Place: Ballarat, Victoria, 3350
District: Western
Orientation:
Location: Sturt Street near Doveton Street
Position:
Ref: 30290

The memorial is a polished red granite slab faced with a grey granite slab.  Both slabs have a symbolic broken top edge.

East face
Bronze insignia of Australian Imperial Force

West face
Bronze plaque
In honour of
WILLIAM DUNSTAN, VC
1895 - 1957

William Dunstan was born in Ballarat East and educated
at Golden Point State School.

Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War,
19 year old Dunstan enlisted in the 7th Battalion,
2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the Australian Imperial Forces.

Within 3 weeks he was posted to Gallipoli and was
immediately embroiled in the Battle of Lone Pine.

Early on the morning of 9th August, 1915, Dunstan and
10 other men were defending a trench captured from
the Turks.

The enemy launched repeated counter attacks and suffered
heavy casualties. Only 3 surviving Australians remained
and were rebuilding the blown-up barricade of sandbags
when the Turks launched a final, vicious assault to
regain the trench.

Struggling to defend their position, the three Australians
resorted to catching the Turkish hand bombs and throwing
them back at the enemy or smothering those that landed
with Turkish great-coats.

Hand bombs killed a 10th defender and wounded both
Dunstan and his only remaining companion.
Again the Turks were driven back and this time
the two wounded Australians were left alone until
later relieved and hospitalised.

As a result of the intensity of the fighting and the
tenacity of the 3 defenders, each was awarded
Victoria Crosses for their conspicuous bravery.

Following the war, Dunstan enjoyed a successful
career to become the Managing Director of the
Herald and Weekly Times.

He died in Melbourne aged 62 and is remembered
with respect by the citizens of Ballarat.

 

Information current to February 2004

Sources:  The information and photograph on this page have been kindly provided by Russ Haines  Photo © Russ Haines

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