William Ruthven (Australian soldier)

He seized enemy posts and led brave men after officers fell.

William "Rusty" Ruthven was born in Collingwood, Melbourne, on 21 May 1893. Educated at Vere Street State School, he trained as a mechanical engineer and worked in the timber industry. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in April 1915 and sailed with reinforcements for the 22nd Battalion in August. He joined the battalion on Gallipoli before moving to France in March 1916.

A wound near Fleurbaix on 17 April interrupted his first period in the front line. Returning to the battalion on the Somme, he advanced through the noncommissioned ranks and became a sergeant in January 1917. By the following spring he was an experienced infantry leader.

On 19 May 1918 the 22nd Battalion attacked near Ville-sur-Ancre. When his company commander was badly wounded, Ruthven took control of the nearby sections and company headquarters. A machine gun then threatened the leading troops from only a few dozen yards away. He threw a grenade beside the post, rushed it, bayoneted a member of the crew and captured the weapon. He next overcame Germans emerging from a shelter, taking six prisoners.

The recommendation preserved with his Victoria Cross at the Australian War Memorial describes a further advance "armed only with a revolver" (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C339932). Seeing movement in a sunken road, he crossed open ground alone, shot two men who resisted and secured another 32 prisoners. He then spent the day moving under fire to organize the captured position and encourage his soldiers. The Cross recognized both these assaults and his sustained leadership.

Wounded again in June, Ruthven was commissioned in July and returned to Australia that October for recruiting work. After discharge he resumed woodworking and married Irene White in December 1919. A soldier-settlement venture at Werrimull ended after poor seasons and illness. Back in Collingwood, he worked as a carrier and for the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, and entered local government.

During the Second World War he served in garrison units, including at Murchison prisoner-of-war camp, retiring from full-time duty as a major in 1944. He became mayor of Collingwood in 1945 and represented Preston, then Reservoir, in the Victorian parliament until 1961. A veterans' advocate and Collingwood Football Club timekeeper, he died in Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital on 12 January 1970. His medals and George Bell's portrait are held by the Australian War Memorial.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in action. During the advance Sjt. Ruthven’s company suffered numerous casualties, and his company commander was severely wounded. He thereupon assumed command of this portion of the assault, took charge of the company headquarters, and rallied the section in his vicinity. As the leading wave approached its objective it was subjected to heavy fire from an enemy machine-gun at close range. Without hesitation he at once sprang out, threw a bomb which landed beside the post, and rushed the position, bayoneting one of the crew and capturing the gun. He then encountered some of the enemy coming out of a shelter. He wounded two, captured six others in the same position, and handed them over to an escort from the leading wave, which had now reached the objective. Sjt. Ruthven then reorganised the men in his vicinity and established a post in the second objective. Observing enemy movement in a sunken road nearby, he, without hesitation and armed only with a revolver, went over the open alone and rushed the position, shooting two enemy who refused to come out of their dug-outs. He then single-handed mopped up this post and captured the whole of the garrison amounting in all to thirty-two, and kept them until assistance arrived to escort them back to our lines. During the remainder of the day this gallant non-commissioned officer set a splendid example of leadership, moving up and down his position under fire, supervising consolidation and encouraging his men. Throughout the whole operation he showed the most magnificent courage and determination, inspiring everyone by his fine fighting spirit, his remarkable courage, and his dashing action.

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 9 July 1918. 11 July 1918, Numb. 30790, p. 8156