A hundred years ago on the Western Front: Two VC's awarded to Australians in one day

Lieutenant William Joynt received his VC during the attack on Herleville Wood. An extract from the official citation for his award reads as follows:

On approaching Herleville Wood the troops of the leading battalion, which his battalion was supporting, suffered very heavy casualties and were much shaken. Lt. Joynt, grasping the situation, rushed forward under very heavy machine-gun and artillery fire, collected and reorganised the remnant of the battalion … He then made a personal reconnaissance and found that the fire from the wood was checking the whole advance and causing heavy casualties to troops on his flanks. Dashing out in front of his men, he inspired and led a magnificent frontal bayonet attack on the wood. The enemy were staggered by this sudden onslaught, and a very critical situation was saved. Later, at Plateau Wood, this very gallant officer again with a small party of volunteers rendered invaluable service, and after severe hand-to-hand fighting turned a stubborn defence into an abject surrender.

On the same day, some 10km southeast of Herleville Wood, Dominic McCarthy earned what the press would come to call a ‘super-VC’. The Official War Historian, Charles Bean, described his exploits as being one of the most effective examples of individual fighting in the history of the AIF.

McCarthy and one of his men, Sergeant Robbins, ran over exposed ground to attack a German machinegun position. They managed to evade fire until reaching the enemy trenches, whereupon Sgt Robbins was wounded and McCarthy managed to put the machinegun out of action. McCarthy continued his ferocious assault along the enemy trench, using his revolver and bombs he scavenged from the Germans to sow chaos as he progressed behind their lines. Eventually, his company caught up with him and secured the ground he had won virtually singlehandedly. According to the official citation for his VC, McCarthy had disabled five machine guns, captured 50 prisoners and killed 20 Germans.

To commemorate those who put others before themselves and have continued to do so explore our In The Service of Others collection.