Australian VC Winners at Gallipoli (Anzac)

It should be noted that some VCs were won by New Zealanders serving in Australian Units. They are recorded here as Australian.

Each name is a link to a page that deals exclusively with that VC recipient.

BURTON A.S. * 1 of 3 VCs in the same action
Unit:7th Australian Infantry Battalion

Date of Action: 9 August 1915
Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1
Posthumous

Alexander Stewart Burton was born at Kyneton, Victoria, in 1893, and was working as an ironmonger in Euroa at the outbreak of the First World War. He immediately enlisted in the AIF, joining 7 Battalion, but owing to illness, missed the landing at Gallipoli.

After recovering, he rejoined his unit, and was promoted to corporal in July after being slightly wounded. Killed in the action for which he was awarded the VC, Burton has no known grave.

DUNSTAN W. * 1 of 3 VCs in the same action
Unit:7th Australian Infantry Battalion

Date of Action: 9 August 1915
Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Dunstan never talked to his son, Keith, about that day at Lone Pine.

"It was always presumed the events were so terrible, it was a forbidden subject in our house. just occasionally my mother would take me to the little cupboard under the stairs and show me that dull little bronze cross made from cannon captured at Sebastopol during the Crimean War. There were also little oak clusters which told that he had been mentioned twice in despatches".

Dunstan was blind for almost a year after Lone Pine. Pieces of shrapnel came out of his body for years and the Dunstan children had to keep quiet around the house because of their father's headaches. (from Gallipoli, Les Carlyon)

HAMILTON J.P. Hero of Lone Pine
Unit:3rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Date of Action: 9 August 1915
Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Hamilton also served in WW2 as a Captain in the 5th Works Company in New Guinea.

JACKA A. 1st VC to Australian in WW1
Unit:14th Australian Infantry Battalion

Date of Action: 19 – 20 May 1915
Place of Action: Courtney’s Post, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Jacka later was awarded a Military Cross (MC) and bar. Many believe that had he been less abrasive to senior officers he would have been awarded a bar to his VC.

KEYSOR L.M. VC won at Lone Pine Gallipoli
Unit:1st Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 7 – 8 August 1915
Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Keysor later served with 42nd Battalion AIF in France and Flanders

SHOUT A.J. A Kiwi in the AIF
Unit:1st Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: 9 August 1915
Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Posthumous

Shout was the most highly decorated "Australian" at Gallipoli having already been awarded a Military Cross (MC) for actions on 27th April 1915.

Shout had served in the Boer War (NZ Contingent) and had been wounded twice.

SYMONS W.J. VC at Lone Pine, LtCol, Home Guard, WW2
Unit:7th Australian Infantry Battalion

Date of Action: 8 – 9 August 1915
Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Lt Symons repelled several enemy attacks, withdrawing to a spot with some overhead cover and built a sand barricade.

The enemy set fire to the woodwork of the overhead cover, which Lt Symons extinguished and rebuilt the barricade.

THROSSELL H.V.H. Only VC to the Light Horse
Unit:10th Light Horse Regiment

Date of Action: 29 – 30 August 1915
Place of Action: Hill 60, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Lieutenant Hugo Throssell of the 10th Light Horse had been in the charge at Nek on August 7. Throssell knew the charge was hopeless. He called out to his men to lie down on dead ground. 'A bob in and the winner shouts,' he yelled as his men huddled around him in a hollow. 'Jim' Throssell liked to joke. And he was lucky. He managed to crawl back unharmed. His brother, Ric, was wounded.

He was wounded at the Battle of Gaza. Post war he committed suicide.

2nd Lt Throssell was awarded the Victoria Cross "for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during operations on the Kaialij Aghala (Hill 60) in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 29th and 30 August 1915". 2Lt Throssell was severely wounded in several places during an enemy attack, but refused to leave his post or obtain medical attention until the danger had passed. After having his wounds dressed he returned to the firing line until he was ordered out of action by the Medical Officer, later being evacuated to a hospital in England.

He contracted cerebrospinal meningitis and although recovered, he was invalided to Australia and allocated light duties. He returned to the 10th Light Horse on 22 January 1917, in charge of reinforcements, and was again wounded in the Battle of Gaza, in which his brother was killed on 19 April 1917. He suffered another breakdown in health and was returned to Australia where his AIF appointment was terminated on 13 February 1919, he later died at his own hand at his property on 19 November 1933.

TUBB F.H. * 1 of 3 VCs in the same action
Unit:7th Australian Infantry Battalion

Date of Action: 9 August 1915
Place of Action: Lone Pine trenches, Gallipoli, Turkey
Conflict: World War 1

Later in France and promoted to the rank of Major, Tubb led a company of 7th Battalion in an action at Polygon Wood on 27 September 1917.

He was wounded in this action and died that evening at the Dressing Station.

indicates the the medal forms part of the collection at the Australian War Memorial