefly responsible for the treatment of the wounded during the great battles for Passchendaele in 1917. He was subsequently appointed Consulting Surgeon to the Second Army. For his services to the French Army during the fighting round Kemmel he was awarded the Croix de Guerre. For his war services he was three times mentioned in dispatches, was decorated CB, and was created a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. Returning to London at the end of the War, he continued to practise privately and carry out his hospital duties until his death on March 18th, 1928. Maynard Smith was distinguished by his shrewd judgement and the thoroughness of all his work. Neat and precise in every detail, he was an excellent surgeon and a good teacher. As a man he was modest and unassuming, courteous in manner, a good after-dinner speaker, and a most pleasant companion. Throughout life he was tuberculous, and severe attacks from time to time interrupted his work, but did nothing to spoil his character. He held office in the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons as a Past Grand Deacon. He married in 1917 Isabel Mary, daughter of F I Pitman, and by her had a daughter Isabel Valentine Maynard and a son John Maynard.