William Reginald Rawlings
William Reginald Rawlings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 1890 Purnim, Australia |
| Died | 9 August 1918 (aged 27) Vauvillers, France |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ | Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1918 |
| Rank | Private |
| Service number | 3603 |
| Unit | 29th Battalion |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Military Medal |
William Reginald Rawlings, MM (September 1890 – 9 August 1918) was a decorated Australian Aboriginal soldier of the First World War. He was also the uncle of Captain Reginald Saunders, the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Military Forces.
Early life[edit]
Rawlings was born in Purnim, Victoria, in September 1890 to William and Bessie Rawlings.[1] He grew up on the Aboriginal reserve at Framlingham, and was a horse-breaker around Purnim before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force at Warrnambool, Victoria on 20 March 1916.[2]
First World War[edit]
After undertaking initial training, Rawlings embarked on HMAT Orsova from Melbourne on 1 August 1916.[1] He joined the 29th Battalion, 8th Brigade in France, as part of the battalion's 8th Reinforcements.[3]
Rawlings was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during heavy fighting along the Morlancourt Ridge on 28–29 July 1918. Private Rawlings was killed in action on 9 August 1918, during the capture of Vauvillers, France. Rawlings was 27 years old.[1] His MM was gazetted on 11 December 1918.[4]
Rawlings' friend, Henry Thorpe, who also received the Military Medal, was killed on the same day. They are both buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.[5][6]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c "William Reginald Rawlings". Australian Defence Force Academy. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
- ^ Austin 1997, pp. 135–136.
- ^ Austin 1997, p. 136.
- ^ "No. 31061". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 December 1918. p. 14669.
- ^ "Casualty Details: Rawlings, William Reginald". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ "Casualty Details: Thorpe, Harry". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
References[edit]
- Austin, Ron (1997). Black and Gold: The History of the 29th Battalion, 1915–1918. McCrae: Slouch Hat Publications. ISBN 0-646-31650-8.
External links[edit]
- Digital images of NAA: B2455, Rawlings William Reginald, First World War personnel file, National Archives of Australia
