William Reginald Rawlings

Who was William Reginald Rawlings?

William Reginald Rawlings, MM was the uncle of Captain Reginald Saunders, MBE, the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in Australian Military Forces.

Born on Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve in western Victoria to William and Bessie Rawlings, Rawlings was a horse-breaker around Purnim before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force at Warrnambool, Victoria on 20 March 1916. After undertaking initial training, he embarked on HMAT Orsova from Melbourne on 1 August 1916. He joined the 29th Battalion, 8th Brigade in France, as part of the battalion's 8th Reinforcements.

Rawlings was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during heavy fighting along the Morlancourt Ridge on the 28–29 July 1918. Private Rawlings was killed in action on 9 August 1918, during the capture of Vauvillers, France. Rawlings was 27 years old. His MM was gazetted on 11 December 1918.

Rawlings' friend, Henry Thorpe, who also received the Military Medal, was also killed on the same day. They are both buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.