By RUSSELL BENNETT
ONE of Australia’s greatest war heroes is continuing to inspire – almost a century after he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Russell Bennett reports that an Anzac football medal will be awarded each year in honour of Emerald’s Donovan Joynt.
All the officers were dead.
When Lieutenant William (Donovan) Joynt, 8th Battalion, First AIF, found the men of a company of the 6th Battalion at Herleville Wood, France, on 23 August 1918, they were crying out for leadership. And he gave it to them.
Lt Joynt took charge of the battalion that had been decimated by heavy casualties and reformed the men, only to come under intense fire from German forces at the nearby Plateau Wood.
Joined by another platoon from his own battalion, but still heavily outnumbered and outgunned, Lt Joynt made the remarkable decision to seize Plateau Wood.
In a bayonet charge, he captured both the territory and more than 80 prisoners.
Lt Joynt led his men across the plateau to within 50 metres of the enemy machine-guns holding up their advance.
When at one stage more than 20 enemy troops advanced towards him with their rifles aimed, he drew his revolver on their leader – forcing them to surrender.
Lt Joynt then led his men, without casualty, into the German position and forced them out of the wood.
For his ‘most conspicuous bravery’, he won the Victoria Cross.
Lt Joynt’s is a fighting spirit that was harnessed on Sunday at Emerald’s Chandler Reserve in an Anzac footy clash with a twist. In the lead-in to this Thursday, when two whole nations stop to remember those who fought to secure their future, players from the Emerald and Upwey Tecoma veterans football sides battled it out for the Donovan Joynt Medal – for the best and most courageous player on the field in honour of the former Emerald RSL member and Dandenongs resident.
Fittingly, their contest was a hard-fought affair. Just one point separated the two sides, with Upwey’s group of warriors ultimately walking away with the win 11.9 (75) to 11.8 (74).
“The spirit of the Anzac was definitely out there today,” said Emerald RSL president Peter Maloney, who presented the best on ground medal to Upwey’s Mark Lindsay.
“The boys went hard, but fair.
“They helped each other out when it got tough and it was great to see.”
