The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (383) Private Henry Evans, 12th 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 (383) Private Henry Evans, 12th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

383 Private Henry Evans, 12th Battalion, AIF
KIA 25 April 1915
Photograph: H05824

Story delivered 18 July 2015

Today we pay tribute to Private Henry Evans, who was killed on active service with the Australian Imperial Force in 1915.

The son of Joseph Evans and Esther Bennett of Westbury, Tasmania, Henry Evans worked as a labourer in Westbury before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force shortly after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914.

He embarked with C Company from Hobart on 20 October 1914 aboard HMAT Geelong. Evans was one of the Tasmanians of the 12th Battalion who landed at Anzac Cove on 25 April from one of the Devanha’s boats.

Shortly after landing on Gallipoli Evans was reported missing, believed killed. Some later sightings were reported, but an inquiry concluded that he had died in the heavy fighting in the hours following the landing. His name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.

He was 20 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. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

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

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section