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LIEUTENANT William John Symons, VC, was born on July 10, 1889, at Eaglehawk to William Sampson Symons and his wife, the former Mary Emma Manning.
William Sampson Symons, a miner, from Tarriff Street, did not live to see William and his brother, Albert, march off to war. He died in February 1904 aged 42. The brothers were educated at the Eaglehawk State School No.210. William left school early to help support his widowed mother, gaining employment with a local grocer, William Washington, whose premises were on land in Sailors Gully Road which is now part of Canterbury Park.
In 1906, two years after the death of his father, the family had moved to Brunswick, Melbourne, where William was employed as a commercial traveller. He had a keen interest in the military, serving in the 5th Australian Infantry Regiment and the 60th Infantry for eight years prior to World War I.
William enlisted in the AIF on August 17, 1914, at Carlton in the newly formed 7 Battalion, which formed part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. Initially posted as private, with service number 174, he was promoted to colour sergeant within two days of enlistment. The battalion embarked aboard HMAT A20 Hororata from Port Melbourne on October 19, 1914, bound for Egypt. Symons was promoted to acting regimental quartermaster sergeant on April 9, 1915, and 16 days later, on April 25, landed with the battalion as part of the second wave at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli. He was promoted the following day to second lieutenant.
On May 6 the battalion was moved to Cape Helles as part of 2 Brigade to take part in the Second Battle of Krithia. Symons was promoted to lieutenant on July 2. On August 8-9, during the Battle for Lone Pine, Symons successfully recaptured Jacob's Trench in the face of determined resistance. His actions, saw him awarded the Victoria Cross.
In April 1916 WJ Symons, VC, visited his birthplace and was greeted with enthusiasm by the citizens and burgesses of Eaglehawk. About 500 scholars from his old school – the Eaglehawk State School - assembled in front of the hall. The mayor, Cr Daniel Oswald, in his welcome said, “He remembered Lieut. Symons as a lad driving the old grey horse and grocer's cart, with the reins hanging down near the horse's feet. He didn't seem to care, and if a Chinaman was coming in the opposite direction he would probably cross the reins and give the celestial trouble in getting out of the way”.
Cr J.H. Webster said, “He was also pleased to have the privilege of welcoming one of their own boys, who had distinguished himself by having conferred upon him such a great military distinction. He knew his father and mother before they were married, and knew him as a child, tracing his career in the Sunday school. He was proud in the fact that Lieut. Symons, VC, was a native of the borough.”
Cr J. Trevean considered it an honour and a privilege to have such a distinguished soldier in their midst. They had read with pride the account of the exploits of Lieut. Symons, and the wonderful exploits of their boys at Gallipoli, which had immortalised the name of Australia. It was only a few short years since they saw Lieut. Symons with a school bag on his back. Now they saw him in their midst with one of the greatest honours that it was possible for a soldier to have, conferred upon him.
Mr H.R. Heath said, “It was with pride that he joined in the laudatory remarks of the previous speakers. When a teacher saw issuing from his hands boys who were going into the world to battle for themselves, his heart often quaked within him when they recognised that some of them would probably lead bad lives, and when they wondered what had been the effect of their work in shaping the boys' characters. But when a teacher felt that he had played a part in the formation of the character of such a man as Lieut. Symons, no words could express the feeling which he enjoyed. Lieut. Symons had passed through his hands, and had also been taught by his wife. During his 15 years' experience, about 2000 boys had passed through his class, and he paid Lieut. Symons a compliment in saying that he did not stand out in his. (the speaker's) mind. The boys who stood out were not the good ones”.
Lieut. Symons, in responding to these kind remarks said, “It made his heart too full for words to receive such an enthusiastic welcome. It had been suggested that others should have been awarded the Victoria Cross, but their deeds had not been noticed. He agreed with them, and in support of the statement he said that on one occasion he had the honor of taking charge of 150 Eaglehawk and Bendigo boys. They started fighting at 8 o'clock in the evening, but at 5 o'clock next morning he counted them and the total was 19. He left them then, and when they were counted at 9 o'clock there were only nine.”