Lieutenant Colonel William Donovan Joynt

image: A03534 image: A03534
Photograph A03534
Service number V80044
Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant Colonel
Birth Date 1889-03-19
Birth Place Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Elsternwick
Death Date 1986-05-05
Death Place Australia: New South Wales, Windsor
Final Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Service Australian Imperial Force
Unit 8th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflicts/Operations
  • First World War, 1914-1918
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1918-11-27
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-03-14
Description

Donovan Joynt (1889-1986) enlisted in Melbourne in May 1915. Posted to France as an officer, he was wounded in September 1916. In an attack at Herleville Wood on 23 August 1918, with his own company commander dead, and the leading battalion shaken and reduced by heavy losses, Joynt took charge. At one point he located the source of heavy machine-gun fire from a wood and led a bayonet attack on it. He continued to fight and provide vital leadership and inspiration until wounded by a shell.

After the war Joynt founded a printing and publishing company in Melbourne. He served again during the Second World War. A prominent veteran, he was aged 97 when he died.

Collection items

    Media


    VICTORIA CROSS WINNERS FROM THE BOER WAR AND WORLD WAR 1 WHO GATHERED TO MARCH IN THE SYDNEY ...

    Sydney, NSW. 1938-04-23. A group portrait of Victoria Cross recipients who were invited to Sydney ...

    Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) William Donovan Joynt VC, 8th Battalion. Lt Joynt was awarded ...

    Cropped portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) William Donovan Joynt VC, 8th Battalion. Lt Joynt was ...

    Formal group photograph taken at a Victoria Cross Reunion Dinner. Standing, left to right: Mr ...

    Officers of the 8th Battalion

    Sentries of the 8th Battalion in the western portion of the Hindenburg Line ('O.G.I.' looking ...

    1927-04-25. AUSTRALIAN VICTORIA CROSS (VC) WINNERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE ANZAC DAY MARCH IN ...

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 19 March 1889
Date of birth 19 March 1889
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 21 May 1915 Enlisted at Melbourne.
Date of enlistment 24 December 1915
Date promoted 24 December 1915 Appointed to 2nd Lieutenant and posted to 8 Battalion.
Date of embarkation 07 March 1916
Date wounded 30 September 1916 Wounded during a successful night raid on enemy trenches and for his services was commended in Divisional Orders.
Date promoted 31 December 1916 Promoted to Lieutenant.
Date of recommendation honour or award 01 September 1918
Date promoted 29 October 1918 Promoted to Captain.
Date returned to Australia 22 December 1919
Other 11 June 1920 Appointment to AIF ended.
Date of death 05 May 1986
Date of death 05 May 1986

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