SCORER, William Dobson
| Service Number: | 2779 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 July 1915, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Essendon, Victoria, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Essendon, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Essendon State School No 483 |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 24 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Etaples Military Cemetery Plot XXX, Row G, Grave 6 - Inscription reads: His life with all its prospects bright he gave for his country |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Essendon State School No 483 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2779, 24th Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2779, 24th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2779, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 12 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal | |
| 20 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant | |
| 27 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 2779, 8th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge, Shell wounds to both legs the left legs being amputated at Camiers where he died | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Broodseinde Ridge, Citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. He assisted in guiding the battalion to the assembly position. During the advance he maintained direction on the flank in a most efficient manner and when held up by machine gun fire he crept forward alone and put the gun out of action. Though wounded, he continued at his task until badly wounded at the final objective setting a fine example of courage and initiative Source: Commonwealth Gazette No. 95 Date: 27 June 1918 | |
| 24 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 2779, 8th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2779 awm_unit: 8 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-10-24 |
Help us honour William Dobson Scorer's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From AWM biography:
Private (Pte) William Dobson Scorer, 24th Battalion, of Essendon, Vic. A clerk prior to enlistment he embarked with the 6th Reinforcements from Melbourne on board HMAT Ulysses on 27 October 1915. He was taken on strength and transferred to the 8th Battalion on 24 February 1916. After a series of promotions he reached the rank of Sergeant (Sgt) on 27 July 1916. Sgt Dobson was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack on Broodseinde Ridge east of Ypres on 4 October 1917. According to the recommendation "he assisted in guiding the battalion to the assembly position. During the advance he maintained direction on the flank in a most efficient manner, and, when held up by machine gun fire, crept forward alone and put the gun out of action. Though wounded, he continued at his task until badly wounded at the final objective, setting a fine example of courage and initiative.'" Sgt Scorer was admitted to hospital on 9 October from the extensive wounds he substained; he later developed pneumonia and died on 24 October 1917, aged 24. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
Extracted from Austin (Cobbers in Khaki):
What is certain is that both mortally wounded officer were moved behind the lines, presumably to the Pill Box area where the were RAP dugouts and the RMO was. Austin[3] described the scene:
When Chaplain Booth arrived at the RAP (dugout) to assist the RMO, the first man he saw was Orderly Room Sgt, “Poor old Bill Scorer [DCM]”. Lying next to Scorer was Lt Frank Goodwin, who was described by Booth as “one of the most courageous officers“ of the 8th Battalion. “Bill Scorer seemed cheerful enough but we hold little hope for him, while poor old Goodwin has no chance”. We looked over him , he was quite unconcious” Goodwin died that day, Scorer died two weeks later [DOW 24/10/1917].”
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Henry Dobson and Mary Jane Scorer of Glen Street, Essendon, Victoria; brother of Leonard Scorer who returned on 20 July 1919 having served with the Imperial Mounted Division
Medals: Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
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