Wilbur Dartnell

Wilbur Dartnell
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	Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Voi
Allegiance	Australia; United Kingdom
Service/branch	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	Second Boer War; Bambatha Rebellion; First World War East African Campaign Battle of Bukoba; ;
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.