Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Victor Gannoni was an Electrical Engineer before he joined the war. He signed-up for the war in February the 1st 1915, aged 19 and was assigned to the 21st Battalion. During his time in the war, he, in total, he spent a total of 4 years and 112 days (Almost 4 months) and spent 3 years and 297 days (Almost 10 months) of them abroad, overseas.

Although brave, William did not have good luck during his time in the war. Shortly after basic training, William was sent to Gallipoli. Which is considered to be one of the worst campaigns in the war. On the 13/10/1915 William was sent to Gallipoli and after just 1 ½ months, he was transferred and sent away due to a case of Synovitis he experienced. On the 8/10/1915 he was sent to a hospital due to a Synovitis Knee, inflammation in the knee joint. Despite this, on the 29/9/16 he was promoted to Sergeant. Unluckily for William, he was sent back to the hospital on the 16th of April 1916, for another case of Synovitis. On the 1st of March, William was charged with unknown reasons, the outcome though was a not guilty verdict. Unfortunately, on the 3rd of May 1917, he went back again to the hospital, but not due to a case of Synovitis, but instead of a gunshot wound. It was also when the status was degraded back to a Private.

On the 6th of June, William was sent back to the hospital for a gunshot wound. One year later, there was no important document during said period, on the 17th of July, William went back to England, to have 3 fingers amputated, ring, middle and pinkie, due to an injury he experienced in France. Lastly, on August the 5th, due to a gunshot wound to, somewhere, on his head, not described in the documentation, he was medically discharged. After the war, he received the three basic medals: The 1914/15 star, for joining in 1915, the Victory medal and the British Award medal. There were no more documents after this time, apart from one letter, from him sent to the army, in 1967, he would have been about 71 years old when he sent the letter. It stated that he deserved to have the ‘Gallipoli Veterans Medallion,’ as it was not included with the medals he did receive at the end of the war. He wanted to have it for being in Gallipoli for over a month, before being transferred. Although, it is unknown if he received the medal as a return letter was not included with the documentation of him receiving a letter back.

William was a person who truly showed ANZAC Spirit. Despite many incidents, he continued to troop on, despite the: 2 times he was sent to the hospital for Synovitis. This means that certain parts of his body became swollen. The other 3 time he was sent to the hospital, due to bullet wounds and the amputation of his fingers. That would make it quite a bit harder for him to participate in the war, as he would have a limited amount of mobility with his hands, but, he still continued on through the war. Only leaving after being medical discharged. It really just goes to show, despite how much pain and torment, he went through, William still continued on for his country’s future. William also took part in the Gallipoli Campaign. Where many soldiers died, but where William managed to stay for over a month. Staying in a place like Gallipoli wasn’t easy by any means, but William had the guts to stick it out until he left due to his Synovitis.