The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (5937) Private Herbert Leslie Parker, 17th 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 Craig Blanch, the story for this day was on (5937) Private Herbert Leslie Parker, 17th Battalion (Infantry), First World War.

5937 Private Herbert Leslie Parker, 17th Battalion
KIA 15 April 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 13 December 2013

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Herbert Leslie Parker.

"Herb" Parker was one of nine surviving children of William and Louisa Parker. Originally of Adelong, the family moved to West Wyalong when Parker was a young man. From the age of 13 he worked for the Wyalong Advocate, and on the outbreak of war was working as a compositor, setting the type for each day's newspaper. He was a very popular figure in West Wyalong, and when he joined the army in April 1916 he was made a number of presentations by the people of the town.

Parker's parents had both died, and he had to have permission from his legal guardian, his elder brother, to enlist. On enlistment he underwent a period of training, first in Cootamundra, then overseas in England. He finally arrived in France just days before the end of the year and joined the 17th Battalion in the field. He was on the Western Front for just four months before his death.

On 15 April 1917, the 17th Battalion was holding the line about the French village of Noreuil, which had been captured by an Australian battalion two weeks earlier. The Germans attacked and broke through the lines held by the 12th Battalion on the right, leaving the flank of the 17th Battalion dangerously unsupported. The enemy got well in the rear of the 17th Battalion's position. The 17th made a counter attack with the support of the 19th and 20th battalions, and regained all lost ground. This desperate battle resulted in some hundreds of casualties on both sides.

Herb Parker was one of 43 other ranks killed that day. He was survived by four brothers and four sisters, including Private Thomas Walter Parker, who served with the 30th Battalion and survived the war. The staff of the Advocate also mourned the young man. In his obituary in their paper, they wrote that he was "a popular lad, of bright and genial disposition, and his comparatively short life was one of honour and uprightness. He won the high respect and esteem of his comrades and of the townspeople" of West Wyalong. He was 19 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. There is no photograph in the Memorial's collection to display 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 Herbert Leslie Parker, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.