Victoria Cross : Lieutenant William Thomas Dartnell, 25 Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

Victoria Cross. Engraved reverse suspender with recipient's details; reverse cross with date of action.

William Thomas Dartnell, was born on 6 April 1885 in Collingwood, Melbourne. He was only 15 years old when he enlisted for service in South Africa with the Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1901. Dartnell returned to South Africa in 1913 and was working there when war was declared. Using the name Wilbur Taylor Dartnell, he joined the 25th Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers, as a temporary lieutenant, and in April 1915 sailed for service in British East Africa.

Dartnell's Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously for his actions on 3 September 1915, near Maktau, East Africa. Wounded in the leg during an ambush, he insisted on being left behind to allow other wounded companions to be carried away. Though he was twice asked to leave, he refused and began firing at the Germans around him. When his body was found, seven enemy dead were lying nearby. The citation for the award reads:

'For most conspicuous bravery, near Maktau (East Africa) on 3rd September, 1915. During a mounted infantry engagement the enemy got within a few yards of our men, and it was found impossible to get the more severely wounded away. Lieutenant Dartnell, who was himself being carried away wounded in the leg, seeing the situation, and knowing that the enemy's black troops murdered the wounded, insisted on being left behind in the hopes of being able to save the lives of the other wounded men. He gave his own life in the gallant attempt to save others.'

Dartnell’s Victoria Cross is accompanied by the Queen’s South Africa Medal and service medals for the First World War.