William Ruthven
Sergeant, 22nd Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 1091 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 22nd Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force (register: 22nd Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 19 May 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 11th July 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 21st May 1893 at Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Died
- 12th January 1970 at Victoria, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- Fawkner Crematorium, New Melbourne Cemetery and the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
- Medal held by
- the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Digest of citation
During the attack on Ville- sur- Ancre, France, on 19th May 1918, Sergeant Ruthven's company suffered heavy casualties and he assumed command when his company Commander was severely wounded. He took charge of the company headquarters and rallying the section in his vicinity, led the men in this part of the assault. As they approached their objective, they were subjected to very heavy enemy machine-gun fire from close range. Without hesitating, Sergeant Ruthven leapt out and threw a bomb which landed beside the post, rushing on to the position and bayoneting one of the crew and capturing the gun. He encountered some of the enemy coming out of a shelter. He wounded two of them and captured six more. After handing them over to an escort from the leading wave, Sergeant Ruthven, reorganised his men and established a post in the second objective. On the sunken Road nearby he observed enemy movement. Without hesitating and armed only with a revolver, he rushed over the open ground to the position, killing two Germans who refused to come out of their dug out, then single-handedly, he mopped up this post and captured 32 prisoners, holding them until assistance arrived. Throughout the rest of the day he gave his men encouragement and determination as he paced up and down their position. He set a fine example to his men by his courage and his fighting spirit
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RUTHVEN, William. (reg No. 1091).
Sergeant. 22nd Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 11th July 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Born on 21st May 1893 at Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died on 12th January 1970 at Victoria, Australia.
Memorial at Fawkner Crematorium, New Melbourne Cemetery and the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: During the attack on Ville- sur- Ancre, France, on 19th May 1918, Sergeant Ruthven's company suffered heavy casualties and he assumed command when his company Commander was severely wounded. He took charge of the company headquarters and rallying the section in his vicinity, led the men in this part of the assault. As they approached their objective, they were subjected to very heavy enemy machine-gun fire from close range. Without hesitating, Sergeant Ruthven leapt out and threw a bomb which landed beside the post, rushing on to the position and bayoneting one of the crew and capturing the gun. He encountered some of the enemy coming out of a shelter. He wounded two of them and captured six more. After handing them over to an escort from the leading wave, Sergeant Ruthven, reorganised his men and established a post in the second objective. On the sunken Road nearby he observed enemy movement. Without hesitating and armed only with a revolver, he rushed over the open ground to the position, killing two Germans who refused to come out of their dug out, then single-handedly, he mopped up this post and captured 32 prisoners, holding them until assistance arrived. Throughout the rest of the day he gave his men encouragement and determination as he paced up and down their position. He set a fine example to his men by his courage and his fighting spirit.
* Victoria.
Additional information:. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 16th August 1918. He was presented with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace, in a private Investiture, by his Majesty King George V.
Additional information
He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 16th August 1918. He was presented with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace, in a private Investiture, by his Majesty King George V.
* Victoria.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Fawkner Crematorium, New Melbourne Cemetery and the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour William Ruthven by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.