SYMONS, William John
| Service Number: | 174 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, Carlton, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 37th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia, 12 July 1889 |
| Home Town: | Brunswick, Moreland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Eaglehawk State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Brain Tumour, Paddington, West London, England, 24 June 1948, aged 58 years |
| Cemetery: |
Golders Green Crematorium Cremated |
| Tree Plaque: |
Halls Head Mandurah Memorial Pine Trees
|
| Memorials: | Eaglehawk John Symons VC Memorial, Eaglehawk Lieutenant William John Symons VC Memorial Pine, Eaglehawk Primary School W J Symons VC Commemorative Seat, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, North Bondi War Memorial, North Brother War Memorial, Tuncurry Battle of Lone Pine Victoria Cross Recipients Memorial, Winchelsea WWI Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Colour Sergeant, 174, 7th Infantry Battalion, Carlton, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 174, 7th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1 | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 174, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata A20, Melbourne | |
| 26 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 2 Jul 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli | |
| 22 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 3 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, 37th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 3 Jun 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Captain, 37th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' |
|
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 37th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, 37th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, Severely wounded during mustard gas attack | |
| 17 Dec 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 37th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour William John Symons's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Kearney
Symons, William John (1889–1948)
by Anthony Staunton
William John Symons, soldier and businessman, was born on 12 July 1889 at Eaglehawk, Victoria, son of William Samson Symons (d.1904), miner, and his wife Mary Emma, née Manning. Educated at Eaglehawk State School, in 1906 he moved with his family to Brunswick, Melbourne, and worked as a commercial traveller. He served for eight years in the militia (5th and 60th battalions) before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 17 August 1914. Posted to the 7th Battalion as colour sergeant, he embarked for Egypt on 18 October, was promoted acting regimental quartermaster sergeant on 9 April 1915 and landed with his battalion at Gallipoli on 25 April. He was commissioned second lieutenant next day and promoted lieutenant on 2 July.
About 5 a.m. on 9 August the Turks made a series of determined attacks on Jacob's Trench at Lone Pine where six Australian officers were killed or severely wounded. Learning that the position had been overrun, Lieutenant-Colonel Harold 'Pompey' Elliott ordered Symons to retake the trench. 'I don't expect to see you again', he said, 'but we must not lose that post'. Symons led the charge that drove off the Turks, but the enemy continued attacking from the front and both flanks. Symons received Elliott's permission to abandon fifteen yards (14 m) of open trench and to establish a new barricade. Although the Turks set fire to the overhead woodwork, Symons extinguished the flames, kept the barricade in place and finally forced the enemy to discontinue their attacks. One of seven Australians to win the Victoria Cross at Lone Pine, Symons was cited for his conspicuous gallantry and received his V.C. from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 4 December.
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/symons-william-john-8736 (adb.anu.edu.au)
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