The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (373) Lance Corporal Norman Prior Rooney, 14th Battalion, AIF, 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 (373) Lance Corporal Norman Prior Rooney, 14th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

373 Lance Corporal Norman Prior Rooney, 14th Battalion, AIF
KIA 1 May 1915
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 19 March 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Lance Corporal Norman Prior Rooney, who died during the First World War.

Norman Rooney was born in Melbourne in 1895, the son of Thomas and Mary Rooney. An active member of his local choral society, Norman had served in the Militia and was working as an orchardist and studying architecture when he enlisted in September 1914.

Norman was assigned to the 14th Battalion. In December he left Melbourne on board HMAT Ulysses and arrived in Egypt the following January. In February the 14th Battalion was transferred to a training camp at Heliopolis, where its members undertook physical drill, route marches, and bayonet and musketry practice.

The 14th Battalion left Egypt early in the morning of 13 April. After a few days sailing, it arrived in Lemnos Harbour, where the men prepared for their landing on the Gallipoli peninsula. The bulk of Norman’s battalion landed throughout the afternoon of 26 April. From the beach its troops moved inland to occupy positions at what later became known as Quinn’s Post and Courtney’s Post. Here, under heavy shrapnel and machine-gun fire, they worked to create and improve the trench network and to defend the Australian lines from Turkish attempts to break through.

On 1 May the 14th Battalion was in the trenches at Courtney’s Post when the Turks launched an attack. The Australians responded with heavy fire and were able to force the enemy to withdraw, but not without suffering several casualties. Norman Rooney was one of those killed. He was 20 years old.

The particulars of his death are unknown. He was buried the same day by 14th Battalion Chaplain Andrew Gillison at Courtney’s Post. Later renamed Courtney’s and Steele’s Post Cemetery, the site commemorates some 225 Commonwealth servicemen who died on Gallipoli.

When news of Norman’s death reached Australia a memorial service was organised in his home town. His choral society sang at the service, and members of the local cadets paraded.

Norman’s younger brother Eric also served with the AIF during the war. As part of the 57th Battalion, Eric saw action on the Western Front. He was wounded in April 1918 and died in hospital soon after.

Both brothers’ names are listed on the Roll of Honour to my right, along with more than 60,000 other Australians who died fighting in 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 Norman Prior Rooney, Private Eric Thomas Rooney, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Kate Ariotti
Historian, Military History Section

Sources:
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll.

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour circular.

14th Battalion War Diary February 1915: AWM4 23/31/5.

14th Battalion War Diary April 1915, pp. 2, 8, 9: AWM4 23/31/7.


14th Battalion War Diary May 1915, p. 16: AWM4 23/31/8.

National Archives of Australia, Norman Rooney, attestation papers, casualty form – active service.

National Archives of Australia, Eric Thomas Rooney casualty form – active service.
http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2088403/COURTNEY'S%20AND%20STEEL'S%20POST%20CEMETERY.

“Ringwood Notes,” Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser, 12 June 1915, p. 4.