The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (225) Private Wolfred Henry Anspach, 43rd Battalion (Infantry), First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (225) Private Wolfred Henry Anspach, 43rd Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

225 Private Wolfred Henry Anspach, 43rd Battalion
KIA 3 July 1917
No photograph in collection (image used from Barrier Miner, 7 October 1917, p.2)

Story delivered 20 October 2013

Today, we remember and pay tribute to Private Wolfred Henry Anspach.

Wolfred Anspach was the son of Sarah and Wolfred Anspach, and was born in a suburb of Adelaide in April 1894. His family moved to Broken Hill where, once he finished school, he gained employment at the Central Mine. He was still working on the mine when war broke out in Europe in 1914. Eighteen months later he left the mine and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.

Anspach was sent from South Australia with reinforcements to the 16th Battalion to training camps in England. He was not known for his military discipline, and had many charges of absence and drunkenness against him by the time he was transferred to the 43rd Battalion in late 1916.

He eventually made it to the trenches of the Western Front with his new battalion early in 1917. From this time onwards his disciplinary problems were over. He remained with the 43rd Battalion in the field, bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders. The battalion participated in the battle of Messines, and just after 3 am on the morning of 7 June, 19 massive mines were blown up under the German positions. As the infantry moved forward to attack, the 43rd was in close reserve and shortly afterwards began the dangerous task of carrying supplies and ammunition to the forward lines under fire.

After that first day of fighting around Messines, the 43rd was closely involved in the continued attack. In early July of that year the battalion was holding the front line in the same sector, consolidating the position and strengthening trenches. It was still under fire, and suffered light casualties. On 3 July, the battalion recorded just one infantryman killed, presumably as the result of a stray shell. That man was Wolfred Anspach.

Anspach was considered a "bright and genial man" and was a well-known figure in Broken Hill. He was sadly missed by his family and wide circle of friends.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Wolfred Henry Anspach, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.