William Reginald Rawlings
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William Reginald Rawlings, MM (Service No. 3603) (1892 – August 9, 1918) was the uncle of Captain Reginald Saunders, MBE, the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in Australian Military Forces[citation needed].
Rawlings enlisted at Warrnambool, Victoria on 14 March 1916 and embarked on HMAT Orsova from Melbourne on 1 August 1916. He joined the 29th Battalion, 1st AIF in France.
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.
Rawling's friend, Harry Thorpe who also received the Military Medal, was also killed on the same day. They are both buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.
