Enemy retreated after a barricade standoff
William Symons landed at Gallipoli as a sergeant with the AIF’s 7th Battalion on April 25, 1915.
He won the Victoria Cross for his “conspicuous bravery” at Lone Pine on the night of August 8-9.
His commanding officer, Lt-Col Harold “Pompey” Elliott, ordered him to defend positions at Goldenstedt’s Post, Woods Post and, later, the isolated Jacob’s Trench.
When the latter fell to the Turks, with six Australian officers killed or seriously wounded, he was given the task of retaking the position.
One historian records that Lt-Col Elliott handed Symons his own pistol, saying: “I don’t expect to see you again, but we must not lose that post.”
Symons personally led the charge that drove the Turks out, killing two of the enemy with his pistol.
The Turks counter-attacked, forcing a withdrawal of about 15m, from where Symons and his men made a concerted stand behind a timber and sandbag barricade.
By now, Symons’ position was under fire from three sides, though the Turks’ effort to surround the post was thwarted.
They managed to set fire to the timber defences, but Symons extinguished the flames.
The citation for the awarding of Symons’ VC noted that “his coolness and determination finally compelled the enemy to discontinue the attacks”.
Born in July 1889 at Eaglehawk in central Victoria, William Symons was typical of many men of his generation in serving with the pre-war part-time militia. He was active with the 5th and 60th Battalions.
He worked as a salesman in suburban Brunswick in Melbourne before enlisting with the AIF on August 17, 1914, with the rank of sergeant. The day after the landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula he was promoted to 2nd lieutenant. His full commission came through on July 2. He was further promoted to captain in May 1916.
On his return to Australia in March 1916 he was feted as the hero he was at civic receptions in both Brunswick and Bendigo.
The call of the bugle in June that year saw him embark for the carnage of the Western Front in France. There, the Anzacs would pay a price more terrible than that at Gallipoli.
Symons fought as a company commander of the 37th Battalion. Wounded during a raid at Houplines in February 1917 and seriously gassed at Messines in June, he was hospitalised and did not return to his unit until the beginning of 1918.
He was involved in the fighting on the Somme that finally stopped the German advance.
Post-war, Symons became a successful businessman and settled with his English wife in Hampshire.
During World War II he commanded, as a lieutenant-colonel, the 12th Battalion of the Leicestershire Home Guard. He died in London in June 1948.
