William Charles Scurry, MC, DCM (30 October 1895 – 28 December 1963) was an Australian soldier who invented the self-firing "drip rifle" while serving as a private in the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War.

[1][2] He was decorated for his invention and was later commissioned and served as an officer during the fighting on the Western Front, where he commanded a mortar battery before being wounded in action.

[3][4] In later life Scurry worked as an architectural modeller and orchardist before his war injuries forced him to retire.

[3] Following the outbreak of the First World War, Scurry relinquished his commission and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 as a private.

[3][9] Following the evacuation, after the AIF had returned to Egypt, Scurry was promoted to sergeant and then later, on 20 February 1916, was again commissioned as a second lieutenant.

[3] Following The Armistice, Scurry returned to Australia in 1919 and became engaged to Doris Barry, an Army nurse he met while in France.