William Donovan Joynt
Lieutenant, 8th Battalion (Victoria). Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 661 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 8th Battalion (Victoria). Australian Imperial Force (register: 8th Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 23 August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 27th November, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 19th March 1889 at Elsternwick, Melbourne, Australia
- Died
- 5th May 1986 at Melbourne, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- on Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
On 23rd August, 1918 and Herleville Wood, near Chuignes, Peronne, Lieutenant Joynt took charge when his company Commander had been killed. When the leading Battalion had been demoralised by heavy casualties, he rushed forward and reorganised the remnants of the Battalion. Having discovered that heavy fire on the flanks was causing delay and casualties, he led a frontal bayonet attack on the wood, thus saving a critical situation. Later at Plateau Wood, after severe hand to hand fighting, he turned a stubborn defence into an abject surrender. He was later badly wounded by shell
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
JOYNT, William Donovan. (reg No. 661).
Lieutenant. 8th Battalion (Victoria). Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 27th November, 1918.
Born on 19th March 1889 at Elsternwick, Melbourne, Australia.
Died on 5th May 1986 at Melbourne, Australia.
Memorial on Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 23rd August, 1918 and Herleville Wood, near Chuignes, Peronne, Lieutenant Joynt took charge when his company Commander had been killed. When the leading Battalion had been demoralised by heavy casualties, he rushed forward and reorganised the remnants of the Battalion. Having discovered that heavy fire on the flanks was causing delay and casualties, he led a frontal bayonet attack on the wood, thus saving a critical situation. Later at Plateau Wood, after severe hand to hand fighting, he turned a stubborn defence into an abject surrender. He was later badly wounded by shell.
Additional information:. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Additional information
He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
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