Private Bill Rawlings was a Gunditjmara man born at the Framlingham Mission Station in Western Victoria. He enlisted in March 1916 and served with the 29th Australian Infantry Battalion in France. He was awarded the Military Medal for showing ‘irresistible dash and courage’ in assaulting a German communication trench during heavy fighting along the Morlancourt Ridge in July 1918.
He was killed in action, aged 27, on 9 August 1918 and is buried near his close friend and fellow Military Medal recipient, Harry Thorpe.
![](/sites/default/files/2024-05/RAWLINGS-PI001120.jpg)
Private William Reginald Rawlings and family c 1916
photographer unknown
REPRODUCED COURTESY OF THE KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST AND AUNTY PATRICIA CLARKE
There's more to this story:
Updated