Wilbur Dartnell | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant Wilbur Dartnell in 1915 | |
| Birth name | William Thomas Dartnell |
| Born | 6 April 1885 Collingwood, Australia |
| Died | 3 September 1915 (aged 30) Maktau, British East Africa |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Australia United Kingdom |
| Service | Australian Army British Army |
| Years of service | 1900–1902 1906 1915 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Victorian Mounted Rifles (1900–1902) 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (1915) |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
| Spouse(s) |
Elizabeth Edith Smyth
(m. 1907) |
William Thomas Dartnell, VC (6 April 1885 – 3 September 1915), also known as Wilbur Taylor Dartnell, was an Australian-born soldier, actor and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Born in Melbourne, he served in the Second Boer War as a teenager and later in the Bambatha Rebellion of 1906. He married, managed his own business and worked as a professional actor before immigrating to South Africa in 1912 or 1913.
Dartnell offered his services to the British Army on the outbreak of the First World War, and was commissioned into the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in February 1915. He fought in the East African Campaign and was mentioned in despatches for the Battle of Bukoba, where he had stormed the German-held town hall, pulled down the German flag and replaced it with the Union Jack. On 3 September 1915, after his company had been ambushed and despite being wounded, Dartnell voluntarily stayed behind in an attempt to save the lives of wounded men as the remainder of the British force retired from the scene. Dartnell was killed in the attempt, but in recognition of his determination and sacrifice he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.