The AIF Project

William DUNSTAN

Regimental number2130
Date of birth8 March 1895
Place of birthBallarat, Victoria
SchoolGolden Point State School, Victoria
ReligionMethodist
OccupationClerk
Address7 Cameron Street, Ballarat East, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 6.5"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinFather, W J Dunstan, 7 Cameron Street, Ballarat East, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed 3 years in the Senior Cadets (commissioned); 1 year in the 70th infantry, Citizen Military Forces (commissioned).
Enlistment date3 June 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll2 June 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 17 June 1915
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll7th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Victoria Cross


Spelt DUNSTON in citation.
Recommendation date: 22 August 1915

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', Supplement No. 29455 (28 January 1916); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 44 (6 April 1916).
Recommendation date: 11 December 1915

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', third Supplement, No. 29522 (27 March 1916); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 79 (6 July 1916).

FateReturned to Australia 4 September 1915
Medals

Victoria Cross

'For most conspicuous bravey at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 9th August, 1915. In the early moning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporals Burton and Dunstan, and a few men. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leeaving only one foot of it standing; but Lieutenant Tubb, with the two corporals, repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade; but on each occasion they were repulsed, and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wounded in the head and arm, and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantly building up the parapet under a hail of bombs.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 28
Date: 24 February 1916

Discharge date1 February 1916
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Joined 7th Bn at Gallipoli, 5 August 1915, and reverted to ranks. Appointed Acting Corporal, 5 August 1915.

Wounded in action, Lone Pine, Gallipoli, 8-9 August 1915 (gun shot wound, face and eyes); admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 9 August 1915; transferred to 15th General Hospital, Alexandria.

Commenced return to Australia from Suez on board HT 'Ulysses', 3 September 1915; disembarked Melbourne, 30 September 1915; discharged, 1 February 1916.

Awarded Victoria Cross, 22 October 1915.

Medals: Victoria Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death2 March 1957
Age at death62
Place of burialCremated: ashes interred in Springvale Cemetery, Victoria


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.