1915 Star & TFEM. William Bunyan 1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment. Wounded Gallipoli. Awarded MM Military Medal. Umbrella Hill Gaza October 1918
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A 1915 star named to 2765 pte w bunyan bedf r .
territorial force efficiency medal named 200040 pte w bunyan 5 / bedf & Herts r . ( some eks see photos ).
William entered gallipoli 10th August 1915 .
wounded Gallipoli 10th October 1915 .
wounded 24th October 1917 at Palestine.
Private 2765, later 200040 William BUNYAN, MM
William was from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, served in the Territorials from 1912, with the 5th Battalion throughout their trials in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine was demobbed in 1919.
He won his MM during aggressive night patrols around Umbrella Hill and Fischer Hill, in front of Gaza on the morning of 4th October 1918. 60 Bedfords were wounded during the fierce skirmishes, including William. The London Gazette edition 30340 on 18 October 1917 shows William, and he also gets a mention in the Battalion War Diary:
“9 Oct 1917. Private EDGAR ELSE and Private WILLIAM BUNYAN awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field dated night 3/4th.”
The Diary for the 3rd says:
“3 Oct 1917 The day passed without incident 1735 Patrols of 3 officers, 3 lewis guns & 46 O.Rs left our line near the SUBKET POST & returned about 0300.” and the 4th records “4 Oct 1917 Heavy enemy firing was encountered & Lieut ECB WODEHOUSE was fatally wounded & 60 ORs were hit, more or less seriously. It is thought that some loss was inflicted on the enemy as they were prevented from coming to close quarters by our rifle & Lewis Gun fire. The day passed without incident, a few shells being fired at our lines without doing any damage. 1800 3 patrols of 3 officers & 6 O.Rs in one case & 9 O.Rs & a lewis gun in the other left our line at SUBKET POST. The first patrol’s object was to advance into FISHER’S Wood & draw the TURKS to follow them back on to a line held by the second patrol. The Third was to lie up & try to ambush patrols of TURKS who might come along. The first patrol under the command of 2nd Lieut.DENNIS found the TURKS & succeeded in drawing them towards the 2nd patrol commanded by 2nd Lieut GURNEY. Here the TURKS discovered the trap & withdrew, followed by a heavy fire from our Lewis gun & rifles. The right, or 3rd patrol, commanded by 2 Lieut MANDER did not encounter any enemy. The three patrols were all in by 0450.“
Address given in 1919 26 Mill Road, Leighton buzzard.
tfem was awarded in 1919.
His brother George was awarded a mm and bar .
WILLIAM IS ALSO ENTITLED TO A BWM , VICTORY AND MM WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN.
