The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (362) Lance Corporal Frederick McRae Neal, 14th 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 Charis May, the story for this day was on (362) Lance Corporal Frederick McRae Neal, 14th Battalion, First World War.

362 Lance Corporal Frederick McRae Neal, 14th Battalion
KIA 1 May 1915
Photograph: P05248.093

Story delivered 6 March 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lance Corporal Frederick McRae Neal, whose photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

Frederick Neal was born on 26 January in Romsey, Victoria, and lived in several different places during his childhood. He attended Dookie Public School and, after moving to Melbourne with his parents, Carlton State School. Frederick proved an able student, and went on to study at Melbourne High School, where he won several prizes, before obtaining a Diploma of Education from the University Training College, where he again won a number of academic prizes.

Neal was a keen sportsman. After moving to Kyabram to take up a position as a high school teacher he joined the local cricket, football, and tennis clubs. He was described by those who knew him in Kyabram as "quiet, unassuming, but possessed of many fine qualities". He made many friends in his new town, and the Kyabram High School willingly gave him a leave of absence when he decided to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force.

Neal enlisted in September 1914 and was quickly made a lance corporal and posted to the 14th Battalion. He embarked on his troopship in December 1914 and, after a journey via Port Philip and Albany, left Australia on the last day of 1914. Most of the journey he found very hot, and slept five out of the six weeks on the upper deck. He wrote home of his experiences of beggars and sellers at Colombo and Aden, and spent his birthday on board in view of Mount Sinai. On arrival at Mena Camp, Neal and the men of the 14th Battalion were put to strenuous training. Few had a chance to see much of Cairo or the pyramids.

In April 1915 the 14th Battalion boarded another steamer to take them to the Gallipoli peninsula. Their ship, HMT Seang Choon, arrived off Anzac Cove at about 5 pm on 25 April 1915. Men of the 14th Battalion were obliged to move out of their on-board accommodation to make room for wounded men. Many men worked throughout the night to help them aboard. The battalion finally made it ashore the following day after being towed in under shrapnel fire.

The battalion was in the front line at Quinn's and Courtney's posts on the ridge above the beach. There the men were kept busy defending their positions from Turkish counter-attacks, and in repairing and extending their trenches. They were under continual fire and suffered a number of casualties. One of those casualties was
Lance Corporal Neal. The exact manner of his death is unrecorded, but on 1 May 1915, near Courtney's Post, the Reverend Gillison buried him with a brief service. Frederick Neal was 22 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.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Lance Corporal Frederick McRae Neal, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.