The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3253) Lance Corporal Horace Arthur Richard Steel, 24 Battalion, 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 Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (3253) Lance Corporal Horace Arthur Richard Steel, 24 Battalion, First World War.

3253 Lance Corporal Horace Arthur Richard Steel, 24th Battalion
DOW 23 August 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 8 January 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lance Corporal Horace Arthur Richard Steel.

Horace Steel was born in Wangaratta, Victoria, the eldest son of Mr and Mrs William Steel. He attended the local state school and then became a labourer and mule driver. He worked with his father, driving the mail to Boorhaman and proving to be a "quiet and hard working young man".

Steel enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915 as a part of a contingent raised in the local area by Mr Victor Benson. "Benson's Contingent", as the seventy men who joined it were known, received a rousing farewell in Her Majesty's Theatre, Wangaratta, with 1,200 residents who in some cases had travelled long distances from rural areas to be there. Mr Benson said he and the boys "were going to avenge the loss and the wounds of the Australian heroes ... men from Australian farms and workshops, who had stamped upon the history of the Empire and the world a brilliant record of valour and endurance". The volunteers were treated to supper by the ladies of the district, who in turn gave them "three ringing cheers", singing songs and throwing streamers.

After the excitement of enlistment, business began for Horace Steel. The contingent travelled to Melbourne, and after a period of training was sent to Egypt with the 7th reinforcements to the 24th Battalion. Steel missed some of his training there due to an extended stay in hospital with bronchitis. He was sent to France in March 1916, but did not join his battalion in the field until the last day of July that year. He was quickly promoted to lance corporal.

Soon the battalion were back in the front line, dealing with enemy counter-attacks and struggling to keep the trenches in good condition under heavy shell-fire before rotating out of the line once more. On 22 August, after a week or so of rest, the 24th Battalion again made the arduous journey into the front line near Mouquet Farm. They completed the relief by the following morning, and commenced active patrols forward of the front line.

At some point during this day, having survived the journey to the front line, Lance Corporal Steel was shot in the right leg, sustaining a compound fracture. He was taken to a nearby casualty clearing station but died shortly after.

Horace Steel was remembered by his mother, father, brothers, and sisters with the words, "He never shunned his country's call, but gladly gave his life - his all." Steel was 21 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 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 Lance Corporal Horace Arthur Richard Steel, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.