William Dunstan VC (1895 - 1957)

Born 8 Mar 1895 in Ballarat, Victoria (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Marjorie Lilian Stewart (Carnell) Dunstan — married 9 Nov 1918 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Died 2 Mar 1957 at age 61 in Caulfield, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

William Dunstan VC is an Anzac who served in World War One.

William Dunstan VC was awarded the Victoria Cross.

William Dunstan was born on 8th March 1895 in Ballarat, Victoria (Australia). He was the third son of William John Dunstan and Henrietta Mitchell. ^[1]

He enlisted in the 17th Rifle Brigade Band (later the 70th Rifle Battalion). He was employed as a drapery story clerk when the First World War broke out. ^[2]

In June 1915 he transferred to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), being allocated to B Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade as one of many reinforcements. ^[3]

On 9 August Dunstan was part of a group of soldiers defending a newly captured trench when the Turks made a determined counter-attack. Dunstan, together with Lieutenant Frederick Tubb, Corporal Burton, and six others, kept firing over the parapet. When a large explosion blew down the barricade, Dunstan and Burton began to rebuild it, while Tubb kept the enemy at bay. Before the work was complete a bomb burst between the men, killing Burton and temporarily blinding Dunstan. He was Mentioned in Despatches before taking part in the Battle at Lone Pine, where he was to be awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for gallantry in the face of the enemy. ^[2] Citation (abridged):

'In the early morning of 9th August the enemy made a determined counter-attack on a newly-captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporals Burton, Dunstan and a few men. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, but Tubb and the two Corporals repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Strong enemy bombing parties twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion the enemy were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt, though Tubb was wounded and Burton killed while most gallantly building up the parapet under a hail of bombs (now known as hand grenades).' ^[4]

William was invalided to Australia and discharged in February 1916. For his war service he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal with oak leaf Clasp (representing the Mention in Despatches). He re-joined the Militia, serving in various ranks until he retired as a Lieutenant in 1928. ^[2] William was presented his Victoria Cross by the Governor-General on the steps of the then Australian Parliament House, Melbourne; being a very reserved man, however, he found it a great ordeal.

After extensive rehabilitation his sight returned after some twelve months. He then obtained work with the Repatriation Department in Melbourne.

William married Marjorie Carnell on 9th November 1918 in St Paul's Church of England (now Anglican Church), Ballarat. ^[5]

William's strength of character led him to a highly successful civilian career, particularly in the newspaper industry. He joined the staff of The Herald and Weekly Times as an accountant in 1921, rising to become its General Manager. He was greatly respected in business, judicial, and parliamentary circles. In 1937, he was awarded the King George VI Coronation Medal and in 1953 the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.

Aged six days short of turning 62 years, William passed away on 2nd March 1957 in Caulfield, Victoria as a result of a heart attack. ^[6] His remains were interred at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria. ^[7] He was survived by his wife, Marjorie, and their three children, William 'Bill', Helen Marjorie and (John) Keith.

The Canberra Times announced on Thursday, 13th October 1977: 'The Victoria Cross awarded to Corporal William Dunstan at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, in August, 1915, will be presented to the Australian War Memorial this morning. It will bring the collection of VCs to 19.' ^[8]

In 1995, a memorial to William Dunstan was erected in Sturt Street, Ballarat. The Dunstan VC Club at Puckapunyal Army Base is named in his honour.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #9104/1895
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Australian War Memorial: 2130 Corporal William Dunstan; accessed 23 Dec 2022
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 7th Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 23 Dec 2022
4. ↑ Military Record
5. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #6806/1918
6. ↑ Victoria Death Index #2918/1957
7. ↑ Find A Grave; Retrieved 24 Mar 2019
8. ↑ The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) Thu 13 Oct 1977

See also

• Blanch, Craig and Pegram, Aaron. For Valour: Australians awarded the Victoria Cross. New South Publishing, Sydney NSW, 2018. ISBN 978 17422 35424.
• Serle, R P. Dunstan, William (1895–1957), Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1981, accessed online 8 Nov 2018.
• Wikipedia: William Dunstan; accessed 24 Dec 2022.